The Memory Keeper of Kyiv

by Erin Litteken

Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

In the 1930s, Stalin’s activists marched through the Soviet Union, espousing the greatness of collective farming. It was the first step in creating a man-made famine that, in Ukraine, stole almost 4 million lives. Inspired by the history the world forgot, and the Russian government denies, Erin Litteken reimagines their story.
In 1929, Katya is 16 years old, surrounded by family and in love with the boy next door. When Stalin’s activists arrive in her village, it’s just a few, a little pressure to join the collective. But soon neighbors disappear, those who speak out are never seen again and every new day is uncertain.

Resistance has a price, and as desperate hunger grips the countryside, survival seems more a dream than a possibility. But, even in the darkest times, love beckons.

Seventy years later, a young widow discovers her grandmother’s journal, one that will reveal the long-buried secrets of her family’s haunted past.

This is a story of the resilience of the human spirit, the love that sees us through our darkest hours and the true horror of what happened during the Holodomor.

"I never imagined the release of my novel on a past oppression of the Ukrainian people would coincide with such a parallel tragedy." Erin Litteken

A share of proceeds will be donated to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

May we never forget, lest history repeat itself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ukraine, Historical, Book Club, War, Romance

350 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2022

About the author

Erin Litteken is an international bestselling author of historical fiction. Her debut, THE MEMORY KEEPER OF KYIV, has been translated into eighteen languages and was the 2022 winner of the She Reads Best Historical Fiction Award and the 2023 Women's Fiction Writers Association Star Award. With a degree in history and a passion for research, Erin draws inspiration from her family roots, and in particular, her great-grandmother’s stories about life in Ukraine before, after, and during WWII. She lives outside of St. Louis with her husband and two children. For more information about Erin and her books, visit www.erinlitteken.com

Reviews

[Erin Litteken]

Dear Readers,

The seeds of this story took root in my mind even before Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, and now the world is watching in horror as Russia continues its brutal attack on Ukraine – its cities, its civilians, its future.

I never imagined the release of my novel on a past assault of the Ukrainian people would coincide with such a parallel tragedy.

Ukrainians today are fighting for their country with a strength and tenacity that has captivated the world, but it is impossible to deny that history is repeating itself. It’s horrifying, and we must do better.

As the granddaughter of a Ukrainian refugee from WW2, the poignancy of this war devastates me. While we can’t change history, we can all learn from it and do something to help the Ukrainian people today. I’m so pleased that my publisher, Boldwood Books, is donating a share of the proceeds of this novel to DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of that effort.

My heart goes out to the brave Ukrainians defending their country, their culture, and their lives, both then and now. Slava Ukrayini!

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A historical timeline that is almost painful to read because of its brutal depiction of the realities of Ukrainian life under Stalin’s collectivization scheme. The contemporary timeline is decent but pales in comparison. Still, I would count this as a must-read book.

Story:

Wisconsin, 2004. Ever since Cassie’s husband died in a road accident 14 months ago, her five year old daughter Birdie and she have been struggling to let go of their grief. When Grandma Bobby begins suffering from memory issues, Cassie’s mom decides that it would be best for Cassie and Birdie to shift into Bobby’s house for a mutual support. Here, Cassie discovers a journal written in Ukrainian, which seems to contain some secrets of the past.
Ukraine, 1930. Sixteen year old Katya has a lot to look forward to in life. She is part of a happy family and has a childhood sweetheart Pavlo right next door. But when Stalin’s activists come to their village and demand that everyone join the initiative of collective farming, the future suddenly doesn’t look so bright.
Both the timelines are written in a limited third person perspective.

Where the book worked for me:
💐 I have never read any book covering the topic of the ‘Holodomor’, the manmade famine that resulted in the loss of almost 4 million Ukrainian lives during the 1930s. That itself should be the biggest reason to go for this book. It reveals unheard-of details of a travesty that has never been highlighted. There were so many elements that felt like exaggerations because I simply couldn’t believe humans could do something as low. But the author’s note and her sources show that every despicable event is true. Kudos to her research.

💐 There are many parallels between the historical and the contemporary timelines such as handling grief and finding love after loss. The stories work well in sync.

💐 Despite the length and the heavy topic, it is a pretty fast-paced book.

💐 The characters in the 1930 timeline are well-carved and gutsy. Each of them creates an impact for various reasons. Of the 2004 characters, Birdie was the sweetest.

💐 I loved the glimpse provided into Ukrainian traditions and rituals. The book didn’t use Ukraine for the sake of it but actually incorporated its people, its culture and its values into the storyline. This is how places must be used in historical stories.

💐 Loved the author’s note. I was amazed to see how well she has incorporated her grandma’s Ukrainian roots in the historical timeline. There is a touch of authenticity to the entire story and it shows how well the content has been researched.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
⚠ The contemporary timeline, while interesting, is very drab in comparison to the past story. It is too predictable. The characters are pretty one-dimensional. I also found it very farfetched that Cassie’s family, especially her mom, knew zilch about their Ukrainian heritage. Cassie seemed quite incapable of understanding even the most obvious of connections while the rest of us could decode the clues from a mile away.

⚠ The ending felt rushed. After a long dilly-dallying by Cassie wondering about the past, the climax felt like it covered too much within a single chapter.

⚠ I didn’t like the romantic angle in the 2004 storyline, despite the swoon-worthy hero. It felt too sudden, and it didn’t add anything to the story.



