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The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Set against the backdrop of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea tells a gripping and deeply personal story of survival, trust, and betrayal in a world on the brink of change. The story follows Elena, a devoted mother fighting to protect her children, Ioana and Beriță, as the country erupts into chaos. As Nicolae Ceaușescu's authoritarian regime collapses, the streets of Timișoara turn into battlegrounds where ordinary people must make impossible choices. Elena's brother, Robi, finds himself drawn into the revolution's violent undercurrents when he places his trust in Dragoș, a charismatic yet enigmatic agent of the secret police. Dragoș presents himself as an ally, but as Robi peels back the layers of deception, he discovers that loyalty and truth are far more dangerous than he ever imagined. As the walls of dictatorship crumble, so does Robi's perception of the people around him-forcing him to question his own complicity in a system built on fear.
Meanwhile, two British journalists, Lizzie and Frankie, arrive in Romania, expecting to report on the fall of a dictator from a safe distance. But as they venture deeper into the uprising, they become unwilling participants in a revolution they struggle to fully understand. Through their eyes, the Western world's perception of Romania is confronted with the raw, unfiltered reality of life under an oppressive regime.As Timișoara burns and the people of Romania fight for their future, The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea weaves together multiple perspectives, showing the cost of revolution-not just in political terms, but in the personal sacrifices made by those who dare to hope for something better. It is a story of love and loss, of trust and betrayal, and of the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced.
Meanwhile, two British journalists, Lizzie and Frankie, arrive in Romania, expecting to report on the fall of a dictator from a safe distance. But as they venture deeper into the uprising, they become unwilling participants in a revolution they struggle to fully understand. Through their eyes, the Western world's perception of Romania is confronted with the raw, unfiltered reality of life under an oppressive regime.As Timișoara burns and the people of Romania fight for their future, The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea weaves together multiple perspectives, showing the cost of revolution-not just in political terms, but in the personal sacrifices made by those who dare to hope for something better. It is a story of love and loss, of trust and betrayal, and of the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 19, 2026
There are so many things wrong with this book:
- Style
This could be the translator's wrongdoing, but this book reads like a third-grader essay - cumbersome, heavy with repetitiveness.
- Storyline gaps
From a letter that was burnt but then appeared again, to factual misalignment, this added injury to insult
- Characters
All characters in the book a shallow, illogical and single-layered, serving stereotypes both through actions and words.
- Significance
Praised as "shedding light on the Revolution", I find this highly unlikely - unless the reader has a prior in-deptg understanding of Communist agenda, the book will cause more confusion, than clarity.
And before anyone comes swinging at me - I grew up in a neighbouring country, that has it's own terrors from Communism and I have childhood memory of the picture of the dead bodies of the Ceaușescu family, published in the newspapers.
- Style
This could be the translator's wrongdoing, but this book reads like a third-grader essay - cumbersome, heavy with repetitiveness.
- Storyline gaps
From a letter that was burnt but then appeared again, to factual misalignment, this added injury to insult
- Characters
All characters in the book a shallow, illogical and single-layered, serving stereotypes both through actions and words.
- Significance
Praised as "shedding light on the Revolution", I find this highly unlikely - unless the reader has a prior in-deptg understanding of Communist agenda, the book will cause more confusion, than clarity.
And before anyone comes swinging at me - I grew up in a neighbouring country, that has it's own terrors from Communism and I have childhood memory of the picture of the dead bodies of the Ceaușescu family, published in the newspapers.
December 7, 2025
“The spirits of the dead in Romania knock on your door, and blond comes down the road.”
I had the honor of reading the novel The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea by Faizah Muhammad before its release on December 1st, Romania’s National Day, being a Romanian historical fiction novel, written by a brilliant woman. Today, I have the honor of telling you about its 328 pages that bring to life Romania in 1989, in a work written in English but enriched with authentic Romanian words, introducing both Romanian and foreign youth to the Romanian spirit of the country’s most turbulent period.
The novel cinematically presents the story of the protagonists Elena, Robi, and Dragoș, the experience of two journalists arriving in Romania and sent to Timișoara by the Securitate, as well as the perspective of the Ceaușescu couple.
I loved the authentic portrayals of Romanian character types and especially of Timișoara, carrying the imprint of the author’s childhood in this beautiful city.
Although the book can be placed within historical fiction, its realistic descriptions turn it into a collective memoir of the suffering of freedom-loving Romanians—witnesses who, through faith, gathered with tormented souls in Faizah’s mind and were freed from the curse of ignorance, so that through her pen the bloody regime would not be forgotten or repeated.
