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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 72 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 13, 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.
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.
September 11, 2026
Marketing hoax at its finest.
I love debunking internet liars, and today I’m urging people to do some basic research before believing all this TikTok marketing.
One must applaud the author for running a damn successful shock-value-based marketing scheme and having the audacity to seemingly lie about anything and everything surrounding this book. It’s clever. One must give her that.
I pre-ordered the book during its early release dates and have been watching the social media gurgle with a glass of martini in hand. What started as an entertaining little game of spot-the-lie has now ended with me having to say that this scheme has become infuriatingly obscene and, frankly, insulting to my country, Romania.
I’ve been prompted to write this after seeing the author claim that the Romanian government has banned this book because of its “controversial secret information on communist Romania and the revolution.” (I'm kind of paraphrasing).
Hah... Where do I even begin?
Throughout this promotional campaign, the author has claimed, among other things:
- “The book is a UK bestseller.” No major retail chart or recognised industry database appears to recognise this title as such. Don’t trust me, speak to an industry professional and verify it yourself.
- “The book has been included in the US curriculum.” Such decisions generally go through multiple layers of administrative approval. And, frankly, given the spelling, syntax and factual issues in this book, I’d be fascinated to see exactly where and how this happened.
- “The Romanian government is trying to ban the book.” Get a grip. No, the Romanian government is not coming after this book. No, this book does not contain some previously undisclosed government secrets about communist Romania. It contains nothing remotely resembling the great state secret the marketing campaign would have you believe. This is laughable Gen Z drama. Anyone born before 1989 can only roll their eyes.
And these are only some of the claims that seem to appear every so often when sales need another little bump online.
My dearest people: please use your brains before buying everything you’re being fed on social media. Google is your best friend.
The author also seems rather fond of writing about herself in the third person on social media, apparently in a way designed to encourage search engines and AI systems to associate certain descriptions and accolades with her name.
Posts praising her own work, written as though they were independent coverage, are certainly an interesting strategy. There’s nothing inherently wrong with self-promotion. Authors have to promote their books. But there is something deeply cringey about manufacturing the appearance of external validation.
And despite all the claims surrounding this book, I have yet to see a respectable media outlet reporting on its launch in the past 12 months.
Onto the insulting bits.
The author repeatedly presents this as the only historical fiction book covering Romanian communism and the revolution.
Again: get a grip.
There is an enormous body of Romanian literature dealing with communism, the revolution, the dictatorship, the aftermath and the lived experience of those years. To repeatedly position oneself as uniquely occupying this territory is not only demonstrably ridiculous; it is also deeply disrespectful to the writers, historians and survivors who have spent decades documenting it.
Then there’s the seemingly endless collection of titles. Calling oneself an astrophysicist while still a student? Laughable Gen Z cringe. Calling oneself a filmmaker, director and producer after putting together a childish YouTube short film? Sure. Claiming the book is soon to become a major motion picture when the associated fundraiser has raised roughly 800€? Come on.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an indie creator. There is nothing wrong with making films, writing books, experimenting, crowdfunding or dreaming big. I love that spirit.
What I find ridiculous is the avalanche of grandiose titles and claims seemingly being attached to the book in order to manufacture authority and prestige.
The way this book is being marketed is insulting to anyone who lived through Romanian communism, lived through the Revolution, or had family members directly affected by the regime. The author didn't experience these things. That, in itself, is completely fine. You don't have to have lived through an historical period to write historical fiction. But perhaps don't then position yourself as sitting at the absolute pinnacle of Romanian communist fiction while simultaneously making sweeping claims about being the most important, most relevant, most loved or most authoritative writer covering my country's history.
Any Romanian intellectual who has spent years writing, researching or reporting on this subject can only facepalm.
I know how to spot a cheeky marketing campaign. I know the little tricks. I understand shock value, manufactured controversy, strategic self-promotion and social media engagement. But this one has genuinely gotten on my nerves. It has insulted me, and it has insulted my Romanian family personally.