Despite the issues I had with the modern timeline, the historical part of the book was enough for me to be a satisfied reader. (In fact, the book might have worked better as a historical story focussing only on the Holodomor instead of having the dual narrative.) It is a great debut work and I will surely love to read more by this author.

It is but obvious to connect this book with the situation in Ukraine right now. It is quite surreal, almost absurd that this book has come out in a year where history seems to be repeating itself. Wonder when leaders will learn from past mistakes and focus more on living in harmony than on satisfying their hunger for more power and control.

In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the publishers of this book, Boldwood Books, will donate a share of their proceeds to the DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. I appreciate them for this gesture.

Definitely recommended to historical fiction fans.

4.25 stars.

Note: If you are in a depressed state of mind, please stay away from the book until you are in a stronger mental headspace. There are many triggering events in the 1930s timeline. While most of the extreme triggers aren’t detailed out directly, what’s happening behind the screen is enough to induce nightmares.


My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Memory Keeper of Kyiv”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.




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[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
The resilience of the human spirit.

Holodomor, Ukrainian for hunger and death. The manmade famine swept across Ukraine from 1932 to 33. It killed close to 10 million. Stalin's communist regime forced Ukrainian into collective farming; land, produce, livestock, and farming equipment were considered state's property and were collected to be taken away. Wealthy farmers were dubbed "kulaks" and were sent to Siberia. Soviet volunteer Activists and Ukrainian Young Pioneers were indoctrinated. They reported on the locals including their own families. Food if found was taken away with the punishment of being deported or executed.

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is told in a dual timeline fashion with alternating PoVs; Katya in the 1930s in Tetiiv Raion of the Kyiv Region and Cassie, 2004 in Illinois. This story is not for the faint of heart. It is a heart-wrenching story of starvation, loss, and death. Both Katya and Cassie experienced varying degrees of loss, but they learn to move forward in life and make the best of it.

I have to admit I enjoy the past more with a constant sense of foreboding. The contemporary time was fine in the beginning but I felt it was holding back the pace when the past story really took off. I truly enjoy learning and admire Ukrainian tradition and culture. This is an excellent story that portrays strength and courage. The characters in the past are complex, authentic, and extraordinary.🌻

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NG for this ARC.
Available May 16, 2022 and on KU!

Further reading:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukra...
https://www.unitedhumanrights.org/gen...
https://cla.umn.edu/chgs/holocaust-ge...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor
https://www.lucorg.com/2020/11/holodo...

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

“It’s the same story every time, for centuries. Everyone wants Ukraine’s fertile soil for their own, and nobody wants to let Ukrainians rule it.”

Good historical fiction books are impressive because they are simultaneously entertaining and educational. Unfortunately The Memory Keeper of Kyiv only manages to check one of those boxes.

The Holocaust is the most widely known and notorious genocide in modern history, yet it is not the most deadly. At the same time Hitler was enacting his Final Solution, Soviet Union leader Josef Stalin plotted a forced famine that killed nearly twice as many people as Hitler's Holocaust. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv follows 16-year-old Katya and her family as they fight to survive Stalin's famine.

The story is certainly informative – Erin Litteken does an admirable job bringing attention to Stalin's horrific hunger purges – but the romance that develops between Katya and her childhood friend ended up overpowering the story. The romance eventually expands into a love triangle, which felt incredibly unnecessary. The heavy emphasis on the romance detracts from the dark and harrowing historical setting.

There are also elements of the story that felt unnecessary. Erin Litteken decides to tell this story through two different time periods; she alternates between Katya's experiences surviving the Soviet invasion of Ukraine and Katya's grandaughter's life in modern-day America. Katya's granddaughter was rather difficult to like – she was very rude and abrasive at times – and her perspective didn't add much to the story.

While I commend Erin Litteken for trying to spread awareness about Stalin's atrocities, unfortunately this novel ultimately fell a bit flat. Between Shades of Gray does a much better job tackling this horrible period in history.

“How did we survive this?” Katya asked. “So many didn’t. Why us?”
“Sometimes, I think they are the lucky ones,” Kolya said, his voice hollow.

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken. This book is wonderful. It is the story of a Ukranian family’s survival of the Holodomor, Stalin forced starvation of Ukrainians. This ls something i never knew, heard nothing about. I hate seeing the Ukraine being a subject of terror and pulled apart by war once again.

[Marquise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The timing of this novel couldn't be more unfortunate yet appropriate at the same time. Unfortunate because it shows, once again, that history repeats in rough patterns; and appropriate because as I've said before, to understand what's at stake for Ukraine in her current war with Russia, you have to go eight decades back to the Holodomor, and although this is fictional, it does help with that, and hopefully will entice readers to consult non-fiction books on the famine, such as Anne Applebaum's Red Famine, which author Erin Litteken also recommends in the afterword.

This is the story of Katya Shevchenko, an Ukrainian peasant girl full of vitality and dreams for the future, whose dreams are crushed when Stalin decided to collectivise the whole of the farmland in the country by force, arresting, deporting, executing, and maliciously starving all that oppose it. Katya's family has a modest but prosperous farm that produces enough for them to live without major worries, until they're slowly deprived of it by abusive grain quotas, extremely high taxes, the arrest of their father and other family members, and murders all around of friends and neighbours, and finally having the farm collectivised. Katya, her mother, her sister, her husband and her brother-in-law are then forced to survive by eating anything they can forage or catch, even rats, worms, and crows, suffering horribly for years until there's only Katya and her husband left, who somehow manage to escape once WWII breaks out and eventually reach America. Once there, in her last months of life she tells her story to her granddaughter so it's not lost to time.