Have you ever heard of “Operation Trandafirul” or the “Pitești Experiment”? Most parents and grandparents who lived through that era had not—because the authorities kept it hidden, not to frighten the population with the true face of communism: that of strigoi.
I had the honor of reading the novel The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea by Faizah Muhammad before its release on December 1st, Romania’s National Day, being a Romanian historical fiction novel, written by a brilliant woman. Today, I have the honor of telling you about its 328 pages that bring to life Romania in 1989, in a work written in English but enriched with authentic Romanian words, introducing both Romanian and foreign youth to the Romanian spirit of the country’s most turbulent period.
The novel cinematically presents the story of the protagonists Elena, Robi, and Dragoș, the experience of two journalists arriving in Romania and sent to Timișoara by the Securitate, as well as the perspective of the Ceaușescu couple.
I loved the authentic portrayals of Romanian character types and especially of Timișoara, carrying the imprint of the author’s childhood in this beautiful city.
Although the book can be placed within historical fiction, its realistic descriptions turn it into a collective memoir of the suffering of freedom-loving Romanians—witnesses who, through faith, gathered with tormented souls in Faizah’s mind and were freed from the curse of ignorance, so that through her pen the bloody regime would not be forgotten or repeated.
Have you ever heard of “Operation Trandafirul” or the “Pitești Experiment”? Most parents and grandparents who lived through that era had not—because the authorities kept it hidden, not to frighten the population with the true face of communism: that of strigoi.
May 17, 2026
Communism was hardly a rose garden. The regime was horrific everywhere — as someone living in an ex-communist country, I know exactly how the forty years beneath the red star ravaged not only the country and economy, but infested the society from within. Romania under Ceaușescu, however, was a different level of hell — it stripped people not only of freedom, but of dignity. The nation lived with fear, surveillance, cold apartments, empty stores, hunger, and the constant feeling that even their thoughts did not belong to them anymore. Entire neighbourhoods and historic districts were demolished in massive projects driven by the dictator’s cult of personality. Children died of starvation. Women’s rights to their bodies were restricted, and overcrowded orphanages that emerged from this period became infamous for starvation, disease, abuse, and children dying in conditions that shocked the world after the regime fell. The more a person learns, the more it becomes evident why the Romanian revolution had no option whatsoever of ever becoming a velvet one.
Faizah Muhammad does not gloss over any of the horrific events and realities that defined communist Romania — instead, she faces it head-on and presents it to the reader as it truly was. The novel might map the story of only one Romanian family but actually extends to serve as a mirror of the entire Romanian nation. It is full of despair, but also of passion and determination, perhaps even stubbornness, which are all the traits that make this nation so beautiful and dear to me. It was as emotionally haunting as it was educative — it delves deeper into Operațiunea Trandafirul which is criminally unknown among people outside of Romania, and the long chapter dedicated to Experimentul Pitești was extraordinary (and I did have to take breaks in-between as my stomach was doing backflips). I could sing praise about this work until the rest of my life, but the novel itself speaks volumes for itself.
I sincerely hope this masterpiece will receive more and more recognition and attention from readers. It is a love letter, as well as a cry of sorrow, to an unbreakable nation.
Faizah Muhammad does not gloss over any of the horrific events and realities that defined communist Romania — instead, she faces it head-on and presents it to the reader as it truly was. The novel might map the story of only one Romanian family but actually extends to serve as a mirror of the entire Romanian nation. It is full of despair, but also of passion and determination, perhaps even stubbornness, which are all the traits that make this nation so beautiful and dear to me. It was as emotionally haunting as it was educative — it delves deeper into Operațiunea Trandafirul which is criminally unknown among people outside of Romania, and the long chapter dedicated to Experimentul Pitești was extraordinary (and I did have to take breaks in-between as my stomach was doing backflips). I could sing praise about this work until the rest of my life, but the novel itself speaks volumes for itself.
I sincerely hope this masterpiece will receive more and more recognition and attention from readers. It is a love letter, as well as a cry of sorrow, to an unbreakable nation.
January 20, 2026
It was so so gorgeously and accurately from a historical pov written that it made me very sad when I saw the odd typo - it meant that the editor or publisher didn’t value it as much as I did and as much as it deserves. I will do my best to spread its name because we need this type of literature, we need gorgeous accurate historical literature about our past💙 it hurt with every single page because I knew what would happen (if you know the history) in the mixture of missing home so much and knowing my parents lived their youth in that, but this made it more gorgeous especially as it proved itself to be accurate.
What I recommend for future publishings of this is that the Romania words and phrases that aren’t translated within the dialogue are translated at the bottom of the page. It’s not a common language and I fear this will confuse or frustrate readers - it’s lovely for me to read my own mother tongue but if someone wants to learn Romania they will themselves.
