In i Ukraina: En krigsdagbok

by Thomas Engström, Margit Richert

"Vi insåg tidigt att vi inte hade något val. Vi måste flytta till Ukraina och se kriget med egna ögon - och delta i det, faktiskt, på alla sätt ett par författare kan. Så vi gjorde oss av med ägodelarna på Öland, packade bilen och körde. Nu fanns ingen återvändo. Det här är inget objektivt reportage, det är vår dagbok. Från ett krig vi valde att söka upp, från en överlevnadskamp för hela vår civilisation. Allvarligt talat: vad skulle vi annars skriva om?"

184 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2022

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book spans the time from May to August 2022 and can be seen as a kind of travel diary. In I Ukraina (Into Ukraine) by Thomas Engström and Margit Richert is about a decision to get involved in the war in Ukraine and not just sit at home and have opinions. They decided to go down and settle in Kiev and in the book they write about some of what they saw and were involved in. It gives yet another angle to all the reports from this conflict we all have seen and heard, told by two very special writers. It's a good arrangement with them writing every second chapter alternately. Very interesting reading.

Den här boken spänner över tiden från Maj till Augusti 2022 och kan ses som en slags resedagbok. In I Ukraina av Thomas Engström och Margit Richert handlar om ett beslut att involvera sig i kriget i Ukraina och att inte bara sitta hemma och tycka. De bestämde sig för att åka ner och bosätta sig i Kiev och i boken skriver de om en del av vad de såg och var med om. Den ger ännu en vinkel på alla rapporter från denna konflikt man sett och hört, berättad av två mycket annorlunda skribenter. Det är ett bra upplägg med att de skriver vartannat kapitel växelvis. Mycket intressant läsning.

[Kathy Salt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I understand that this is in Swedish. But it should honestly be read by everyone.

[Lukas Lahtinen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hesitant at first, if I should give it two or three stars. Because it is not a bad book, it is a book that should be read. And I want to be very clear with my point that I still would recommend this book very highly, but not to everyone.

Depending on how involved you are in the news and social media about the war in Ukraine. This may not be the book for you.

It is an interesting diary from two journalists who decide to move to Kiev permanently during the war. They are very much involved in the war, mostly thru social media and collect a lot of funds for fighters in Ukraine. Their work is very impressive and is something that nobody can take away from them.

But here I will judge the book. Not the authors.

The book is fairly easy to read and is laid out as a diary spanning about 90 days. It starts off somewhat like a tourist diary, but from a country in war. Over the course of the book we slowly get to see the authors settling in their new environment in Kiev.

This book is a fantastic first hand recollection. But it does lack depth. It does not try particularly hard to understand the rationality or banality of war. And seldom left me as a reader with an interesting thought to ponder.

This book is for anybody who wants a window into a country in war. But it will seldom give you anything new to think about or challenge your thoughts, even though such moments sometimes come.