Personally, I don't like dual-timeline narration; one timeline always drags the other timeline down and it's usually the story set in the past that suffers. It's no different here: if you read only the chapters with Katya's POV in Ukraine, the story is great, touchingly told, and very harrowing because the suffering is immense and unbearable. But the parallel present-day story of Cassie, her granddaughter, is a drag. Cassie isn't interesting as a character, and she can be rather stupid at times; she never puts two and two together that the Holodomor was probably what her grandma experienced that she doesn't want to talk about, and even more incredibly, she doesn't even realise Kolya is her grandpa and has to have it mansplained by her new lover. She's the complete opposite of Katya, and although I do get she's in mourning, her pity party can get on your nerves, especially compared to Katya's experiences that are far worse but devoid of self-pity. A drag, she is.

Ideally, I think there should've been only the Holodomor storyline, which is what's going to sell this book and what the title advertises. If you try the exercise of reading only Katya's POVs and skip Cassie's, and you'll see my point. But the Holodomor storyline would also have benefited from being more elaborated on, because, frankly, it's too contained. For the most part, it reads like the whole of Ukraine is the Shevchenkos' farm, and for many chapters the story happens within the four walls of Katya & Kolya's house. You never get a sense of the time and place and events like that. There's a peasant rebellion in which one of the main characters fights, but we never see or hear of it. We don't see much if anything of the collective farm, and even less of things around the oblast. There are no characters outside Katya's circle, and they all come and go as the plot demands like extras in a film. We don't really see the man-made famine unfolding either, it's all told to us, sometimes infodumped; some passages read like they were directly taken from Applebaum's book, I'd say, as that book is still fresh in my memory. And so on. It's a very narrow glimpse into Ukraine, you barely see the typical sunflowers and a slice of blue sky, and at times Katya speaks like a Midwesterner than a girl from the Ukrainian countryside. So, what I'm saying is that there's not much authenticity conveyed. I'm not even sure of why exactly it's entitled "The Memory Keeper of Kyiv," because Katya is not in Kyiv at all, her village is in another oblast. Probably a publicity trick to take advantage of Ukraine being in the news right now?

Whatever the case, I think it's a good effort to increase awareness of the tragedy that was the Ukrainian famine, and I liked the story of Katya. I don't recall seeing any other novels with this topic, and for that alone, it's a very important book that should be read now.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I waited an entire day trying to convince myself to give it a 3 star rating. I failed.

Perhaps I know too much about immigrant Ukrainians to IL and also their first generation. Or Croatians, or Polish, or Lithuanians, or Slovaks. But maybe it is the form of this writing. Both I think.

First of all these are very savvy and punctured people. Living through lifetimes of being full boat annihilated and all their goods, homes, cultural mores, religion being taken away from them by government. And usually not even able to speak their own languages in schools or any public forum. Starvation merely one of the sidebars.

So this book being entwined with a romance? And also the form itself. The dialogue was YA. Telling and telling too. Not showing. And few populations could be farther removed from both of those habits. Not in real life. Or any reality I've seen them live. Nor any I have loved or have seen departed early from the aftermaths.

Strong people. Absolutely melded like metal by pure persecution and adversity. None of the characters in this book, not a one- came alive to me either. All the steel and crazy vivaciousness (what else can they do to us moxie) is missing. They are almost monotonous instead.

There were some aspects that were spot on. Like teaching 2nd and 3rd generation their language. But nearly all else was pure fiction in both a form and melodrama sense of sentimentality for the Illinois narratives. TRUTHFULLY, almost all sentimentality has been sunk nearly completely in these survivors. And they drink alcohol. ALL.

So that's why I pondered for an entire day. Perhaps my reality for these humans has distorted my "taste". But no, I think not there too. Switching like this with so much being taken out of the drift and even more "telling" intros? Not a style and not the writing this situation at all deserves. Also there is something that makes my skin crawl whenever a situational dialogue within any genocide takes a sweetish or melancholy main mood. As when they tell about tailors or musical instrument players in death camps kind of thing. Only the hook to some type of empathy that just isn't in the picture whatsoever within those politico realities or situations. Stalin's the least of all. They have done this to the Holocaust too. Just repellent to me.

This would be 3 to 4 stars on a YA scale. Ok YA read. Not for any depth to past or current Ukraine depth. And for some reason the romance yarned together like this? Not a fan.

[Nora|KnyguDama · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Antra mano perskaityta knyga apie holodomorą. Pirmoji - "Raudonųjų skruzdžių amžius" buvo viena labiausiai emociškai paveikusių ir kibirus ašarų liet privertusi. Ją ne taip lengva rekomenduoti, nes žmogus turėtų žinot, koks emocinis krūvis jo laukia. Ši - taip pat atvirai sunki, tačiau labiau romanas, nei skaudi istorijos išpažintis.

Pasakojimas vystosi per du laikus - Ukrainos holodomoro metų ir šių dienų, kuomet anūkė bando prakalbinti tai išgyvenusią močiutę. Holodomoro pasakojimas tikrai ašarų ne vieną išspaudė, juoba, kad knyga rašyta remiantis ir autorės giminės praeitimi. Buvo skaudu skaityti. Liūdna, pikta. O tuo pačiu ir priminė kokį siaubą Ukraina vėl iš naujo išgyvena. Vėl iš tų pačių, niekaip neatsikabinančių šlykštynių.

