Heart of the Monster: A novel about Chernobyl

by Richard Opper

Heart of the Monster is an historical novel about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The title refers to the control room where the decisions were made that led to the world’s worst nuclear accident. It also refers to the efforts of a young Ukrainian man to come to terms with the monster in his own heart as he learns from his visiting American relatives that he is a Jew, a difficult revelation for a life-long anti-Semite. This is an explosive tale of personal and environmental turmoil that moves from Pripyat, Ukraine to the Unit 4 control room to the Babi Yar World War 2 massacre site.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 4, 2010

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the fictional narratives that were matched with the historical events, however horrifying. It was an enjoyable read about a topic I find quite fascinating.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Strange Book

I am so conflicted about this book. I enjoyed the parts that dealt with Chernobyl and the thread that dealt with Babi Yar but some things were just weird. The main character, Alexis, was incredibly naive about her pregnancy, more than I could accept. Americans traveling to the Soviet Union on a whim in the mid-80s is hard to believe. (When I visited Russia in 2003, it was a complicated process.) Not to mention getting Soviet permission to stay in Pripyat indefinitely, even planning to give birth there! That just wasn't our mindset during the Cold War. Even weirder, Alexa has a relationship with her Russian first cousin! What??? Come on, that's just gross.