+ that letter that Elena burnt - if someone did make a copy or if she burnt it years later that needs clarifying
What I recommend for future publishings of this is that the Romania words and phrases that aren’t translated within the dialogue are translated at the bottom of the page. It’s not a common language and I fear this will confuse or frustrate readers - it’s lovely for me to read my own mother tongue but if someone wants to learn Romania they will themselves.
+ that letter that Elena burnt - if someone did make a copy or if she burnt it years later that needs clarifying
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
I don’t even know what to say about this book because it genuinely left me speechless. It’s beautifully written and such a compelling read. I don’t often get emotional when reading books, but this almost had me crying on the train, and even thinking about what happens in it now makes me feel very emotional. It’s an extremely moving story that shows you exactly what it was like to live through the Romanian Revolution and how scary it was. I knew nothing about the Romanian Revolution before reading this book (and embarrassing enough, I didn’t even know that it happened), so I thought it would be difficult to understand, but I understood it perfectly and became very attached to a few of the characters. I really enjoyed the different POV’s in the book, and actually found the inclusion of Nicolae’s POV extremely interesting to read, as it gave a very fascinating look into how his mind worked and what his ruling was really like from his perspective. I also really liked the inclusion of the Romanian language in the book. Any other author would’ve just used English to make the English readers comfortable, but having the Romanian phrases and words scattered throughout the dialogue really helps you to feel immersed in the story. It’s really insane to think that not only did this actually happen, but stuff like this is still happening in so many countries today. I think it’s really important that these events are displayed and immortalised in the media for everyone to see, so that change can happen. I can’t recommend this book enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2025
I cannot recommend this historical fiction book enough! It captivates life during the communist period of Romania through the eyes of the commoners who would have experienced Ceaușescu’s rule. Faizah did a splendid job at walking through the tough, restrictive times of 1989 through multiple perspectives such as a mother, a young student and an elderly father looking to guide his children (in a most surprising and unexpected manner). It is also shown through the eyes of a member of the Securitate forced to impose the harsh rules of the dictator, as well as 2 foreign journalists who learn about the monstrosities Ceaușescu committed when revealed by each of these characters and in person too by witnessing a government-lead shooting to “control” an uprising.
The book starts off with Ceausescu’s point of view, showing us first hand his god complex and vision of superiority and heroism, which gets contrasted heavily with the next chapter which reveals life as it truly was for Romanian citizens under Ceaușescu’s rule. I resonated with Robert’s character the most as I could almost see myself in his shoes as a student observing the injustice and prejudice surrounding him and taking charge to to change that and fight against it. His love and care for his sister and her children is unmatched, just as Elena’s self sacrificial and motherly love for them. Reading about the utter malice and selfishness of the Ceaușescus as they plan to mask their massacre of innocent civilians through lies just to save their reputation was incredibly disturbing, especially when combined with the immense grief Elena suffered upon hearing of her young son’s death and of the inhumanity of having his cremated corpse taken away from her under Operațiunea Trandafirului. Faizah captivated the raw emotion of sorrow in the retrieval of the boy’s ashes with the reminder that his life was stripped from him at just the age of 6. The atrocities committed in Experimentul Pitești made my soul ache, only made possible by the extensive research the author has clearly put into this book. The last chapter depicts Ioana’s iteration of what happened after Ceaușescu’s execution as she was a mere child when everything took place. The ending tells of no happy every after as justice was never brought to the families who have lost their loved ones and how the current political situation in Romania is just as corrupt, maybe even worse than in the Communist time, with a prevailing lack of unity in our nation. Ioana speaks of historical teachings not encompassing the entirety of the horrendous events and who were murdered cruelly. This is exactly why such a book is so paramount in teaching others of the whole truth. I was able to learn so much about my own history as I never got to, having grown up in England.