The book itself is riddled with spelling mistakes, incoherent sentences, childish and melodramatic takes on Romanian communism, questionable fact-checking (or perhaps a preference for inventing one's own facts), plot holes and dialogue that is, at times, straight-up laughable.
One of my favourites is the apparent claim that Romanians didn't speak multiple languages. I had to facepalm myself again just now.
And I'll stop there.
It isn't the worst book I've ever read, but it isn't far removed from what feels like a teenager's first attempt at melodramatic historical fiction.
Ah yes, one more thing.
The author, who is seemingly based in Temesvar, seems rather proud of the city's presence in the book. Personally, I could have done without it. There is very little in the book that reflects the spirit, culture or particular character of Banat. And I'm not even from Banat myself. Heck, I'm just a poor historian. What do I know?
The bottom line:
As a Romanian, I find it deeply insulting that the author repeatedly presents herself as the best, most relevant, most loved and most important contemporary historical writer of my history.
Romania has a vast repertoire of genuinely excellent books about communism, the dictatorship, the Revolution and the decades surrounding them. Go read those. Maybe then come back and tell me this is the only one.
The author might be a pathological liar. She might simply have created an outrageously cheeky marketing persona. Maybe it's all an elaborate character.
Who knows?
What I do know is that this marketing campaign is full of p**p, and I'm genuinely disappointed by how many people seem willing to believe it without doing even five minutes of research.
Please. Fact. Check.
PS: let's not even mention the book cover art.
I love debunking internet liars, and today I’m urging people to do some basic research before believing all this TikTok marketing.
One must applaud the author for running a damn successful shock-value-based marketing scheme and having the audacity to seemingly lie about anything and everything surrounding this book. It’s clever. One must give her that.
I pre-ordered the book during its early release dates and have been watching the social media gurgle with a glass of martini in hand. What started as an entertaining little game of spot-the-lie has now ended with me having to say that this scheme has become infuriatingly obscene and, frankly, insulting to my country, Romania.
I’ve been prompted to write this after seeing the author claim that the Romanian government has banned this book because of its “controversial secret information on communist Romania and the revolution.” (I'm kind of paraphrasing).
Hah... Where do I even begin?
Throughout this promotional campaign, the author has claimed, among other things:
- “The book is a UK bestseller.” No major retail chart or recognised industry database appears to recognise this title as such. Don’t trust me, speak to an industry professional and verify it yourself.
- “The book has been included in the US curriculum.” Such decisions generally go through multiple layers of administrative approval. And, frankly, given the spelling, syntax and factual issues in this book, I’d be fascinated to see exactly where and how this happened.
- “The Romanian government is trying to ban the book.” Get a grip. No, the Romanian government is not coming after this book. No, this book does not contain some previously undisclosed government secrets about communist Romania. It contains nothing remotely resembling the great state secret the marketing campaign would have you believe. This is laughable Gen Z drama. Anyone born before 1989 can only roll their eyes.
And these are only some of the claims that seem to appear every so often when sales need another little bump online.
My dearest people: please use your brains before buying everything you’re being fed on social media. Google is your best friend.
The author also seems rather fond of writing about herself in the third person on social media, apparently in a way designed to encourage search engines and AI systems to associate certain descriptions and accolades with her name.
Posts praising her own work, written as though they were independent coverage, are certainly an interesting strategy. There’s nothing inherently wrong with self-promotion. Authors have to promote their books. But there is something deeply cringey about manufacturing the appearance of external validation.
And despite all the claims surrounding this book, I have yet to see a respectable media outlet reporting on its launch in the past 12 months.
Onto the insulting bits.
The author repeatedly presents this as the only historical fiction book covering Romanian communism and the revolution.
Again: get a grip.