Bus čia ir meilės, ir praradimų, ir šokiruojančių istorijos liudijimų, ir suimąstyt priversiančių puslapių. Nors mane kiek erzino nereikalinga romano linija šių laikų pasakojime, jame buvo ir vertas dėmesio gedulo išgyvenimo siužetas. Knyga gera. Labai gera. O dar labiau reikalinga, nes apie holodomorą reikia kalbėti daugiau, garsiau ir dažniau, kad prisimintumėm, ko tie utėlės gali griebtis, kad įrodytų savo menką "savo".

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Putin's current war is not the first time a dictator from Moscow attempted and failed to annihilate the Ukrainian culture and nation, and knowing what Stalin did in the 1930s informs Putin's actions now. Kudos to Litteken for tackling this complex topic for a general romance audience. For many of her readers, this novel will be their introduction to the Holodomor, when Stalin intentionally starved to death millions of Ukrainians, then repopulated the emptied villages with Russians and Belarussians.

Told in dual contemporary/historical romance threads, the sugar-coating on the tragedy will make it slightly easier for some readers to swallow. I would have liked to see the story come alive through the characters' action rather than to have them talk about it, but this is an ambitious topic for a novice author who will only get better in subsequent books.

This novel will appeal to readers who want to know about the Holodomor, but who like their history wrapped in romance.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

After losing her husband in a car accident, Cassie and her young daughter move back home to help care for her aging grandmother. Soon after moving in with her grandma, Cassie discovers that her grandma has secretly been keeping a journal. Thinking that the journal might help to explain some of her grandma’s odd behavior, Cassie sneaks a peek at it only to find that she is unable to read it. The journal is written in Ukrainian.

With the help of a kind neighbor who is fluent in Ukrainian, Cassie is able to translate her grandmother’s journal. Through this journal, Cassie learns of the unspeakable hardships her grandmother suffered during the Holodomor (great famine) inflicted on the Ukrainian people at the direction of Stalin in the 1930’s.

Although this is a novel, it’s a story of love, tragedy, endurance, and survival that sheds light on the brutal attempt by Stalin to eradicate the Ukrainian people and their culture under Soviet rule. With its likable characters and real sense of place, it’s a book that is hard to put down. However, despite the serious subject, the book does have a lighter romantic thread as well.

As the world once again witnesses Russia’s attempt to exterminate the Ukrainian people and their culture, this work of historical fiction provides a view of this tragic period of Ukraine’s history.

As an American of Ukrainian descent, I am aware of this man made tragedy through stories told by my own grandmother about her family. If you are interested in Ukraine and it’s history, this book is worth reading.

[Clif Hostetler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel's unique feature is to include a fictional account of the 1930s Ukrainian Holodomor. The book’s story alternates between two separate narrative chains. The first narrative takes place in the early 2000s in the USA and features a grieving widow who together with her young daughter is having difficulty recovering from the death of her husband from a car accident that occurred about a year earlier. The second narrative takes place in the early 1930s Ukraine where a young bride faces trauma and shock when her family’s way of life is brutally changed during the collectivization of their rural village.

Seventy years later that Ukrainian bride is now the grandmother of the young grieving American widow. For many years the grandmother has repressed the traumatic memories of her past and has withheld any mention of it to her family. But now this aging grandmother is developing symptoms of dementia, and those memories from long ago are beginning to arise. Furthermore, she perceives that her granddaughter and great granddaughter could benefit by learning about her experience recovering from trauma all those many years ago.

The grieving widow of the early 2000s is now living with her grandmother in order to help protect her from possible self harm caused by the on-coming signs of dementia. Consequently, she becomes aware of her grandmother’s journal written in Ukrainian many years earlier. With assistance from a friend the journal is translated into English which provides the needed inspiration for the young widow to look to—and live for—the future.



There is a first love, a lost love, and a new love in both narrative chains, so the book can be classified as a bitter-sweet romance. Its plain and direct vernacular can also put it in the young adult category, which of course can be enjoyed by older adults as well. The author includes occasional references to Ukrainian folk traditions, food, and art so the book is educational in many ways. However, the book’s most unique feature is to provide a personal up close description of life, death, and love in Ukraine during the 1930s.

The part of the story that takes place in Ukraine contains repeating ominous foreboding that the already bad events and conditions will continue to get even worse. For a hint about what takes place, check out this spoiler:

The following description of the early 1930s Ukraine is excerpted from the nonfiction history book The Gates of Europe, by Serhii Plokhy.

Altogether, close to 4 million people perished in Ukraine as a result of the famine, more than decimating the country—every eighth person succumbed to hunger between 1932 and 1934.

Portions of this story will bring you to tears. However, the book also contains romance and parent-child love which will make you feel good. Late in the book the story contains a poignant heart warming communication between great-grandmother and great-granddaughter. And the very end of the Epilogue contains a final surprise.

The Author's Note at the end of the book describes some interesting parallels between her own family's history and the book's story. Here's a link to a message from the Author:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people managed to escape into her village, and they told stories about whole villages in eastern and central Ukraine being wiped out. People were deported by cattle cars to Siberia, like we read about in your Bobby’s journal, or forced to starve in their own homes after Stalin exported all of the food. Children were left at train stations by their parents in hopes someone would take pity on them and bring them home and feed them, but they rarely did. People died in the streets waiting for a crust of bread. 71% of my Kindle reading

What?? I never reviewed this glorious book that I read in October 2022. A dual timeline that takes us from the present day to 1930's Soviet Ukraine and the tragedy of the great famine( Holodomor).

