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Книга российской журналистки, бывшей спецкорреспондентки "Новой газеты" Елены Костюченко. Книга рассказывает о том, как Россия медленно сползала в войну. Костюченко — одна из самых известных российских журналисток. В первые недели полномасштабного российского вторжения 2022 года она работала в Украине и выпустила несколько текстов для "Новой газеты", которые стали важными свидетельствами войны и преступлений, совершенных российскими военными. Во время войны Елене Костюченко пришлось уехать из России в Германию. Позднее, уже на территории ФРГ, ее, по всей видимости, пытались отравить.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
507 people are currently reading
7435 people want to read
About the author
Elena Kostyuchenko
6 books108 followersElena Kostyuchenko was born in Yaroslavl, Russia in 1987. She began working as a journalist when she was fourteen, and spent seventeen years reporting for Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s last major independent newspaper until it was shut down in the spring of 2022 in response to her reporting from Ukraine. She is the author of two books published in Russian, Unwanted on Probation and We Have to Live Here, and the recipient of the European Press Prize, the Gerd Bucerius Award, and the Paul Klebnikov Prize. Her newest book, I Love Russia: Reporting From a Lost Country was published with Penguin Press in 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews
October 13, 2023
Ah, yes. A ‘great’ book from a woman, who travelled to occupied Ukrainian territories and spread blunt lies.
Not to mention the title is wildly inappropriate, as Russia is a terroristic state. Does the publisher support terrorism? Just wondering.
Not to mention the title is wildly inappropriate, as Russia is a terroristic state. Does the publisher support terrorism? Just wondering.
September 8, 2023
A highly important piece of journalism that shines a necessary light on the reality of Russia. While I’ve seen some criticism of the journalist being Russian herself, I think that this writing is incredibly important because of that. It’s remarkable that this journalist has dedicated her work to telling the truth about the country she’s from, even when risking her own life to do so.
August 18, 2023
I am sure you have heard about “don’t judge the book by its cover”. The Autor is not just anti putin, “good Russian” or pro democracy - this overly used banality can’t describe the magnitude of Elena Kostyuchenko’s character. The Autor has been revealing and publishing numerous texts on Russian government crimes for decades, she was one of the first journalists who published proof materials in 2015 that Russian troops are present in Donbas, she also published crimes of Russian’a army crimes during the occupation or Kherson and other Ukranian cities in 2022, she found and revealed the torture prison where the Russian army held captives. She is constantly under the threat and risk to be murdered. She had to flee from Ukraine due to threats for her life. And so on. She is also an open lesbian and her girlfriend is another activist with cerebral palsy. Make me laugh that some people in this community in such plebeian manner and trivial statements denounce great authors based on their origin or book title.
October 13, 2023
"To be a journalist is to tell the truth." - nice words but its definately NOT about Elena Kostyuchenko cause she was caught number of times lying and supporting russ*an propaganda. I recommend you not to waste your time on this bullshit
November 18, 2023
To the people who are thinking about reading this book and are discouraged by a large amount of one star reviews — don’t be. Most of their authors have not even opened this book. They are either judging by the title or just being malicious for some other reason.
The title is divisive, yes. But like someone has already said, you can love you country and be horrified by what it does.
The book is a collection of stories about Russia. Things you don’t see because they are hidden away from public view by the people in power. Things that are horrifying, evil and heartbreaking. Things that in Russian news media were mostly either not mentioned at all, or mentioned in passing or just lied about.
It is also about hope. About people, who amidst all this evil, still find strength and power to fight it.
The title is divisive, yes. But like someone has already said, you can love you country and be horrified by what it does.
The book is a collection of stories about Russia. Things you don’t see because they are hidden away from public view by the people in power. Things that are horrifying, evil and heartbreaking. Things that in Russian news media were mostly either not mentioned at all, or mentioned in passing or just lied about.
It is also about hope. About people, who amidst all this evil, still find strength and power to fight it.
August 3, 2023
You must be fucking kidding me. This steaming pile of victimhood framing is a new low for Penguin.