There is an enormous body of Romanian literature dealing with communism, the revolution, the dictatorship, the aftermath and the lived experience of those years. To repeatedly position oneself as uniquely occupying this territory is not only demonstrably ridiculous; it is also deeply disrespectful to the writers, historians and survivors who have spent decades documenting it.
Then there’s the seemingly endless collection of titles. Calling oneself an astrophysicist while still a student? Laughable Gen Z cringe. Calling oneself a filmmaker, director and producer after putting together a childish YouTube short film? Sure. Claiming the book is soon to become a major motion picture when the associated fundraiser has raised roughly 800€? Come on.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an indie creator. There is nothing wrong with making films, writing books, experimenting, crowdfunding or dreaming big. I love that spirit.
What I find ridiculous is the avalanche of grandiose titles and claims seemingly being attached to the book in order to manufacture authority and prestige.
The way this book is being marketed is insulting to anyone who lived through Romanian communism, lived through the Revolution, or had family members directly affected by the regime. The author didn't experience these things. That, in itself, is completely fine. You don't have to have lived through an historical period to write historical fiction. But perhaps don't then position yourself as sitting at the absolute pinnacle of Romanian communist fiction while simultaneously making sweeping claims about being the most important, most relevant, most loved or most authoritative writer covering my country's history.
Any Romanian intellectual who has spent years writing, researching or reporting on this subject can only facepalm.
I know how to spot a cheeky marketing campaign. I know the little tricks. I understand shock value, manufactured controversy, strategic self-promotion and social media engagement. But this one has genuinely gotten on my nerves. It has insulted me, and it has insulted my Romanian family personally.
The book itself is riddled with spelling mistakes, incoherent sentences, childish and melodramatic takes on Romanian communism, questionable fact-checking (or perhaps a preference for inventing one's own facts), plot holes and dialogue that is, at times, straight-up laughable.
One of my favourites is the apparent claim that Romanians didn't speak multiple languages. I had to facepalm myself again just now.
And I'll stop there.
It isn't the worst book I've ever read, but it isn't far removed from what feels like a teenager's first attempt at melodramatic historical fiction.
Ah yes, one more thing.
The author, who is seemingly based in Temesvar, seems rather proud of the city's presence in the book. Personally, I could have done without it. There is very little in the book that reflects the spirit, culture or particular character of Banat. And I'm not even from Banat myself. Heck, I'm just a poor historian. What do I know?
The bottom line:
As a Romanian, I find it deeply insulting that the author repeatedly presents herself as the best, most relevant, most loved and most important contemporary historical writer of my history.
Romania has a vast repertoire of genuinely excellent books about communism, the dictatorship, the Revolution and the decades surrounding them. Go read those. Maybe then come back and tell me this is the only one.
The author might be a pathological liar. She might simply have created an outrageously cheeky marketing persona. Maybe it's all an elaborate character.
Who knows?
What I do know is that this marketing campaign is full of p**p, and I'm genuinely disappointed by how many people seem willing to believe it without doing even five minutes of research.
Please. Fact. Check.
PS: let's not even mention the book cover art.
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 1, 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.
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.
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.
July 22, 2026
I saw this book everywhere, everyone was talking highly of it, I watched the author speak about it, I know Romania’s history, hell, I’m Romanian, so I simply had to buy it. Surely it was going to be amazing, right?
Not really! While I admire the author’s efforts, especially as a young writer, I sympathise and even agree with her choice of writing it in English for an international audience, and I congratulate her for the desire to write on the chosen topic and the design of writing from the perspective of different characters, I could not begin to tell you just how tragically and disappointingly (below) average this book is. The topic is interesting but the execution is not ideal.
The main issue is the writing style, which manages the paradox of being both cumbersome and infantile, with awkward phrases, underdeveloped speech and dialogue, and unnatural flow which altogether leave the reader perplexed and confused regarding what actually is happening in the book and how the action progresses. I found myself wondering many times “What is the point of this conversation? Where is this going? What is happening and what I am meant to be feeling here?”