I absolutely loved this heartbreaking novel about a family's resilience in a time of great trauma. In the present-day storyline, Cassie knew that her grandmother had immigrated from Ukraine but didn't exactly know the details that encouraged that migration. So by reading and looking into her grandmother's story, Cassie now knows another layer to her family heritage.

I suppose that the story of the past did have me a little more hooked than the present day. That I suppose is often the fault of dual timelines. Yet, it was a richly researched novel that I haven't stopped talking about. I cannot wait to read the author's next novel.


Goodreads review published 21/03/23

[Gedankenlabor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Denk ich an Kiew" von Erin Litteken - eine Geschichte, die nicht nur durch die Thematik sehr bewegend ist, sondern auch durch den Erscheinungstermin...
Dass die aktuellen aktuellen Ereignisse und der Veröffentlichungstermin so zusammenfallen würden, war von der Autorin nicht vorauszusehen, nicht geplant und ein großes Päckchen mehr, das die Stimmung des Buches beeinflusst, wie ich finde...
Das Buch erzählt innerhalb von zwei Zeitsträngen zum einen die Geschichte von Katja, um 1929 die in einem Dorf in Kiew aufwächst. Nachdem die Dorfbewohner gedrängt werden Stalins Kollektiv beizutreten verändert sich so viel für die Menschen und das greift die Autorin hier auf und veranschaulicht aus vielen verschiedenen Perspektiven und innerhalb verschiedenen Problematiken, was das alles mit sich bringt und wie es sich eben auf die Familien, auf das Erwachsenwerden auswirkt.
Im zweiten Erzählstrang lernen wir Cassie kennen, die im Haus ihrer Großmutter ein Tagebuch findet und eben dieser schmerzlichen Vergangenheit auf die Spur kommt...
Zusammen ergibt es ein großes Ganzes, das viele bewegende Momente mit sich bringt. Wobei ich ganz klar sagen muss, dass mich der Erzählstrang der Vergangenheit am meisten bewegt und berührt hat. Durch die häufig wechselnde Zeit und Perspektive fiel es mir gerade im Bezug auf Cassie doch schwer einen Bezug aufzubauen und sie blieb mir ehrlich gesagt doch sehr fern.
Insgesamt war das Buch für mich aber eine lesenswerte Geschichte, die gerade in diesen Zeiten aufzeigt, was Krieg bedeutet und wie sehr Menschen in solch grausamen schweren Zeiten leiden.
Die Aufarbeitung der Autorin mit ihren eigenen Wurzeln machte es zudem für mich noch einmal interessanter und brachte mir das Ganze näher.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie is still grieving the loss of her husband. When her mother encourages her to move home to care for her ailing grandmother, Cassie reluctantly agrees. What she discovers is her grandmother's journals of her childhood and life in Ukraine that told the heart wrenching account of the Holodomor that took the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Told through the voice of Katya who lived through the vicious assault of Joseph Stalin. Stalin set out to eradicate the population through starvation, deportation to the Gulag and murder. Despite the loss of most of her family, Katya finds the inner strength to survive and find a glimmer of hope on the darkest of days.
Now history seems to be repeating itself in Putin's brutal attacks on Ukraine. Again we see the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

labai graži ir jautri istorija, liūdna knyga, tačiau knygos pabaiga graži 🙂

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best historical fiction books educate the reader on historical events by immersing the reader in a well researched story with characters that we find ourselves caring about. That this book is being published as Ukraine is facing horrific violence and human tragedy at the hands of the Russian government again, makes this a must read novel. Starting in 1930, the Holodomor caused the death of almost 4 million Ukraines due to Stalin's orders for collectivization of farming and the rationing of food supplies.

Erin Litteken timely debut novel "The Memory Keeper of Kyiv" does just that by telling, in dual time frames, the story of 16 year old Katya and her survival of the Great Famine starting in 1930 and her granddaughter, Cassie, gradually learning her "Bobby's" history she had kept hidden. I read this novel in one day because Katya's story is an example of indomitable spirit, courage and love in the face of unimaginable horror. Cassie's story's weaker but was a relief as she has also known loss that is put in perspective as she learns the hidden history of her grandmother. A compelling story that kept my attention (and caused some tears) right until the end.

The authors notes are enlightening and well worth reading. That the famine was dismissed as anti-Soviet propaganda until the declassification and publication of historical documents in the late 1980's is unbelievable. I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book coming in May 2022.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holodomor—death by hunger—was a brutal and devastating assault against Ukraine by Stalin’s Russia in the decade prior to WWII. When I received an email asking if I would like to read and review this book, I hesitated. At a time when I spend a good part of my day watching the news about the war in Ukraine and the horrors that Ukrainians are suffering, could I read a book about a time 90 years ago, when Ukraine was suffering at the hands of Russia? But I did read it, because for one thing, it’s important to read accounts, even fictional ones, about a time in history that we should not forget—to pay homage to those who suffered and grieved and died, and to look for a glimmer of hope in the most horrid of circumstances.
This was a hard read, sad and horrifying, the worst kind of loss and pain imaginable. It is also an amazing story of survival and resilience, of bravery and sacrifice, and indeed, hope and love. The characters felt real, they were incredibly complex characters whose pain I felt deeply, holding out hope that somehow, they could find some shred of peace and happiness. The stories of the holodomor have been hidden in our history, and even in the shame and loss of its survivors. This is a book that people should read, if for no other reason than to make sure we never forget, that we don’t fail these millions of souls—those who perished, and those who survived.