November 2, 2025
В страната на Елена Костюченко (нищо украинско няма в нея, просто фамилията на първия съпруг на майка ѝ, който не ѝ е баща) няма място за:
✔️ разследващи журналисти, които изравят неприятни истини и имат нахалството да намекват за промяна,
✔️ бедни и социални слаби,
✔️ любители на собствения пол или с каквито и да е съмнения за своя или отсрещния пол,
✔️ миролюбци и изобщо пацифисти,
✔️ родени в етнически малцинства
✔️ любители на чистата и незамърсена природа и на щадящите я производства,
✔️ жени, които не знаят, че трябва да са безгласни предмети - ако не си траят, се считат за законна плячка,
✔️ правозащитници и природозащитници,
✔️ любопитни, непримирими, или критични, които имат глупостта и да са смели
✔️ инвалиди и луди.
В страната на Елена Костюченко и в нейните репортажи за вече закритата “Новая Газета” (архив все още е достъпен: https://novayagazeta.ru/authors/56) такива ги убиват:
🎯с куршум,
🎯с екологична катастрофа,
🎯с новичок,
🎯в затвора,
🎯в лудницата,
🎯с тормоз, бой и социално отхвърляне.
Защото те имат едно основно качество, което следва да бъде изкоренено - поставянето под въпрос на всемогъществото, всевластието и всезнанието на Държавата. Държавата знае най-добре, даже когато нищо не знае. Държавата е права, дори когато греши. Държавата убива, за да спаси. Който не е разбрал как е правилно да е патриот - или под земята, или в изолатор, или да си търси късмета извън нейните сияйни граници.
Страшен е светът на днешна Русия. Загноилите рани на стария комунизъм и на последвалата го мафиотска вакханалия на 90-те не е оставила никакъв шанс за нормалност освен малки островчета в Москва и Питер. Обитателите на тази Оруелова ферма не са непременно нещастни. Някои са си съвсем добре и са горди, че са част от могъщото течение на “всички правят така и ние сме велики.” Други са се отказали да мислят изобщо. Трети си подмятат милиардите, а четвърти са доволни като набият някой по-слаб, защото това ги прави силни. Броят на доволните е изумителен.
Уви, и Зигар, и Костюченко в крайна сметка напуснаха своята страна. За разлика от Политковская, Меркелов и Навални, които нямаха този късмет. Останало в Русия е само мълчанието.
November 21, 2023
People who rated this book 1 star and said it is Russian propaganda did not open this book.
It is a collection of stories about Russia. Stories that are not told by Russian officials. They are hidden by people of power but they are important. It was not an easy read and there are a lot of pain in these stories.
It is a collection of stories about Russia. Stories that are not told by Russian officials. They are hidden by people of power but they are important. It was not an easy read and there are a lot of pain in these stories.
October 13, 2023
Classical propaganda supporting russia, nothing else. Perfectly written from a standard propaganda-manual.
It’s unfortunate that such books are still being published nowadays.
It’s unfortunate that such books are still being published nowadays.
August 4, 2023
it's a shame to publish a book about a wolf in sheep's clothing
November 15, 2023
Костюченко, без сомнения, невероятная журналистка. Читать её тексты это резать себя ножом. Ощущение острой физической боли, безысходности, гнева, отчаяния не отпускают. Но в тот же момент, сколько любви, нежности и уважения к "маленькому" человеку, внимания к деталям, умения увидеть чувства, разделить их с героями статей. Эти истории останутся навсегда, это невозможно забыть. Забывать нельзя, чтобы оставаться людьми.
March 28, 2024
если бы можно было поставить этой книге десять звезд из пяти, я бы поставила. это теперь моя любимая книга. самая-самая страшная, страшнее всех ужасов, которые я когда-либо читала (страшнее только Алексиевич, но её я не дочитала даже до второй главы, хотя теперь хочу)
я тоже люблю Россию. как Лена. отчасти поэтому читать было так сложно. какой же ад на земле происходит в нашей стране. фашисткое государство, уничтожающее (пытающееся уничтожить) соседнее, Украину, фашисткое государство, уничтожающее своих же граждан. я ненавижу всё, что происходит с моей страной, как и Лена, у нее это читается в каждой странице.