The book starts off with Ceausescu’s point of view, showing us first hand his god complex and vision of superiority and heroism, which gets contrasted heavily with the next chapter which reveals life as it truly was for Romanian citizens under Ceaușescu’s rule. I resonated with Robert’s character the most as I could almost see myself in his shoes as a student observing the injustice and prejudice surrounding him and taking charge to to change that and fight against it. His love and care for his sister and her children is unmatched, just as Elena’s self sacrificial and motherly love for them. Reading about the utter malice and selfishness of the Ceaușescus as they plan to mask their massacre of innocent civilians through lies just to save their reputation was incredibly disturbing, especially when combined with the immense grief Elena suffered upon hearing of her young son’s death and of the inhumanity of having his cremated corpse taken away from her under Operațiunea Trandafirului. Faizah captivated the raw emotion of sorrow in the retrieval of the boy’s ashes with the reminder that his life was stripped from him at just the age of 6. The atrocities committed in Experimentul Pitești made my soul ache, only made possible by the extensive research the author has clearly put into this book. The last chapter depicts Ioana’s iteration of what happened after Ceaușescu’s execution as she was a mere child when everything took place. The ending tells of no happy every after as justice was never brought to the families who have lost their loved ones and how the current political situation in Romania is just as corrupt, maybe even worse than in the Communist time, with a prevailing lack of unity in our nation. Ioana speaks of historical teachings not encompassing the entirety of the horrendous events and who were murdered cruelly. This is exactly why such a book is so paramount in teaching others of the whole truth. I was able to learn so much about my own history as I never got to, having grown up in England.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2026
I loved this book and enjoyed the multiple pov. The historical side was fascinating. Would recommend
April 2, 2026
I love this book. It’s one of my new favorite books in my library. I’m a Romanian and this just hit hard. Very beautifully written and true to history as well.
July 26, 2026
Quite possibly the worst book I've ever read. I honestly wondered if I had accidentally bought an early version that had not yet been edited. Sloppy writing with errors and contradictory plot points. Incoherent character motivations and voices. An unexplained jump back in time for torture pornography that did not offer anything to the plot, and several instances of outdated slurs used that in no way were necessary for plot or character development. DO NOT bother reading this. How in the world this has gotten popular reviews is beyond me. I never review books on here and I hated this enough to make it my first.
February 22, 2026
A genuinely brilliant book- blew my expectations completely out the water and educated me about a horrific tragedy which sadly would have passed me by otherwise.
I can’t recommend it enough to anyone considering reading!
The only thing I reckon it needs is a good soundtrack to go alongside it but hey what do I know
I can’t recommend it enough to anyone considering reading!
The only thing I reckon it needs is a good soundtrack to go alongside it but hey what do I know
July 19, 2026
4⭐️
Honestly I did really really enjoyed this book-the story was great, so liked the characters, the pacing-all that was good.
But what the hell was the ending? Until the last chapter it was great, but the epilogue? It left me with more questions than answers, it was super confusing, new characters being introduced, Dragoș’s story had so much potential and the author just didn’t utilize it, I also feel like she basically skipped the ending of most of the characters. Also it feels so weird-Iona ought to be in her late 40s at the end end of the book but she refuses to write emails or use technology-as someone who is from a post communist country, looking at Iona and my mother/aunt or even grandmother, this just doesn’t really sit well with me and feels a bit too far fetched.
I am so disappointed with the ending honestly.
Also, just like Suzanne Collins often gets hate for making Snow too likable in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I too feel like the author painted Nicolae Ceaușescu as too kind and honestly as a victim of his own regime and of his wife and she makes him sound as a kinder person than he was.
Honestly I did really really enjoyed this book-the story was great, so liked the characters, the pacing-all that was good.
But what the hell was the ending? Until the last chapter it was great, but the epilogue? It left me with more questions than answers, it was super confusing, new characters being introduced, Dragoș’s story had so much potential and the author just didn’t utilize it, I also feel like she basically skipped the ending of most of the characters. Also it feels so weird-Iona ought to be in her late 40s at the end end of the book but she refuses to write emails or use technology-as someone who is from a post communist country, looking at Iona and my mother/aunt or even grandmother, this just doesn’t really sit well with me and feels a bit too far fetched.
I am so disappointed with the ending honestly.
Also, just like Suzanne Collins often gets hate for making Snow too likable in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I too feel like the author painted Nicolae Ceaușescu as too kind and honestly as a victim of his own regime and of his wife and she makes him sound as a kinder person than he was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2026
i’m a big fan of this book it’s made me want to look more into countries in the soviet union
i feel like there were parts well written and it could be because this is an indie author but some of the books marketing and parts of the book itself felt geared towards booktok but other than that i would reccomend this book!
i feel like there were parts well written and it could be because this is an indie author but some of the books marketing and parts of the book itself felt geared towards booktok but other than that i would reccomend this book!
November 25, 2025
The description of The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea immediately caught my attention, especially because it focuses on such an important moment in Romanian history — the 1989 Revolution. I can’t wait to read it, not only because I’m Romanian, but also because I’m passionate about history and about seeing how the world outside our country perceives these events. It fascinates me to see international authors exploring Romania’s past and bringing it to life through deeply emotional and human stories.