[Nilo0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

فوق‌الهاده قشنگ و تاثیرگذار بود. مدت‌ها بود کتابی به این تلخی، حقیقی و تاثیرگذاری نخونده بودم.

با اینکه از گولاگ روسیه و اردوگاه‌های سیبری کتاب خونده بودم و اطلاع داشم اما نمی‌دونستم این مساله در اوکراین هم رخ داده و در زمان استالین کولاک‌ها (دهقان‌های ثروتمند که البته بعدها همه مردم روستایی فقیر در این دسته‌بندی قرار گرفتن) رو به مزارع اشتراکی می‌بردند و با کار سنگین و گرفتن کوچک‌ترین سهمیه خوراک و دادن کمترین مواد غذایی، باعث مرگ 3.9 میلیون اوکراینی (12.9 درصد جمعیت اوکراین) شدند.
مردمی که از شدت گرسنگی مجیگر به خوردن لاشه حیوانات فاسد یا خوردن کلاغ، اسب، قورباغه، موش، کرم و حتی ساقه ذرت و پوست سیب‌زمینی می‌‌شدند تا زنده بمونن.
این شرایط سخت برای کودکان، زنان باردار و سالمندان فجیع‌تر هم بوده.

داستان زندگی کاسیا که به دلایلی همراه دختر کوچکش بردی به خانه مادربزرگش کاتیا نقل‌مکان می‌کنه و از گذشته مادربزرگش که در زمان قحطی و گرسنگی در اوکراین بوده مطلع می‌شه.

قسمت‌های از کتاب بع گذشته کاتیا و زندگی اجتماعی، خانوادگی و عاطفیش پرداخته و ارتباطش با زمان حال و نوه‌ش در داستان عاشقانه و تلخ قشنگی گره خورده.

هرچی از زیبایی این کتاب بگم کم گفتم و قطعا به همه پیشنهاد می‌دم بخونن.

[Gabriella Saab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Litteken's passion for Ukrainian culture and history is evident through this sensitive, impactful tribute to a little-known, deeply important time. Heart wrenching and heart warming, THE MEMORY KEEPER OF KYIV is a story of unwavering courage and unyielding hope.

Thank you so much to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this wonderful debut!

[Loredana Mariana Bublitchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sfâșietoare…🥺

Povestea titlului “Secretul jurnalului de la Kiev” mi-a dezvăluit o poveste sfâșietoare despre un eveniment istoric total necunoscut mie și care a trezit în mine emoții de care nu credeam că sunt capabilă.

“În anii 1920, activiștii lui Stalin străbăteau Uniunea Sovietică slăvind măreția agriculturii colective. Era primul pas spre ceea ce a creat o foamete produsă de om care, în Ucraina, a luat aproape 4 milioane de vieți. Inspirată de o istorie pe care lumea a uitat-o, Erin Litterken reînvie povestea lor.”

Inspirată din fapte reale, povestea Katiei a fost extrem de dureroasă, nu a fost capitol pe care să nu-l citesc cu lacrimi în ochi sau să simt că mă înțeapă în piept, intuind că nimic bun nu va aduce și că vor fi puși la grea încercare fiecare membru al familiei sale.
M-a durut și mai tare că nu cunoșteam absolut nimic despre Holodomor, având în vedere ceea ce încă se petrece în Ucraina din 2022, realizând că țara aceasta nu a avut liniște și a fost chinuită de ruși de nenumărate ori. Cum afirmă și autoarea, lansarea romanului a coincis cu o altă tragedie asemănătoare despre care aceasta a ales să scrie.

Nici nu știu exact ce să vă spun și ce să nu vă spun despre poveste, de teamă că vă dau spoiler, îndemnul meu este să citiți cartea, merită toată atenția voastră, mai ales dacă nu cunoașteți despre foametea ucrainiană cunoscută ca și Holodomor, care doar într-un an a estimat numărul morților la 10 milioane, printre care și copii 🥺.
Redată prin dublă perspectivă, a Katiei în anii 1932-1933 și a lui Cassie în anul 2004, povestea surprinde perfect trăirile personajelor și repercursiunile evenimentelor prin care a fost nevoită Katie să treacă.

O poveste care vorbește despre familie, puterea de a merge mai departe, pierdere și doliu, speranță, secrete, traumă, dar mai ales despre puterea iubirii, împăcare și fericire.

[Nadine Schrott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein intensives Stück Zeitgeschichte....so bewegend und herzzerreißend, dass ich wirklich bei der Lektüre weinen musste....😥....und das kommt praktisch nie vor...!

Birdie verliert bei einem Autounfall ihren geliebten Mann...Ihre kleine Tochter spricht seitdem nicht mehr. Als ihre Mutter sie bittet, mit der Kleinen nach Hause zu kommen, um die gebrechliche Großmutter zu betreuen, stößt sie dort auf das Tagebuch ihrer Oma.
Diese stammt aus der Ukraine...und hat Anfang der Dreißiger Jahre des vergangenen Jahrhunderts Schreckliches erleiden müssen.....

Im Zentrum des Romans steht der ukrainische Holodomor...eine durch Stalin verursachte Hunger Katastrophe, die Millionen Menschenleben forderte....
Berührend und tiefgründig....!

Slawa Ukrajini!

Absolut lesenswert!