Лена дала мне надежду. я посмотрела оба ее интервью (Гордеевой и Дудю) и я восхитилась тем, какая она светлая. как она сумела сохранить человека после того как стала свидетельницей этого кошмара. этого… даже слова такого нет, не могу подобрать. я люблю ее очень и надеюсь, что все её мечты сбудутся, цели станут реальностью.
это потрясающая книга. она очень реалистичная. она очень пронзительная. я много плакала. дышала через рот, кусала пальцы, закрывала и снова открывала. дозировала главы, хотя могла бы прочитать ее за один день, настолько она хороша с точки зрения языка, слога. читала лениным вкрадчивым голосом. очень современная, очень живая, очень ранящая.
я тоже люблю Россию. как Лена. отчасти поэтому читать было так сложно. какой же ад на земле происходит в нашей стране. фашисткое государство, уничтожающее (пытающееся уничтожить) соседнее, Украину, фашисткое государство, уничтожающее своих же граждан. я ненавижу всё, что происходит с моей страной, как и Лена, у нее это читается в каждой странице.
Лена дала мне надежду. я посмотрела оба ее интервью (Гордеевой и Дудю) и я восхитилась тем, какая она светлая. как она сумела сохранить человека после того как стала свидетельницей этого кошмара. этого… даже слова такого нет, не могу подобрать. я люблю ее очень и надеюсь, что все её мечты сбудутся, цели станут реальностью.
это потрясающая книга. она очень реалистичная. она очень пронзительная. я много плакала. дышала через рот, кусала пальцы, закрывала и снова открывала. дозировала главы, хотя могла бы прочитать ее за один день, настолько она хороша с точки зрения языка, слога. читала лениным вкрадчивым голосом. очень современная, очень живая, очень ранящая.
December 27, 2024
This is painful to read. Kostyuchenko visits decaying villages, abandoned buildings full of homeless people, environmental disaster zones, insane asylums, battlefields. She spends time with the people there, seeing how they live, the ways they talk, the daily realities they cope with. It is perhaps the most searingly realistic writing I’ve seen.
Here is something she must explain: Decency is not the same thing as morality—it is actually the opposite. A decent person follows established rules. For example, they’ll pay off a cop to avoid getting a speeding ticket—everyone does that. They obey their elders. They don’t insist on their rights … don’t piss off people more powerful than you.
This is the prevailing logic. Good people defend their leaders against subordinates. If problems arise, the priority is pinning the blame on inferiors. That’s far more important than fixing the problem. Those who investigate the problems caused by corrupt managers are traitors to their country. They get threatening notes like this:
There is no future. Those who worry about it are hypocrites. Think of the present. The present can change very fast, and suddenly you can find yourself completely alone.
Here is something she must explain: Decency is not the same thing as morality—it is actually the opposite. A decent person follows established rules. For example, they’ll pay off a cop to avoid getting a speeding ticket—everyone does that. They obey their elders. They don’t insist on their rights … don’t piss off people more powerful than you.
This is the prevailing logic. Good people defend their leaders against subordinates. If problems arise, the priority is pinning the blame on inferiors. That’s far more important than fixing the problem. Those who investigate the problems caused by corrupt managers are traitors to their country. They get threatening notes like this:
There is no future. Those who worry about it are hypocrites. Think of the present. The present can change very fast, and suddenly you can find yourself completely alone.
August 1, 2023
Le storie raccontate in questo libro coincidono, complessivamente, con le tante storie che colleghi e conoscenti russi mi hanno raccontato negli anni. Cosa succede se al governo di un paese immenso e complicato, dotato di risorse enormi e problemi in scala, metti direttamente la mafia?
Succede che chi vive già in condizioni miserabili vede le sue condizioni diventare ogni giorno più miserabili.
Succede che un piccolo gruppo di persone accede a un potere immenso in termini di denaro ma anche di mille altre cose, con l'unica clausola della spada di Damocle della rovina improvvisa che aleggia sulla testa e che spinge continuamente ad arraffare il massimo possibile nel minor tempo possibile.
Succede che chi sta in mezzo è lasciato a una scelta tra andarsene o essere complice.
Con dei paradossi.
Che i maggiori sostenitori del regime mafiosi sono quelli che hanno perso tutto, dipendono dalla elargizione da parte del potere di salvagenti sottodimensionati e comunque di ogni cambiamento temono che potrà perderli del tutto. E' diverso da quanto succede in certe aree degradate del Sud?