I can’t wait to read it as it promises a gripping blend of personal struggle, political tension, and resilience. The intensity of the historical backdrop combined with the human experiences described in the summary makes the book feel both powerful and meaningful. I’m really looking forward to discovering how the authors capture the atmosphere of that time and the personal stories shaped by such a pivotal moment in history.
I can’t wait to read it as it promises a gripping blend of personal struggle, political tension, and resilience. The intensity of the historical backdrop combined with the human experiences described in the summary makes the book feel both powerful and meaningful. I’m really looking forward to discovering how the authors capture the atmosphere of that time and the personal stories shaped by such a pivotal moment in history.
July 15, 2026
Words cannot even describe how much this book hurt. The constant emotional rollercoaster, my heart racing throughout every single pov, it was my best read of this year. I really hope this author keeps on writing, even if it is not exactly what she wants to ultimately do, her story telling is too perfect to not be used anymore.
July 8, 2026
this was the book that got me out of a four year long reading slump. the moment i opened it and started reading, i felt i couldn’t put it back down. everything was incredible, from the characters, to the pacing, to how accurately the events are described. being from romania, and having people close to me that lived through the revolution in 1989, i felt incredibly touched. never did i think i could fall in love with reading again.
June 23, 2026
This was a hard book to get into. I was initially excited to read it as there isn’t a lot written about the Romanian Revolution. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. The reporters Lizzie and Frankie were pointless and really added nothing to the overall plot. The story was predictable and even the plot twist was lackluster.
If you are interested in a fiction book about this time period, Ruta Sepetys ‘ I Must Betray You, is much better. It gives a full picture of what the average person went through. Another option would be the memoir by Carmen Bugan, Burying the Typewriter.
If you are interested in a fiction book about this time period, Ruta Sepetys ‘ I Must Betray You, is much better. It gives a full picture of what the average person went through. Another option would be the memoir by Carmen Bugan, Burying the Typewriter.
July 1, 2026
As someone whose parents grew up in communism in Eastern Europe, I've grown up hearing about the unbelievable living conditions they experienced. Faizah Muhammad has written such a moving novel, that I'm overcome with shock of how cruel humanity has proven to be, time and time again.
The story of Nicolae Ceaușescu's authoritarian regime and its fall, alongside Elena and Robi's day to day lives in Romania, is one that will leave you shook to your core.
The story of Nicolae Ceaușescu's authoritarian regime and its fall, alongside Elena and Robi's day to day lives in Romania, is one that will leave you shook to your core.
April 13, 2026
‘The Romanian people were liberty seekers, free-spirited and kind-hearted. There was no way that their leader could get away with the murder of innocent children without facing the consequences that he should’ve faced long ago.’
A love letter to the Romanian people, and all that they have suffered through. Also a reminder that freedom is one of the greatest gifts there is.
This book was daunting at points, the fear of not being able to trust anyone around you and being scared that you would be the next person that was arrested is haunting.
A great book, which I definitely recommend.
A love letter to the Romanian people, and all that they have suffered through. Also a reminder that freedom is one of the greatest gifts there is.
This book was daunting at points, the fear of not being able to trust anyone around you and being scared that you would be the next person that was arrested is haunting.
A great book, which I definitely recommend.
April 20, 2026
This was beautifully written. You would expect a book covering so many peoples perspectives to be confusing and rushed, I did not feel that way at all. I really enjoyed this book and the tie into today’s political climate in the final chapter was important and the cherry on top. I especially appreciate the chapter written from Beriță’s and the professors perspectives, I knew when I saw that that they would both die in their chapters, however it did not feel like a spoiler. Overall I loved reading the complex emotions of the characters in a situation I could not fathom experiencing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
Great story that captures 1989 Romania very well. A must read!
April 17, 2026
Crying at work reading this - my poor Ioana
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July 22, 2026Cred ca am citit despre cartea aceasta foarte curand dupa ce a fost publicata, intr-un Newsletter international. Mi-a placut coperta, titlul, dar cand am citit despre ce e vorba, interesul era deja 100% activat si cartea deja pe TBR. Inca o carte despre Revolutia din 1989 scrisa in engleza si pomenita in newslettere internationale? Sigur ca vreau sa o citesc, desi sunt suprasaturata de subiectul comunism si Revolutie.
Pana cand sa o cumpar eu in varianta ebook, aflasem deja ca autoarea, desi nu are un nume romanesc, e totusi romanca si nu de oriunde, ci tocmai din Timisoara mea iubita. I-am dat puncte bonus dinainte sa ma apuc de ea.