For such a topic, the book fails to transmit or create any real emotion. Everything falls flat. It does not manage to immerse the reader into the world, it does not create the intended atmosphere, and, perhaps as a result of that, everything is unbelievably underwhelming. Everything is both so in your face, the author spelling it out for you, and at the same time shockingly superficial. Instead of literally describing every cliche of the era, building emotional, psychological, and environmental depth would have made it more palatable.
The characters also lack depth despite the efforts to portray their inner struggles. Attempts are made at portraying the subtle but deep emotions and meanings associated with basic Romanian words, and while I can understand what the author attempted to do with the use of so so so many Romanian words, explaining them, quite literally, in the very next sentence defeats the purpose of having them in. Even though one can argue that international readers need this netflix-level of in your face (sort of) context, again, this could have been avoided if the depth of the era was properly created throughout the book. It almost feels like the author has no faith in the reader to understand big ideas, which was infuriating, annoying and quite frankly boring.
Relatedly, and aside from plot wholes and inaccuracies, the books is full of cliche depictions of the daily life and daily speech and dialogue. The story would have been much better cemented and portrayed if the author had delved into historical research about that time outside of what I can only assume to have been some general and superficial conversations with some family members and friends who have some (personal) idea about communism in Romania.
A good editor could have improved the book. As it stands, it was a struggle to get through.
I have seen a lot of positive, 5 star remarks from fellow Romanians and I wonder whether we as people are so grateful when anything is written or filmed about “us” that we wilfully disregard the quality of the work in exchange for a, any, moment in the spotlight.
Not really! While I admire the author’s efforts, especially as a young writer, I sympathise and even agree with her choice of writing it in English for an international audience, and I congratulate her for the desire to write on the chosen topic and the design of writing from the perspective of different characters, I could not begin to tell you just how tragically and disappointingly (below) average this book is. The topic is interesting but the execution is not ideal.
The main issue is the writing style, which manages the paradox of being both cumbersome and infantile, with awkward phrases, underdeveloped speech and dialogue, and unnatural flow which altogether leave the reader perplexed and confused regarding what actually is happening in the book and how the action progresses. I found myself wondering many times “What is the point of this conversation? Where is this going? What is happening and what I am meant to be feeling here?”
For such a topic, the book fails to transmit or create any real emotion. Everything falls flat. It does not manage to immerse the reader into the world, it does not create the intended atmosphere, and, perhaps as a result of that, everything is unbelievably underwhelming. Everything is both so in your face, the author spelling it out for you, and at the same time shockingly superficial. Instead of literally describing every cliche of the era, building emotional, psychological, and environmental depth would have made it more palatable.
The characters also lack depth despite the efforts to portray their inner struggles. Attempts are made at portraying the subtle but deep emotions and meanings associated with basic Romanian words, and while I can understand what the author attempted to do with the use of so so so many Romanian words, explaining them, quite literally, in the very next sentence defeats the purpose of having them in. Even though one can argue that international readers need this netflix-level of in your face (sort of) context, again, this could have been avoided if the depth of the era was properly created throughout the book. It almost feels like the author has no faith in the reader to understand big ideas, which was infuriating, annoying and quite frankly boring.
Relatedly, and aside from plot wholes and inaccuracies, the books is full of cliche depictions of the daily life and daily speech and dialogue. The story would have been much better cemented and portrayed if the author had delved into historical research about that time outside of what I can only assume to have been some general and superficial conversations with some family members and friends who have some (personal) idea about communism in Romania.
A good editor could have improved the book. As it stands, it was a struggle to get through.
I have seen a lot of positive, 5 star remarks from fellow Romanians and I wonder whether we as people are so grateful when anything is written or filmed about “us” that we wilfully disregard the quality of the work in exchange for a, any, moment in the spotlight.
Read
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.
March 28, 2026
Mii de mulțumiri autoarei pentru o copie în avans în schimbul unui review sincer.