Che la classe media vive benino a patto di chiudere gli occhi, di diventare impermeabili a ciò che li circonda. E' diverso da quanto succede nel nostro paese.
Che ci si abitua a vivere in un paese di privilegi invece che di diritti e molti ne sono pure contenti. Meglio sapere che le file sono infinite ma noi abbiamo un amico che ce le farà saltare piuttosto che sapere che tutti devono fare una breve fila. Siamo diversi, noi?
Solo chi è lucido capisce che questo significa che un giorno dovrai accollarti una responsabilitàè non tua (e se ne vorrai uscire dovrai corrompere un magistrato), un giorno dovrai corrompere il medico per ottenere un farmaco altrimenti introvabile, un giorno dovrai allungare una bustarella a quello dei servizi sociali per evitare che il tuo anziano genitore finisca in un ospizio maleodorante e tante altre amenità del genere.
Elena Kostjucenko racconta in che modo il sistema di potere putiniano abbia corrotto ogni angolo della società russa, trasformandola in un dolente corpo malato sul quale pasteggiano pochi ricchi oligarchi e sopravvivono coloro che scelgono di non vedere. Un paese perduto, come recita il sottotitolo e, a mio parere, che abbiamo troppo a lungo foraggiato e tollerato. Oggi, con l'invasione dell'Ucraina, abbiamo sotto gli occhi cosa significhi convivere con un vicino del genere, che non esita neanche un secondo quando si tratta di lasciare i suoi rifiuti sul tuo pianerottolo.
Dispiace per i tanti russi fragili, cornuti e mazziati, vittime di un sistema che non da loro nulla di quello che promette. Dispiace per la piccola elite colta e democratica schiacciata tra la scelta di andarsene e quella di soffrire un malessere inenarrabile. Ma non ci riesce a immaginare quale catarsi della storia possa spazzar via i ricchi arroganti, restituire dignità agli umili, far ravvedere i complici.
Non stupisce che la russia putiniana abbia (avuto) successo in Italia: un paese europeo che ha sempre preferito i privilegi ai diritti.
Succede che chi vive già in condizioni miserabili vede le sue condizioni diventare ogni giorno più miserabili.
Succede che un piccolo gruppo di persone accede a un potere immenso in termini di denaro ma anche di mille altre cose, con l'unica clausola della spada di Damocle della rovina improvvisa che aleggia sulla testa e che spinge continuamente ad arraffare il massimo possibile nel minor tempo possibile.
Succede che chi sta in mezzo è lasciato a una scelta tra andarsene o essere complice.
Con dei paradossi.
Che i maggiori sostenitori del regime mafiosi sono quelli che hanno perso tutto, dipendono dalla elargizione da parte del potere di salvagenti sottodimensionati e comunque di ogni cambiamento temono che potrà perderli del tutto. E' diverso da quanto succede in certe aree degradate del Sud?
Che la classe media vive benino a patto di chiudere gli occhi, di diventare impermeabili a ciò che li circonda. E' diverso da quanto succede nel nostro paese.
Che ci si abitua a vivere in un paese di privilegi invece che di diritti e molti ne sono pure contenti. Meglio sapere che le file sono infinite ma noi abbiamo un amico che ce le farà saltare piuttosto che sapere che tutti devono fare una breve fila. Siamo diversi, noi?
Solo chi è lucido capisce che questo significa che un giorno dovrai accollarti una responsabilitàè non tua (e se ne vorrai uscire dovrai corrompere un magistrato), un giorno dovrai corrompere il medico per ottenere un farmaco altrimenti introvabile, un giorno dovrai allungare una bustarella a quello dei servizi sociali per evitare che il tuo anziano genitore finisca in un ospizio maleodorante e tante altre amenità del genere.
Elena Kostjucenko racconta in che modo il sistema di potere putiniano abbia corrotto ogni angolo della società russa, trasformandola in un dolente corpo malato sul quale pasteggiano pochi ricchi oligarchi e sopravvivono coloro che scelgono di non vedere. Un paese perduto, come recita il sottotitolo e, a mio parere, che abbiamo troppo a lungo foraggiato e tollerato. Oggi, con l'invasione dell'Ucraina, abbiamo sotto gli occhi cosa significhi convivere con un vicino del genere, che non esita neanche un secondo quando si tratta di lasciare i suoi rifiuti sul tuo pianerottolo.
