Stasiland: True Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall | 
pickThis reads as a sort of diary of the author‘s investigation and interviews with those who lived in East Germany and whose lives were forever altered by the ever present Stasi and their hordes of informal agents. She also interviews former Stasi agents and former GDR propaganda mongers to understand how they feel about their work behind the wall and whether it was all worth it. I enjoyed reading this. It‘s beautifully written which was unexpected.
pickThis is the best book I've ever read on the topic. Readers who enjoyed this book might also enjoy "Revolution 1989" by Victor Sébestyen, and "The Tunnels" by Greg Mitchell. #2024Book24
How is delivering someone a truck load of puppies a punishment? That sounds like my idea of heaven.
Perhaps there is something healing about ridicule. It is a relief, anyway, from terror and anger.
Today‘s scores from the 📕 swap on the way 🏠 from my 3 hours of 🩰 this morning. I‘m more sore than usual today perhaps because I‘m tired as I stayed up for a my stepdaughter‘s 13th birthday slumber party last night. She was having so much fun with her friends she wasn‘t interested in her 🎁 & was too full from her favourite pasta her father makes, to eat the 🎂 her sister & I made her! Early to bed tonight. I collect the 🍊 🐧. I ❤️ a good mag.
pickAusgezeichnet! Glad I finally got around to reading this “masterpiece of modern journalism.” Intimate, compelling and incredibly fascinating.
pickI‘m not sure what this photo has to do with the book? It‘s very bright and colourful not like the picture painted in this book of life behind the wall in East Germany where everything and everyone was grey. The story‘s are fascinating, horrific, baffling and devastating. Imagine living where 1 in every 6.5 people are either a Stasi agent or informer! Where everything you did or said was documented and manipulated to control you or others. ⬇️
#SummerHeat
I'm (once again) behind on my reading and posts so I'm on page 76 of the novel and have no steamy playlist created. So I'm going to cheat and recommend an artist called Stas THEE Boss (Stasia Irons). She is formerly one half of the Seattle-based duo THEESatisfaction and is an exceptional beat maker who really deserves a much wider audience. Her lyrical content is diverse, but when she does a steamier track, trust me, it is 🔥 🔥🔥
#bookreport week 19/9/20 @Cinfhen
Started tagged
Continued Pride and Prejudice
Finished other 4
pickIn Stasiland, the author seeks out the stories of those whose lives were warped and damaged by East Germany's insidious surveillance state, implemented by the infamous Stasi; she also sits down with former Stasi, who cling to dead ideologies, rationalize their treachery, or find new ways to apply their skills in a united Germany. A powerful, nuanced, empathetic look at a society once riddled with betrayal.
pickThis book was brilliant! I had put off reading it for so long because I thought it would be grim and depressing. Whilst there was some truly disturbing and distressing stories of people‘s lives behind the wall, it was written wonderfully and still managed to have some humour. It is one the most intriguing and bizarre times in history that makes compelling reading
Started this one last night. Good so far!
#blameitonlitsy snagged a chair to read outside in the rain.
Can I temp you with any of these? The tagged book is non fiction, a collection of interviews from those living in East Germany. I‘ll tag the others in the comments. Would love your opinions and feedback. #lmpbc
#QuotsyMay18 ~ May 12|Rhythm ~ I don‘t think I‘ve ever found a quote that so perfectly describes the feeling of content I get when traveling, whether by train or plane. There‘s a peace in knowing we can‘t make time go faster and just have to relax on the ride. Heading out for a 9 hour train ride this weekend, and I‘m looking forward to it!
pickI first read this in 2004 when studying Russian and Society history at school but I'd forgotten how good it is. Anna Funder's into the GDR contrasts the terrible and the ridiculous in a way rarely found outside of satire. She builds a story at once personal and wide-ranging that tells of Stasi officers, informers, loyal Communists, dissidents and many people just trying to live within a repressive state and the difficulties of reunified Germany
Today's read. Starting this over a cup of tea.
Really just posting this picture of a rabbit checking out a Little Free Library. Awww!
Rereading this for research. Pic is of a building that reminds me of Eastern Bloc television sets.
For #NonfictionNovember I am reading Plutopia and Stasiland. It kind of helps that I am reading them for one of my classes, but they are actually interesting!
pickIf you ever thought 1984 or The First Circle was far-fetched, reading this may help you.
pickKarenmartinreads.blogspot.co.uk for a full review of this eye opening book. Literary non-fiction, it is well written, with hooks and strings to keep the telling of separate stories cohesive.
so-so