"Cei mai iubiți oameni se simt adesea cei mai singuri, iar cei mai urâți se amăgesc crezând că lumea îi acceptă așa cum sunt. Oamenii cu adevărat răi nu par să creadă niciodată că rănesc pe alții..."
Ceea ce iubesc cel mai tare la o ficțiune istorică este faptul că nu trebuie să trăiești un anumit eveniment pentru a îl înțelege. Lucrul important este să știi să asculți și să oferi șoaptelor o voce.
"Ceașca viselor frânte" este o mașină a timpului spre o lume gri și rece, plină de cozi și frici care par atât de îndepărtate, dar care au lăsat cicatrici încă nevindecate.
Povestea începe cu puțin timp înaintea Revoluției din Timișoara și prezintă perspectiva unor personaje de care îți este imposibil să nu te îndrăgostești. Prezența unor jurnaliști străini este un contrast perfect dintre "normalitatea" din Occident și cea cu care tinerii revoluționari erau obișnuiți. În plus, relațiile care se alcătuiesc pe parcurs sunt mai umane decât ar fi fost permise, iar asta chiar te face să te întrebi dacă ceea ce citești este într-adevăr ficțiune.
Citind alte cărți înainte despre Revoluția din București, dar ascultând și atâtea interviuri, conferințe etc., perspectiva lui "Ceașcă" este ca o gură de aer proaspăt. Nu pot fi de acord cu una dintre afirmațiile sale din perspectivă istorică, dar a fost interesant să cunosc contextul unor următoare evenimente la care iau parte personajele principale.
Pentru prima dată am citit și despre Operațiunea Trandafirul, care a rămas cu mine adânc. Un secret sumbru care mă bucur că a fost abordat, pentru că oricât de studiat ar fi regimul comunist în școli, acest lucru încă se încearcă a fi ascuns.
Dacă ai ascultat măcar o dată o poveste din perioada comunistă (și sunt sigură că ai făcut-o), poate această carte te va face să înțelegi ceea ce înseamnă libertatea cu adevărat și de ce tinerii se agață atât de mult de ea.
"Cei mai iubiți oameni se simt adesea cei mai singuri, iar cei mai urâți se amăgesc crezând că lumea îi acceptă așa cum sunt. Oamenii cu adevărat răi nu par să creadă niciodată că rănesc pe alții..."
Ceea ce iubesc cel mai tare la o ficțiune istorică este faptul că nu trebuie să trăiești un anumit eveniment pentru a îl înțelege. Lucrul important este să știi să asculți și să oferi șoaptelor o voce.
"Ceașca viselor frânte" este o mașină a timpului spre o lume gri și rece, plină de cozi și frici care par atât de îndepărtate, dar care au lăsat cicatrici încă nevindecate.
Povestea începe cu puțin timp înaintea Revoluției din Timișoara și prezintă perspectiva unor personaje de care îți este imposibil să nu te îndrăgostești. Prezența unor jurnaliști străini este un contrast perfect dintre "normalitatea" din Occident și cea cu care tinerii revoluționari erau obișnuiți. În plus, relațiile care se alcătuiesc pe parcurs sunt mai umane decât ar fi fost permise, iar asta chiar te face să te întrebi dacă ceea ce citești este într-adevăr ficțiune.
Citind alte cărți înainte despre Revoluția din București, dar ascultând și atâtea interviuri, conferințe etc., perspectiva lui "Ceașcă" este ca o gură de aer proaspăt. Nu pot fi de acord cu una dintre afirmațiile sale din perspectivă istorică, dar a fost interesant să cunosc contextul unor următoare evenimente la care iau parte personajele principale.
Pentru prima dată am citit și despre Operațiunea Trandafirul, care a rămas cu mine adânc. Un secret sumbru care mă bucur că a fost abordat, pentru că oricât de studiat ar fi regimul comunist în școli, acest lucru încă se încearcă a fi ascuns.