Dispiace per i tanti russi fragili, cornuti e mazziati, vittime di un sistema che non da loro nulla di quello che promette. Dispiace per la piccola elite colta e democratica schiacciata tra la scelta di andarsene e quella di soffrire un malessere inenarrabile. Ma non ci riesce a immaginare quale catarsi della storia possa spazzar via i ricchi arroganti, restituire dignità agli umili, far ravvedere i complici.
Non stupisce che la russia putiniana abbia (avuto) successo in Italia: un paese europeo che ha sempre preferito i privilegi ai diritti.
December 1, 2024
why do the voices of imperialist shit russia sound louder than all the voices of Ukrainians? that is why this book is a parasite on grief.
read history, and do not sympathise with «good russians».
educate yourself:
Big russian lies
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa...
about propaganda
https://youtu.be/uPF9rInoM94?si=djFmE...
read history, and do not sympathise with «good russians».
educate yourself:
Big russian lies
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa...
about propaganda
https://youtu.be/uPF9rInoM94?si=djFmE...
January 11, 2024
I am still processing and will write a more full review later, but I wanted to say something after reading some of the other reviews…
This book was written by a journalist who worked for the last independent newspaper in Russia before it was shut down. She has had multiple colleagues murdered by the Putin regime. In this book she goes into detail about how the Russian state is destroying its citizens and covering up war crimes.
Anyone who says this is a piece of Russian propaganda has either not read the book or is a proxy of the Russian state. Read the book and see for yourself.
This book was written by a journalist who worked for the last independent newspaper in Russia before it was shut down. She has had multiple colleagues murdered by the Putin regime. In this book she goes into detail about how the Russian state is destroying its citizens and covering up war crimes.
Anyone who says this is a piece of Russian propaganda has either not read the book or is a proxy of the Russian state. Read the book and see for yourself.
May 24, 2023
"Le fotografie di Igor' Domnikov, Jurij Ščekočikin, Anna Politkovskaja, Stanislav Markelov, Anastasija Baburova e Natal'ja Estemirova sono appese sopra il tavolo che usiamo per le riunioni di pianificazine e per quelle più operative. Ogni volta cerchiamo di appendere l'ennesima foto in modo che non rimanga altro spazio sul muro. Quando non hai modo di difendere te stesso e i tuoi, diventi superstizioso.
Ma poi c'è sempre un nuovo omicidio, e i volti in bianco e nero devono stringersi.
Il posto per il nuovo arrivato si trova sempre."
Ma poi c'è sempre un nuovo omicidio, e i volti in bianco e nero devono stringersi.
Il posto per il nuovo arrivato si trova sempre."
November 21, 2024
I wanted to really love this book & give it 5 stars. However, to sum it up, this book was simple a mess. Maybe because the book was originally written in Russian & much was lost in translation. Books usually has one or two main characters & a story & several plots surrounding them. This book had too many characters to follow & way too many stories that didn’t relate to each other… If not for the very fascinating topic of corruption & evilness in Russia, I would have gave this book just one star. This nonfiction book was a waste of time & I wouldn’t recommend it.
December 26, 2023
Normally I do not write out reviews on here. But the amount of negative reviews coming from people who are triggered by the title and do not bother opening the book made me write this out. I have just finished this book and had to take several deep breaths. Clearly the title is sarcastic. This book is written by a queer woman who, like me, only wishes for a better world, a better life for people. There are no words to describe how brave, intelligent and empathetic Elena Kostyuchenko is. This book is filled with so much tragedy, so much honesty, it made me cry several times. This book is an essential read for anyone who wishes to understand ruzzia’s descent into fascism. Like one of the chapter’s names says, It Has Been Fascist For A Long Time (Open Your Eyes). Some chapters made me think about my own childhood growing up in Moscow and in deep russian countryside, how dreadful life is out there. From now on, when people would ask me “how was it growing up in russia?” I will tell them to read this book. Elena is truly a talented writer, because I thought it impossible to hate putin more than I already do, but this book made the hate for the fascist regime so much stronger. All I want now (more than ever) is for Ukraine to win the war (and for russia to be free, whatever that may look like), so now I will go and donate money to Ukrainian army (you should do the same).