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Get Through Today, Tomorrow Will Be Better

Heartbreaking tale of the Homodor or Murder by Hunger, a man made famine that killed millions of people in Ukraine during Stalin's forced collective farms program. This was a horrible time in history and it has been covered up and forgotten. It should never be forgotten. When productive farms were taken over by the government and people killed or shipped to Siberia for simply disagreeing with the government or for trying to find food to survive. When people are reduced to eating earthworms and grain from the burrows of rats to survive and they are still dying. When a woman drops dead in a food line to receive a slice of bread. When people work all day on farms that are not their own and not allowed to work their own farms being paid only with a slice of bread for the day's work, the system is wrong, cruel and broken.

This is a story of fictional characters based on true events during the Homodor. The characters are based on people that lived during that time and either gave testimony or wrote about it. The story is heartbreaking and tear jerking. I cannot fathom how anyone could treat people in such a manner. I also do not know how anyone survived during this time of great famine.

Before the Soviet enforcers came to the small town of Sonyashnyky in Ukraine two sisters Alina and Katya lived on a farm with their parents. They married two brothers Pavla and Kolya. Then Stalin's enforcers came. They at first tried to convince all the farmer's to join the Collective Farming system, but when they did not it was enforced upon them. Everything was confiscated, all their food, and their livestock.

Some survived, most did not. This is a story of a family that would have lived during those times and how they might have survived. It is also a story of Katya after the Homodor and how she dealt with the aftermath and survivor's guilt. A story of her daughter and granddaughter and how on her death bed she finally found peace.

This is a story that will not be easily forgotten. It will stay with you long after you read it. It is a part of history I knew nothing about. I cannot believe now the Soviets are once again terrorizing the people in the Ukraine. History really does repeat itself. I do recommend this book.

Thanks to Erin Littenken for writing a great historical book, to Boldwood Books for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me to read and review.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely incredible. If you enjoy reading dual time spans and learning from what you read may I suggest this to you?
The book is fictional though the subject matter is about past events taking place in Ukraine.
The story follows an Ukrainian family and their struggle for survival as the country is forced to go through Holodomor. I had never heard of this or learned about this in school . Holodomor is a forced starvation from 1932 to 1933 killing up to 5 million people. It was carried out by the Soviet Regime.
The characters in the present day story are linked to the characters in the past by a discovered journal telling of the hardships suffered in the past.
The thing really impressing me was the resilience and strength the characters show through adversity.
This is a very interesting book that shows strong courage and unwavering hope. We are assured there is light after the darkness.
Highly recommended!

Pub Date 16 May 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s the same story every time, for centuries. Everyone wants Ukraine’s fertile soil for their own, and nobody wants to let Ukrainians rule it. “

A debut author with plenty of promise writes to educate us on the past oppression of the Ukraine people as it coincides with recent parallel tragedy. She reminds us that throughout the centuries there’ve been many authoritarian leaders trying to eradicate Ukraine and its people, most famously, Stalin and now, Putin. The desire has always been to stamp out Ukrainians and take their land. Litteken, a granddaughter of a WW2 Ukrainian refugee, wants readers to learn from history….as it’s repeating itself in real-time.

While not as taut nor as refined as an established writer, Litteken, nevertheless, capably exposes Stalin’s plan to convince Ukrainians that they can have a better life and much more prosperous farms if they pool their resources and work together, class-free. Her dual timeline is set in the fictional village of Sonayshnyky, Ukraine in 1929 and in Wisconsin, USA in 2004.

“Ukraine is fertile and plentiful, and Stalin thinks we should be the breadbasket of the Soviet Union. To achieve that, he wants us to give up our land and join collective farms. This has been going on in villages all across Ukraine for months, and they could arrive here at any time.”

Litteken explores the citizens’ response and readers are aware of the pervading fear as people start disappearing in the middle of the night and rumours circulate about neighbours being deported. The fear escalates when people don’t know who to trust and they start turning on each other. As we start to understand a little of the history of this country, the author reveals Stalin’s increasing control using anything he can to crush them and take away their spirit. Readers will learn about the power of the Twenty-Five Thousanders, the elimination of kulaks, OGPU henchmen, and The Law of Five Stalks of Grain. Most well examined is the horror of Holodomor - a man-made famine that would result in nearly 28,000 Ukrainians dying each day. As I read, my outrage increased at what bullies and their anti-Ukrainian policies achieved. If you are as unfamiliar with any of the above as I was, you need to read to become better informed.

The resilience that we are seeing nowadays has been bred into these strong, united people and sentiments such as the one below show what they were and still are willing to do for their beloved land. I was shocked at the steps taken by Ukrainians and silently cheered them on as I read. Many citizens were united in their belief that it was more dangerous to sit back and do nothing while Stalin’s forces took everything from them. We see that today.

“Maybe we can’t stop them, but we can ruin what they want before they take it.”

The common threads of love, hope, resilience and loss are woven through both timelines to produce a reimagined story and an informative read about actual events in history the Russian government denies.

I was gifted this advance copy by Erin Litteken, Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a debut novel, this is the most powerful book I've read in a long time. Set in the Ukraine in the early 1930's, Joseph Stalin has begun a holodomor - a program to set up a collective society that would eventually starve all the Ukranians to death. Over 10 million died during this program. The story is a dual timeline. Present day is the story of Cassie and Birdie, her young daughter, both traumatized after the death of husband/father in a horrible car accident. They have now moved in with Cassie's grandmother, Bobbie, who needs some help due to early dementia. Bobbie is Ukranian, but she has never talked about her life there. The historical time line covers Bobbie's story beginning as a young bride and through the holodomor. They blend together as Cassie discovers the true story of Bobbie's life.

