Between Shades of Gray - Restarting May 23rd 2020

[[deleted user]]

Me too!! They were disgusting.

[Tara]

Lindsey wrote: "Me too!! They were disgusting."

It is crazy how stories of what the russians did was kind of hidden for so long huh?

[Courtney]

I have gotten up to chapter 45 and (view spoiler)[ I cant believe they are pretty much harrassing them to sign the papers saying they are criminals. Also I was very shocked that Lina had volunteered to draw the map and the guys face for the NKVD. I wasnt expecting her to steal the pen from them either. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 49 (view spoiler)[ I am really surprised someone didnt give Mr. Stalas trouble fort he way he was talking to Jonas. I am also glad they still have something to look forward to knowing that their friends and family are still alive. (hide spoiler)]

[Mei]

I read in some article that they deny what the previous Russians did.

[Courtney]

Omg! (view spoiler)[I really thought Jonas was going to die for a second. I am so glad he didn't. I am glad Lina and Andrius are talking again too. I really liked that all got to gather for the holidays as well.<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

I just finished part 2, and it still pretty good. (view spoiler)[ I cant help, but feel a little sad that they are seperating Lina and Andrius.I am so glad Jonas is doing alot better. He is probably my favorite character. (hide spoiler)]

[Tara]

Courtney wrote: "I just finished part 2, and it still pretty good. [spoilers removed]"

I felt the same way!! I was really scared about Jonas (view spoiler)[ but really glad that Andrius and Lina were talking again. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I too was glad Jonas was okay. He was such a sweet boy. (view spoiler)[The relationship between Andrius and Lina is amazing. I was glad they started to talk again and become friends and not allow everything going on destroy their friendship. Really good (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

So I just finished this book, and OMG I loved it. It was so beautifully written. It was sad (view spoiler)[ to see so many people die though. Especially the mother. I still don't know if their dad was dead though. I was scared that Jonas was going to die there for awhile though. I was shocked that Nikoli (the NKVD guard) sent a doctor to the camp. Thank gosh for that though.<\spoiler> Sorry if anything is spelt wrong I am on the bus, and don't have access to the book to look up the names. (hide spoiler)]

[Tessa]

Does anyone want to read this in march?

[Tara]

Courtney wrote: "So I just finished this book, and OMG I loved it. It was so beautifully written. It was sad [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ It was a sad book, and I could not believe it when her mother died. That was so sad, especially when she pleaded with them to help her. We never did find out if her father actually died, but I guess we have to believe that the intel was correct and he had. Although I loved the idea that this story was left as a time capsule, I have to admit there was lots of things I wish that I wish was in the letter like if she found out about what happened to her father. What happened to Andrius' mother? How did she finally reunite with Andrius? etc. I really liked the book though. (hide spoiler)]

[Tessa]

Well, I read it alone in the end. It was such an amazing story.
@Tara (view spoiler)[I also found that ending too quick and wished to have known more about what happened to everyone and how she managed to find Andrius. Also, to be stuck there for 12 years. It gives me shivers. (hide spoiler)]

[Tara]

Tessa wrote: "Well, I read it alone in the end. It was such an amazing story.
@Tara [spoilers removed]"

I know! I had the same feelings about the ending as well. I wish I knew how she found him again.

[Tessa]

Guess it wanted to leave the impression of a documentary, where what's important is what happened there, not after :P .
I remember this in a book about Nazi: "We must always remember. We must never forget so we won't let something like this to happen ever again."
A lot of romanian intellectuals were deported in that period of time and I'm happy to see some books concentrating on the horrors Stalin brought to the world as well. He was no better than Hitler. He just decided that all the smart people should die, because they were hard to control.

[Tati]

Leigh and I will be reading this on July 19! Feel free to join!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting July 19th. Happy Reading ☺

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[Tati]

Starting this now, a little later than intended, but another book got in the way (in a bad way)

[Tati]

Oh dear... This is going to be a tearjerker, I can already feel it.

What I'm particularly interested in is the fact that this is going to deal with WWII in Russia, something I haven't really seen in fiction. WWII historical fiction usually centers around the Western front.

[Tati]

I am wondering about Jonas' age.

(view spoiler)[ Right in the beginning, he seems to be a little boy. Then later on, in the train, he is smoking. (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

Lina's mother is so self-sacrificing! I don't know if I'd be able to do that in her situation

[Tati]

Finished it!

It got a little dull toward the end, and the ending itself felt rushed...

(view spoiler)[ What about their liberation? I wanted to see how Lina would deal with having enough food again, and living in decent conditions... (hide spoiler)]

[Irena BookDustMagic]

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Luna and I will be reading this today, May 16th.
Feel free to join us!