O familie, ca multe altele, isi duce zilele una cate una, indurand pene de curent, frig, foamete, lipsa bucuriei de orice fel. Aceasta familie e totusi putin altfel: e educata in secret, vorbitoare de limba engleza, cu mintea critica si deschisa. Tatal familiei lipseste, insa bunicul, Profesorul, e o figura patriarhala atotstapanitoare. Robi, fratele mai tanar al Elenei (mama lui Berita si a Ioanei) e un rebel inversunat, insa precaut, atent la tot ce se intampla in jurul lui. Dragos e vecinul turnator la Securitate, care, insa isi schimba blana destul de devreme, ii castiga increderea lui Robi si impreuna pun umarul la rasturnarea comunismului. Sau, cel putin incearca pana sa dea tragedia peste ei. Si cand da peste ei, da si peste noi, ca e rost de plans.
Pe plan secund avem niste reporteri din Marea Britanie trimisi sa scrie despre ororile si situatia adevarata si ascunsa a unui stat invaluit in mister in care nimeni nu intra si din care nimeni nu iese. Am perceput acest fir narativ ca pe o solutie de a reda cat de opac era tot ce se intampla in Romania in anii aceia, cat de putin se stia in afara granitelor despre teroarea in care se traia.
Romanul incepe in ultimele zile ale lui noiembrie 1989 si urmareste personajele prin Bucuresti, Timisoara si Londra. In Bucuresti ii urmarim pe sotii Ceausescu, le ascultam gandurile, conversatiile si planurile, si o surprindem pe Elena in toiul conducerii tarii in timp ce Nicolae e consumat de tot felul de ganduri si sentimente nedemne de faima lui. Am avut senzatia ca toata vina e aruncata pe Elena, in timp ce Tatucu' pare complet debusolat. Nu am suficiente cunostinte sa comentez, dar am reticente in a crede intru totul varianta asta.
Cam pe la 70-80% oroarea incepe sa isi arate dintii si si-i infige nemilos cand primim o mostra de cruzime din cadrul Fenomenului Pitesti. Am incercat sa stau departe de aceasta bucata a istoriei pentru ca auzisem cate ceva si nu voiam sa aprofundez… Ei, cartea asta a fost necrutatoare.
N-am dat nici un rating cartii pentru ca i-am gasit cartii si cusururi pe care nu le voi mentiona aici pentru ca sunt chestii de gust si n-are rost sa influentez parerea cuiva care nici nu observa ce mi-a atras mie atentia.
Pana cand sa o cumpar eu in varianta ebook, aflasem deja ca autoarea, desi nu are un nume romanesc, e totusi romanca si nu de oriunde, ci tocmai din Timisoara mea iubita. I-am dat puncte bonus dinainte sa ma apuc de ea.
O familie, ca multe altele, isi duce zilele una cate una, indurand pene de curent, frig, foamete, lipsa bucuriei de orice fel. Aceasta familie e totusi putin altfel: e educata in secret, vorbitoare de limba engleza, cu mintea critica si deschisa. Tatal familiei lipseste, insa bunicul, Profesorul, e o figura patriarhala atotstapanitoare. Robi, fratele mai tanar al Elenei (mama lui Berita si a Ioanei) e un rebel inversunat, insa precaut, atent la tot ce se intampla in jurul lui. Dragos e vecinul turnator la Securitate, care, insa isi schimba blana destul de devreme, ii castiga increderea lui Robi si impreuna pun umarul la rasturnarea comunismului. Sau, cel putin incearca pana sa dea tragedia peste ei. Si cand da peste ei, da si peste noi, ca e rost de plans.
Pe plan secund avem niste reporteri din Marea Britanie trimisi sa scrie despre ororile si situatia adevarata si ascunsa a unui stat invaluit in mister in care nimeni nu intra si din care nimeni nu iese. Am perceput acest fir narativ ca pe o solutie de a reda cat de opac era tot ce se intampla in Romania in anii aceia, cat de putin se stia in afara granitelor despre teroarea in care se traia.
Romanul incepe in ultimele zile ale lui noiembrie 1989 si urmareste personajele prin Bucuresti, Timisoara si Londra. In Bucuresti ii urmarim pe sotii Ceausescu, le ascultam gandurile, conversatiile si planurile, si o surprindem pe Elena in toiul conducerii tarii in timp ce Nicolae e consumat de tot felul de ganduri si sentimente nedemne de faima lui. Am avut senzatia ca toata vina e aruncata pe Elena, in timp ce Tatucu' pare complet debusolat. Nu am suficiente cunostinte sa comentez, dar am reticente in a crede intru totul varianta asta.
Cam pe la 70-80% oroarea incepe sa isi arate dintii si si-i infige nemilos cand primim o mostra de cruzime din cadrul Fenomenului Pitesti. Am incercat sa stau departe de aceasta bucata a istoriei pentru ca auzisem cate ceva si nu voiam sa aprofundez… Ei, cartea asta a fost necrutatoare.