Very few people know of this horrible program that was initiated to eliminate the Ukranians. Erin's storyline and descriptions tell the horror of forced starvation that overwhelmed the people. It is not an easy read; but as we see Russia once again trying to eliminate the Ukranians to take over their country, we should be aware of what they did previously. The Ukraine is known as the breadbasket of Europe. It has several advantages in producing agricultural commodities: a favorable climate and high-quality soils, half of which are the fertile chernozem or black soils; lower costs of production than its European and North American competitors; and access to deep seaports on the Black Sea.

Each of the characters in this story come to life vividly, and I felt like I was right beside them watching each of the horrors they faced. The storyline flows beautifully between past and present leaving a book you can't put down. I can't wait to see what is yet to come in the way of stories from this debut author.

I commend Erin Litteken for telling a story, through fiction and based on her Ukranian ancestors, so beautifully and powerfully. I would have given it more than a 5 if I could, and I certainly hope that this book receives some kind of book award for a debut author in 2023.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Just make it through today, and hope tomorrow will be better . . . "

I preordered this ebook back in March as I knew right away based on the synopsis I would quite like this novel especially with the Ukraine situation in the last few months. I absolutely love the idea of the publisher (Boldwood Books) to donate a share of the proceeds gained by this novel to be donated to Ukraine to continue fighting the good fight :)

The historical fiction novel The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by debut novelist Erin Litteken tells the story of a little known piece of history that occurred in the 1930s Ukraine called “Holodomor”, that was a man-made famine issued by Joseph Stalin & the Soviet Union.

This novel is very timely to what’s happening in the news regarding the political issues going on between Ukraine & Russia.

The story alternated chapter wise between 1930s Ukraine and present day in 2004 and was well written as a dual timeline, and really brought readers into the historical setting of the time and made me understand and feel what they were going through very well.

Please be sure to read the author’s notes as the author adds more historical facts that are very eye opening to shedding more light on this horrendous time in history.

If you’re at all interested in historical fiction, Ukraine/Russia, and little known pieces of history, I highly recommend this novel. Thank you to the author for bringing this story to light.

Slava Ukryaini! Glory to Ukraine!

🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦

[Sanexiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasted my money & time so you don’t have to:
Go read an actual testimony instead of this book filled with pure American ignorance and bullshit. I can’t believe what I’ve just read.

[Silvie Klokgieter · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1929 leidt de zestienjarige Katya nog een onbezorgd leven; ze wordt omringd door familie en is verliefd op haar buurjongen. Maar Stalins plan om Oekraïne, de graanschuur van Europa, in te lijven bij het communistische
collectief roept een afschuwelijke hongersnood over het land af. Buren verdwijnen, voedsel wordt schaars en verzet wordt betaald. Toch lonkt er zelfs in de donkerste tijden liefde voor Katya.

Zeventig jaar later. Omdat Katya’s kleindochter Cassie jong weduwe is geworden, trekt ze tijdelijk bij haar oma in. Daar ontdekt ze het dagboek van haar grootmoeder, dat het schokkende verhaal achter haar familie onthult: een verhaal over hoop, doorzettingsvermogen en liefde onder de meest barre omstandigheden.

Dit verhaal heeft meerdere verhaallijnen. Zo lees je over Cassie in het jaar 2004. Haar man is overleden en sindsdien gaat het ook niet zo goed met haar dochtertje van vijf. Cassie trekt tijdelijk bij haar oma in en komt achter een schokkend verhaal uit het verleden van haar oma Katya.

Je maakt steeds sprongen naar deze gebeurtenissen die zich rond 1929-1934 afspelen. Vooral deze stukken vond ik erg interessant en heftig. Je leest over de grote liefde van Katya en de vreselijke dingen die zij, haar familie en andere bewoners van Oekraïne hebben moeten meemaken. Ook is het natuurlijk interessant om meer over Cassie en haar dochtertje te lezen, maar de periode van Katya vond ik toch net even wat boeiender. Er zitten echt schokkende momenten tussen namelijk.

'Dochters van Kiev' is een zeer meeslepend, emotioneel en heftig verhaal. En het is zo verdrietig dat dit land en zijn bewoners nu weer iets verschrikkelijks meemaakt... Ik zou dit boek zeker op je lijstje zetten om te lezen!

Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story alternates between 1929/early thirties and 2004. The earlier time frame chronicles the experiences of Katya during the Holodomor in Ukrainia, while the latter introduces her in later years with her daughter, grand daughter, Cassie, and great granddaughter, Birdie.

The Holodomor (literally death by hunger) was another horrific time in the history of Ukrainia. It was a time of famine, terror, deportation, and death. The famine was manmade by Stalin and the Soviets as they stripped the country of its food. As the author said “everyone wants Ukraine’s fertile soil for their own, and nobody wants to let Ukrainians rule it.” In the author’s notes, Litteken reports that 1 in 8 Ukrainians died during this time and the country lost almost 13% of its population. And yet, the famine/terror was denied by the Soviets and even by western journalists for years.

Written before the present atrocities in Ukraine, this is a tough book to read, but it needs to be read. Litteken is a good story teller and she portrays the horrors without being overly graphic.

Some reviews have suggested that the book should have only included the earlier story and not the later one involving Katya’s granddaughter, herself a widow trying to rebuild her life as she learns about her grandmother’s past. I thought, though, that it gave a nice balance and coda to the earlier horrors.

I give this book five stars because it is something that needs to be read. How can this genocide be happening again less than 100 years later?


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[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a dual storyline told in 1929 and in 2004.
I found this story difficult to read this because of recent events.
A story about family and resilience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.