[Irena BookDustMagic]

Chapter 19 This is just so sad. I mean, we all knew (view spoiler)[the baby will die but still... (hide spoiler)]
I can already see this book is going to be the hard one.

[Irena BookDustMagic]

Chapter. 27 (view spoiler)[ This reminds me of Auschwitz so much! (hide spoiler)]

[Irena BookDustMagic]

Chapter 38: I totally knew that (view spoiler)[Andrius and his mother are working for NKVD. (hide spoiler)]

[Irena BookDustMagic]

Chap 50: What I don't understand is how (view spoiler)[that bold guy is still alive. (hide spoiler)]

[Irena BookDustMagic]

Chp 57 I have a feeling (view spoiler)[ Lina's father is dead. (hide spoiler)]

[Irena BookDustMagic]

Finished!!

Omg, this book is so good. The best book I've read this year so far.
I loved the story and writer's note.
(view spoiler)[I can't believe they had spend 12 years in Sibir. I'm glade her brother survived. And I'm glad she married that guy (I'm awful. with names). (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting April 25th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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[Kelly]

I started listening to the audiobook and I believe I’m at chapter 10.

[Kelly]

I’m at chapter 24 now and this book is sad but I haven’t started crying yet. I’m pretty sure I will be at the end.

(view spoiler)[There was no way the baby could have survived in those conditions :(.

I thought really stupid when her brother ‘smoked’ her book. What a jerk to take her book given by her grandmother.

And now they wanted to buy / sell them… Like the girl I wonder what the best path for them is or if there is even one. I hope they’ll survive but that’s probably not going to happen :( (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

End of part one (view spoiler)[The scene before the showers disgusted me so much and how they stared at them, touched them… I don’t have the words.

My spirits lifted up when the group tried to joke and laugh after that to try and forget even for one moment where they were.

I wondered when the first execution would occur :( Now I have the answer. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

I can’t help but feel like (view spoiler)[she’s going to get her family in trouble with her drawings. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

End of part 2 (view spoiler)[I really hope they will see each other again. It was so sad to see them being separated. I have no idea what’s in store for them… Nothing good I’m sure. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Finished - I really wished we had more details at the end and before the epilogue. I was like “it’s finished already?”. I was listening on audio so perhaps I should reread/listen the last two chapters or so in case I missed something. Anyway, this was a really great book and the explanations by the author at the end can help you understand what the situation was really like during those years.

[Luckyreadingreviews]

Sarah can we rest this again?

[Dr. Andy]

Lucky wrote: "Sarah can we rest this again?"

The thread is still good for another two weeks if you're reading it soon, plus I know one of my teammates will be reading this soon

[[deleted user]]

21.0% (view spoiler)[ Awww. Poor baby. I don’t know about that bald man he is so rude. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

45.0% (view spoiler)[ Awww poor Andres and his mom. I am glad he is helping others stay alive in their misfortunes. Lena stop judging him!!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

72.0% (view spoiler)[ Where are they going? How are they being picked? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

90.0% (view spoiler)[ Say it isn’t true. How does kresky know he is gone? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

94.0% (view spoiler)[ I wanna cry!! No! Not Elena! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished... I love that she is now (view spoiler)[ Mrs. Andrius!!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Kelly wrote: "I’m at chapter 24 now and this book is sad but I haven’t started crying yet. I’m pretty sure I will be at the end.

There was no way the baby could have survived in those conditions :(.

I thought..."

That baby part (view spoiler)[ was so sad... I thought the same too, there was no way that baby was going to make it but the mother had to be optimistic and after her baby doesn't make it those stupid soldiers killed her too! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Kelly wrote: "End of part one The scene before the showers disgusted me so much and how they stared at them, touched them… I don’t have the words.

My spirits lifted up when the group tried to joke and laugh af..."

they are gross, I can't believe they did that to Lina (view spoiler)[ gropped her breast and her having to feel those grimy nails and hands! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Kelly wrote: "I can’t help but feel like [spoilers removed]"

I was glad that the one that found them didn't rat her out.

[[deleted user]]

Kelly wrote: "End of part 2 [spoilers removed]"

yea... I am still wondering how that list was selected.

[[deleted user]]

Kelly wrote: "Finished - I really wished we had more details at the end and before the epilogue. I was like “it’s finished already?”. I was listening on audio so perhaps I should reread/listen the last two chapt..."

Yeah... in the end those people (view spoiler)[ saved her brother and some of the other children. I couldn't believe the bald man actually did want to help... but I was glad for the epilogue, there was hope that her father could possibly still be alive. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Lucky wrote: "Sarah can we rest this again?"

Lucky, if you comment on the planned buddy reads lists for may, abbie will change the date to whatever date you and your buddy have picked ☺
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...