Journey into the Whirlwind

Rating:
Summary: simply amazing
Review: One of the definitive works concerning the Soviet gulags. It's first hand point of view completely draws one into the thoughts of the prisoners. The utter despair of the situation is conveyed clearly. It is simply awful. The psychological depths of this work are the most intriguing parts, especially how loyal Communists deal with a situation caused by Communists. Reminds me a lot of Jews in Germany, pre-Kristalnacht, and the thoughts and denials that ran through their minds. May the world please give up the idea which is communism.

Rating:
Summary: A very well written, intense autobiorgaphy.
Review: The moment I opened this book I was immersed within it. Eugenia Ginzberg is a superb writer who uses her skill to deeply communicate the horror that the political prisoners in the Stalin years experienced. The story reflects the extremes of the human spirit: evil and love. It's not possible to read this book without being emotionally effected. It gave me a deeper appreciation for many of the freedoms, rights, and simple pleasures I have in my life. The book ends rather abruptly, though it apparently picks up in another book, "Within the Whirlwind." I will be getting my hands on that because I really want to know what happened to Ms. Ginzberg. After reading this book, I feel like I know her in some way.

Rating:
Summary: A very well written, intense autobiorgaphy.
Review: The moment I opened this book I was immersed within it. Eugenia Ginzberg is a superb writer who uses her skill to deeply communicate the horror that the political prisoners in the Stalin years experienced. The story reflects the extremes of the human spirit: evil and love. It's not possible to read this book without being emotionally effected. It gave me a deeper appreciation for many of the freedoms, rights, and simple pleasures I have in my life. The book ends rather abruptly, though it apparently picks up in another book, "Within the Whirlwind." I will be getting my hands on that because I really want to know what happened to Ms. Ginzberg. After reading this book, I feel like I know her in some way.

Rating:
Summary: Simply fantastic!
Review: This book is truly amazing, and the author a remarkable woman. She courageously breaks into the tradition of Russian writing (considered solely a male domain for too long) and tells with amazing, graphic detail the perils she experienced during Stalin's purge. Most important, however, she recounts how she was able to make herself strong and withstand unimaginable adversity. The translation is masterful and allows you to get lost in this stunning memoir. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book, but please don't misinterpret... read it closely
Review: This is a response to the review "UNIMAGINABLE EVIL OF COMMUNISM" and the reviewer's blatant ignorance, condemning "apologists of communism." Apparantly this reviewer knows nothing at all about communism, nor what it is. The whole point is that true communism was never tried in the Soviet Union. To force everything evil done in the Soviet Union under the blanket of communism is irresponsible, rather foolish, and just plain false. A close reading of this book will bring forth Ginzburg's true feelings about communism, which will surprise you given the hardships she suffered... which makes me question whether that reviewer read the book at all.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book, but please don't misinterpret... read it closely
Review: This is a response to the review "UNIMAGINABLE EVIL OF COMMUNISM" and the reviewer's blatant ignorance, condemning "apologists of communism." Apparantly this reviewer knows nothing at all about communism, nor what it is. The whole point is that true communism was never tried in the Soviet Union. To force everything evil done in the Soviet Union under the blanket of communism is irresponsible, rather foolish, and just plain false. A close reading of this book will bring forth Ginzburg's true feelings about communism, which will surprise you given the hardships she suffered... which makes me question whether that reviewer read the book at all.

Rating:
Summary: the strength of the human spirit
Review: This is the book that I read every time that I am very depressed, because when you read this book and just when you think that things cannot get worse for Evgenia, they do - over and over and over again, and for as bad as things are for her, there is always someone in a worse predicament than she is in. It really puts your life into perspective. The book is well written and is really informative about the Stalin era in the Soviet Union, but it reads as a personal account and not as a page out of a history book. Even people in prison can be petty and selfish and these people do not always look out for each other - but sometimes they do, in remarkable ways. This book really tells about human nature and the strength of the human spirit to endure, without being preachy at all. This should be on everyone's must-read list.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Very moving! Another must read: Within the Whirlwind, it is equally moving.

Rating:
Summary: A gripping book in the tradition of "Night" by Weisel
Review: Wow, what a book this was! It is sad to see the trials that Ginzburg is put through, but her strength and ability to endure are incredible. This book gives great insight into the terror of Stalinist Russia and the imprisonment camps and prisons that Communist party members and criminals were sent to. This book is gripping, readable and informative. It will remind you of the book "Night" by Elis Weisel, if you've read that book before. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: Her son's books are better.
Review: Yevgenia Ginzberg has authored the moving books of the "whirlwind" saga, but they are pale and boring compared to her son's books: Generations of Winter and The Winter's Hero. There was a lot more to the Stalin era than the gulag, and her son, Vasily Aksoyonov, who grew up in the gulag, tells the story of Russia much more movingly. His characters and their story will break your heart.