N-am dat nici un rating cartii pentru ca i-am gasit cartii si cusururi pe care nu le voi mentiona aici pentru ca sunt chestii de gust si n-are rost sa influentez parerea cuiva care nici nu observa ce mi-a atras mie atentia.
August 6, 2026
"The Romanian people were liberty seekers, free-spirited, and kind-hearted"
“The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea” by Faizah Muhammad brings to light the darkness of the Romanian’s Revolution from 1989. A revolution that still has power over the contemporary society.
As a Romanian myself, part of it wasn’t new to me, especially because I’ve heard stories of the communism from my parents, the way that life was for them then. And also I can say that growing up in the 2000s in a Romania that was slowly trying to regain its footing, I was able to see and finally understand where certain ways of life originate from.
This book shared a story of grief and the author didn’t shy away from portraying the dark aspects of that period, including the horrors of “Experimentul Pitesti” and the sadness that such regime brought into the people that lived through it.
I found the writing very accessible as well as the story telling. And I can say that this book is a must read for anyone that is interested in the way that the communism affected lives, history in general and also just to understand why the world they live in has been shaped the way it did.
Besides the little spelling mistakes I found in the version I had, I think that the execution was done very well. And I look up to the author just because they had the courage and gut to actually write this story and research it.
In comparison to another historical fiction I read about the same period, I think that this story didn’t shy away from the real darkness of it all.
I was very eager to read this book and I can say that it didn’t disappoint.
“The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea” by Faizah Muhammad brings to light the darkness of the Romanian’s Revolution from 1989. A revolution that still has power over the contemporary society.
As a Romanian myself, part of it wasn’t new to me, especially because I’ve heard stories of the communism from my parents, the way that life was for them then. And also I can say that growing up in the 2000s in a Romania that was slowly trying to regain its footing, I was able to see and finally understand where certain ways of life originate from.
This book shared a story of grief and the author didn’t shy away from portraying the dark aspects of that period, including the horrors of “Experimentul Pitesti” and the sadness that such regime brought into the people that lived through it.
I found the writing very accessible as well as the story telling. And I can say that this book is a must read for anyone that is interested in the way that the communism affected lives, history in general and also just to understand why the world they live in has been shaped the way it did.
Besides the little spelling mistakes I found in the version I had, I think that the execution was done very well. And I look up to the author just because they had the courage and gut to actually write this story and research it.
In comparison to another historical fiction I read about the same period, I think that this story didn’t shy away from the real darkness of it all.
I was very eager to read this book and I can say that it didn’t disappoint.
July 4, 2026
I was a bit skeptical at first, not gonna lie. Before reading a book, I usually scan the reviews from goodreads to see what the general public thinks and while there were numerous good reviews about it, the multiple POV's made me think that it would be an overcrowded book.
How wrong was I?
The multiple POV's are very good for this book, since every romanian experienced the revolution in an unique mode. Even though, the ending at first was a bit underewhelming for me, when I got to the epilogue, I realised how good the story actually was. I loved the fact that the author did not write the ending as a fairytale one, "and then they live happily ever after", which showcased the actual truth of the romanian society.
I whole heartedly recomand this book to any reader, but especially to the young and old romanian readers. <3
*"Our leaders wield the name of God like a weapon - they tell us that they are the faithful Messiahs, the 'chosen' ones that will bring our country back to its 'Christian roots'. Yet their actions don't spark an ounce of Christianity that my mother taught us about as kids, and the qualities that religion tells us to strive for. They lie and cheat, but the people believe their faces when they draw a cross on their own chests in front of thousands of flashing cameras, mocking everything that we believe in"*
How wrong was I?
The multiple POV's are very good for this book, since every romanian experienced the revolution in an unique mode. Even though, the ending at first was a bit underewhelming for me, when I got to the epilogue, I realised how good the story actually was. I loved the fact that the author did not write the ending as a fairytale one, "and then they live happily ever after", which showcased the actual truth of the romanian society.
I whole heartedly recomand this book to any reader, but especially to the young and old romanian readers. <3
*"Our leaders wield the name of God like a weapon - they tell us that they are the faithful Messiahs, the 'chosen' ones that will bring our country back to its 'Christian roots'. Yet their actions don't spark an ounce of Christianity that my mother taught us about as kids, and the qualities that religion tells us to strive for. They lie and cheat, but the people believe their faces when they draw a cross on their own chests in front of thousands of flashing cameras, mocking everything that we believe in"*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2026
3.5 🌟
I’m so happy a writer chose to focus their story on a side of history that is not much talked about, and perhaps not as much in an anglophone audience. It brought to attention the harsh realities of the 1989 Romanian Revolution in the city it started in - Timisoara. This story is important, especially since I have personal family links to that revolution though in Sibiu (I appreciated the little mention of it in the book!)