Dacă ai ascultat măcar o dată o poveste din perioada comunistă (și sunt sigură că ai făcut-o), poate această carte te va face să înțelegi ceea ce înseamnă libertatea cu adevărat și de ce tinerii se agață atât de mult de ea.
January 29, 2026
I am conflicted about this book. When i first started reading i wanted to DNF it so bad. It irritated me how many weird phrases there were in this. The constant question in my head was ‘whyyy???’ Why was this written in English? Was this edited at all? Why does it read like an advertisement for Timisoara, like it’s a leaflet found at the info center…the writing is too wooden, somehow forced, too practiced, impersonal.
I really did not care about anyone, it was like an article written about the events. I can’t explain it. Who was this written for? Romanians, foreigners?
A lot of the choices didn’t make sense to me, like the bit about Capra cu Trei Iezi. The whole paragraph explaining the story could have been a footnote. I felt like it interrupted the flow of the story, every time the story picks up, we get another description of a building, the historical significance…i just could not vibe with it at all and i was ready to stop reading around the 20% mark.
When the two journalists were introduced I was like…ok, where is this going? Even though some phrases still felt wooden and some words felt like they were completely made up (is calligraphically a word?), i decided to just ignore them for the sake of the story.
The pace starts to pick up around the second half and i was able to get a little bit more invested in the story. Some pieces felt too rushed, a lot of plot holes, things that happen but aren’t really explained.
I wonder why the author decided to write in English. How would this story look like if it were written in Romanian? I think it would have felt more authentic, but who knows?
The story seems to end in some sort of ‘to be continued…’ but to be honest, i wasn’t that invested in the story to care for a sequel.
I really did not care about anyone, it was like an article written about the events. I can’t explain it. Who was this written for? Romanians, foreigners?
A lot of the choices didn’t make sense to me, like the bit about Capra cu Trei Iezi. The whole paragraph explaining the story could have been a footnote. I felt like it interrupted the flow of the story, every time the story picks up, we get another description of a building, the historical significance…i just could not vibe with it at all and i was ready to stop reading around the 20% mark.
When the two journalists were introduced I was like…ok, where is this going? Even though some phrases still felt wooden and some words felt like they were completely made up (is calligraphically a word?), i decided to just ignore them for the sake of the story.
The pace starts to pick up around the second half and i was able to get a little bit more invested in the story. Some pieces felt too rushed, a lot of plot holes, things that happen but aren’t really explained.
I wonder why the author decided to write in English. How would this story look like if it were written in Romanian? I think it would have felt more authentic, but who knows?
The story seems to end in some sort of ‘to be continued…’ but to be honest, i wasn’t that invested in the story to care for a sequel.
June 13, 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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Indiferent de ce fel de cititor esti, vei gasi ceva cu care sa rezonezi din carte. Punctul forte pentru mine: personajele si diversitatea lor, atat in varsta cat si gandire. Capitolele din diversele ipostaze ajuta la conturarea contextului, putand sa observam cum multiple generatii/culturi percep evenimentele petrecute: de la simplii copii, la tineri, adulti, chiar si straini. Cu oricare din ei ajungi sa empatizezi si sa le intelegi motivatiile. Am apreciat ca pe parcursul actiunii relatiile dintre personaje au evoluat, aplicandu-se chiar si in cazul celor care nu puteau comunica direct din cauza diferentei de limba.
Pe langa o serie de personaje pe care ajungi sa le indragesti, cartea te transporta cu adevarat in trecut, prezentand elemente din viata zilnica din comunism, cat si punand accent pe evenimente din istoria tarii mai putin cunoscute.
Pe langa o serie de personaje pe care ajungi sa le indragesti, cartea te transporta cu adevarat in trecut, prezentand elemente din viata zilnica din comunism, cat si punand accent pe evenimente din istoria tarii mai putin cunoscute.
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.
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 8, 2026
Great story that captures 1989 Romania very well. A must read!
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