October 25, 2023
This was a bit uneven, but mostly a very interesting look at average Russian life, and the desperation that seems to play into the plans of autocrats like Putin.
November 11, 2023
Unfortunate naming, but overall brilliant journalist work.
April 5, 2024
«А на что тратится любовь? Она горит и горит, пока не погаснет. Иногда ей удается осветить кусочек жизни — например, ветку сирени, и жизнь выходит из темноты, оказывается цветной. Но потом темнота возвращается».
«Я так люблю свою страну. И ненавижу государство» — эта цитата из песни Lumen —Государство идеально описывает мое отношение к России сегодня, вчера, год назад, три, пять, десять лет... Мне так больно за нее. За моих близких. За россиян. За граждан других стран. За нас за всех — за людей.
Очень трудно подбирать слова. Думаю, что не буду даже пытаться. Эту книгу важно прочитать россиянам. Прочитать и подумать. Когда, если не сейчас?
Скажу еще только одно: мы обязательно его переживем.
«Я так люблю свою страну. И ненавижу государство» — эта цитата из песни Lumen —Государство идеально описывает мое отношение к России сегодня, вчера, год назад, три, пять, десять лет... Мне так больно за нее. За моих близких. За россиян. За граждан других стран. За нас за всех — за людей.
Очень трудно подбирать слова. Думаю, что не буду даже пытаться. Эту книгу важно прочитать россиянам. Прочитать и подумать. Когда, если не сейчас?
Скажу еще только одно: мы обязательно его переживем.
November 22, 2023
Elena Kostyuchenko worked for Novaya Gazetta, an independent newspaper in Russia, for 17 years. She alternates short personal stories with long form articles/essays about life in Russia. Almost all of them are unrelentingly bleak as she shows how Russia fails its people over and over again. She takes us to Norilsk where the town company pollutes with immunity. We visit Beslan where Russian authorities killed over a hundred Russians (many of them children) in order to teach terrorists a lesson. Orphanages. Homes for the “mentally unstable”. The final chapter takes us to Ukraine where she sees the crimes of Russia first hand.
Ukrainians have a legitimate reason for hating Russia, but I guarantee that Elena Kostyuchenko would agree. After all she has been fighting Putin’s regime her entire adult life. A more apt name for the collection would be “I Hate Russia”.
This isn’t an easy or enjoyable read, but I think it is important for people to know where facism leads.
Ukrainians have a legitimate reason for hating Russia, but I guarantee that Elena Kostyuchenko would agree. After all she has been fighting Putin’s regime her entire adult life. A more apt name for the collection would be “I Hate Russia”.
This isn’t an easy or enjoyable read, but I think it is important for people to know where facism leads.
December 20, 2023
Книга представляет собой набор статей и репортажей за авторством Елены Костюченко, выходивших в Новой газете, перемежающийся автобиографическими зарисовками (взросление в Ярославле, вхождение в проф��ссию, ЛГБТ-активизм и т.д).
Для тех, кто читал Новую Газету и смотрел интервью Елены, которые она давала Гордеевой и Дудю, ничего принципиально нового в этой книге не будет.
Но, собранные воедино, эти материалы призваны показать нам, как страна на протяжении последних десятилетий катится, а затем и стремительно летит в пропасть. Как хтонь, притаившаяся по богом забытым провинциальным углам и деревням, постепенно расползается и поглощает всё вокруг.
Конечно, выборка материалов тут односторонняя, но ведь автор и не претендует на объективность. Эта книга исключительно личная, но этим она и ценна.
Костюченко тут на 100% следует заветам Герцена: "мы не лекарство, мы - боль".
Чтение не самое приятное, но, безусловно, необходимое.
Для тех, кто читал Новую Газету и смотрел интервью Елены, которые она давала Гордеевой и Дудю, ничего принципиально нового в этой книге не будет.
Но, собранные воедино, эти материалы призваны показать нам, как страна на протяжении последних десятилетий катится, а затем и стремительно летит в пропасть. Как хтонь, притаившаяся по богом забытым провинциальным углам и деревням, постепенно расползается и поглощает всё вокруг.
