Questions About Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets

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Answered Questions (6)

Do you have to know a lot about this period of history before reding the book or does the author contextualize everything so that you don't need to know much of what happened beforehand?

Fernando Escobar In my opinion: No. I'm not an expert in Soviet history, and I really enjoyed this book. There is a small summary of Soviet history a the start of the …moreIn my opinion: No. I'm not an expert in Soviet history, and I really enjoyed this book. There is a small summary of Soviet history a the start of the book (which is helpful), but the true core of the book is human experience and their lives, specially the diversity and complex nature of humanity and history. Such a good book. It does go into detail into Soviet concepts and politicians, etc., the book has wonderful notes if you're interested in them; I usually just read the stories, only seldomly did I look into the notes.(less)

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Is it important to read Aleksijevitj The Voices of Utopia in the correct order?

Elizabeth Mattias, I don't think so. I didn't read all her books, but as far as I see each one focuses on different point in history. But each book has many men…moreMattias, I don't think so. I didn't read all her books, but as far as I see each one focuses on different point in history. But each book has many mentions of other historical events as they all affect the lives of people. For some it may make sense to read them in chronological order. But each book is a collection of stories within itself. So far I didn't see any directly inter-connected stories between the books.(less)

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Is there an English translation available?

Fedar S. Yes.
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets. Random House 2016 (ISBN 978-0399588808), translated by Bela Shayevich.…moreYes.
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets. Random House 2016 (ISBN 978-0399588808), translated by Bela Shayevich.(less)

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english translation available?