I admire the writer’s grit to being self-published. I’m glad to say I got her book from Cărturești in Bucharest ☺️
I loved how the book includes many words and sentences in Romanian! It made the story more alive and I got to learn new words. I like the idea of multiple POVs as it shows the different perspectives and sides of the one revolution. It certainly felt that the author made it as historically accurate as possible with creative liberties.
That being said, I felt the narration style didn’t click with me personally. The book didn’t go by as fast as I’d hoped for, but I’m still glad I read it.
I’m so happy a writer chose to focus their story on a side of history that is not much talked about, and perhaps not as much in an anglophone audience. It brought to attention the harsh realities of the 1989 Romanian Revolution in the city it started in - Timisoara. This story is important, especially since I have personal family links to that revolution though in Sibiu (I appreciated the little mention of it in the book!)
I admire the writer’s grit to being self-published. I’m glad to say I got her book from Cărturești in Bucharest ☺️
I loved how the book includes many words and sentences in Romanian! It made the story more alive and I got to learn new words. I like the idea of multiple POVs as it shows the different perspectives and sides of the one revolution. It certainly felt that the author made it as historically accurate as possible with creative liberties.
That being said, I felt the narration style didn’t click with me personally. The book didn’t go by as fast as I’d hoped for, but I’m still glad I read it.
July 29, 2026
2,5/5
Unfortunately, I liked this book less than I wanted to. I really wanted to enjoy it, especially because the story and its historical setting had so much potential, but the writing made it difficult for me to fully connect with it.
The storie often feels uneven: sometimes it lacks depth, while at other times it feels unnecessarily elaborate. The narrative also doesn’t always flow naturally, with certain passages seeming to come out of nowhere or not quite leading naturally into what follows. There are also quite a few grammatical errors throughout the book, which made the writing feel even less polished. At times, it honestly felt more like a first draft than a finished novel.
I kept wondering whether some of these issues could have been avoided with more thorough editorial work. I also couldn’t help wondering if there was some rush to publish it. If I'm not mistaken, the book was released on December 1st, which is Romania’s National Day. I wonder whether the desire to have it published by that date meant that the manuscript didn’t get as much revision as needed.
There is definitely an interesting story here, but for me, the execution unfortunately didn’t live up to its potential.
Unfortunately, I liked this book less than I wanted to. I really wanted to enjoy it, especially because the story and its historical setting had so much potential, but the writing made it difficult for me to fully connect with it.
The storie often feels uneven: sometimes it lacks depth, while at other times it feels unnecessarily elaborate. The narrative also doesn’t always flow naturally, with certain passages seeming to come out of nowhere or not quite leading naturally into what follows. There are also quite a few grammatical errors throughout the book, which made the writing feel even less polished. At times, it honestly felt more like a first draft than a finished novel.
I kept wondering whether some of these issues could have been avoided with more thorough editorial work. I also couldn’t help wondering if there was some rush to publish it. If I'm not mistaken, the book was released on December 1st, which is Romania’s National Day. I wonder whether the desire to have it published by that date meant that the manuscript didn’t get as much revision as needed.
There is definitely an interesting story here, but for me, the execution unfortunately didn’t live up to its potential.
August 4, 2026
I really wanted to like this book and to learn more about my country’s history. Unfortunately, I learned about as much as I did at the Ceaușescu house tour in Bucharest (where they refused to answer any questions about politics). The writing was poorly edited, the storyline and plot points confusing and erratic, and I had to really force myself to finish the book. The most enjoyable part was reading some Romanian phrases that were interspersed through the novel.
July 29, 2026
2,25⭐️
Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one as much as I’d hoped. The sociopolitical background and underlying story is heartbreaking, but somehow I didn’t feel the emotional repercussions at all. I didn’t feel connected to our characters and disliked the writing style, although that might be because of the way it was translated (I found several typos). I did learn a lot about this painful period in the history of Romania, and will definitely do some more research about it, but ultimately this was a pretty disappointing read for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one as much as I’d hoped. The sociopolitical background and underlying story is heartbreaking, but somehow I didn’t feel the emotional repercussions at all. I didn’t feel connected to our characters and disliked the writing style, although that might be because of the way it was translated (I found several typos). I did learn a lot about this painful period in the history of Romania, and will definitely do some more research about it, but ultimately this was a pretty disappointing read for me.
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