Конечно, выборка материалов тут односторонняя, но ведь автор и не претендует на объективность. Эта книга исключительно личная, но этим она и ценна.
Костюченко тут на 100% следует заветам Герцена: "мы не лекарство, мы - боль".
Чтение не самое приятное, но, безусловно, необходимое.
December 12, 2023
Kostyuchenko is everything a journalist should be. This book is a perfect intersection of engaging reportage and memoir. A critical look at Russia, because love means putting the time and effort into harsh criticism. Her prose is poetry. She excels at interview. She is candid and unimaginably empathetic, aware that you can only change something by understanding it, and that Putin does not represent the people of Russia, whose voices deserve to be heard. Her vulnerable yet confident voice leads the reader through the horrors of a contemporary Russia, and uplifts us with a reminder that amidst the tragedy live people who are trying to salvage their fallen country and right its wrongs from inside.
December 15, 2023
It was very interesting to read her complex perspective on her own country and the view from a person who went to Ukraine documenting the war and being from Russia. She comes across in these pieces as someone critical of her country but who still loves the people within it. I think this is best read in conjunction with A Small Corner of Hell: Dispatches from Chechnya by Anna Politkovskaya, who was an inspiration for the author and allows one to get a wider scope of critical journalism in Russia from the perspective of Russians (that is available in English). I also think Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich illuminates the Soviet nostalgia present in many of the people that Kostyuchenko interviews, and its a good book in its own right.
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April 20, 2025Alternant relats personals amb les cròniques periodístiques (algunes un pèl massa llargues, potser) que va escriure, Kostiutxenko narra la Rússia d'avui dia: abandonada a tots nivells i a tots els estrats socials (especialment els més baixos). Beu moltíssim de la mestra Aleksevitx. Hi ha històries que fan feredat, d'altres històries que aquí també vivim d'alguna manera. Que valenta aquesta dona, només puc sentir admiració per gent així.
November 18, 2023
I feel like a lot of people read the title and "reviewed"/rated it based on that...I don't think you can really read this book and come away with the impression that the author is advocating for what she describes is/was happening in Russia.
January 17, 2024
« When human connection is lost, all this is left is the State. »
This collection of previously published journalistic pieces and personal essays spans over a decade and is deeply fucking harrowing. Kotsyuchenko, a Russian lesbian working for [what was] Russia’s last independent journal, writes long, detailed pieces of critical journalism that illuminate the ravages of Putin’s Russia. Her interest lies in the lives of ordinary people living in rural areas, queer and disenfranchised people, and the way the state has failed them entirely. Justice does not prevail in Kotsyuchenko’s portrayal, and yet justice is achieved in the way she writes: to give dignity back to these people that have been so immensely failed by their country. This book is not a hopeful one, nor is it a happy one, but it is one that is meant to expand one’s horizon, I think. I think it is a particularly important book to publish in english at this time and frankly, I’m surprised PRH had the balls to do it.
This collection of previously published journalistic pieces and personal essays spans over a decade and is deeply fucking harrowing. Kotsyuchenko, a Russian lesbian working for [what was] Russia’s last independent journal, writes long, detailed pieces of critical journalism that illuminate the ravages of Putin’s Russia. Her interest lies in the lives of ordinary people living in rural areas, queer and disenfranchised people, and the way the state has failed them entirely. Justice does not prevail in Kotsyuchenko’s portrayal, and yet justice is achieved in the way she writes: to give dignity back to these people that have been so immensely failed by their country. This book is not a hopeful one, nor is it a happy one, but it is one that is meant to expand one’s horizon, I think. I think it is a particularly important book to publish in english at this time and frankly, I’m surprised PRH had the balls to do it.
November 21, 2023
I'm not sure what I expected going into this, but I really liked the style of this as completely different vignettes on different areas and cultures in Russia. It doesn't necessarily even attempt to expand each of those to other parts of Russia or Russian society-- an almost feral subculture in abandoned hospital, a remote settlement of indigenous Russians, a mental hospital, a community attempting to survive and heal after a massacre at a school.... all are just presented as snapshots of Russia.
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