The Memory Keeper of Kyiv: The most powerful, important historical novel of 2022

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This is a story of fictional characters based on true events during the Homodor. The characters are based on people that lived during that time and either gave testimony or wrote about it. The story is heartbreaking and tear jerking. I cannot fathom how anyone could treat people in such a manner. I also do not know how anyone survived during this time of great famine. Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children.

The characters in the 1930 timeline are well-carved and gutsy. Each of them creates an impact for various reasons. Of the 2004 characters, Birdie was the sweetest. I suppose that the story of the past did have me a little more hooked than the present day. That I suppose is often the fault of dual timelines. Yet, it was a richly researched novel that I haven't stopped talking about. I cannot wait to read the author's next novel. The Holocaust is the most widely known and notorious genocide in modern history, yet it is not the most deadly. At the same time Hitler was enacting his Final Solution, Soviet Union leader Josef Stalin plotted a forced famine that killed nearly twice as many people as Hitler's Holocaust. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv follows 16-year-old Katya and her family as they fight to survive Stalin's famine. We’ve been reading together for awhile and we don’t know about you, but we’re ready to hear your thoughts and opinions. This group is a pl Hey Y’all, Breathtaking. Devastating. Erin Litteken's The Memory Keeper of Kyiv chronicles a defining but forgotten moment of Ukrainian history.” Amanda McCrina, author of The Silent UnseenThe Memory Keeper of Kyiv is a meticulously researched novel . . . depicting a country whose people managed to dig deep enough to find the strength, determination and heart to survive.” Deborah Carr, author of An Island at War I loved the glimpse provided into Ukrainian traditions and rituals. The book didn’t use Ukraine for the sake of it but actually incorporated its people, its culture and its values into the storyline. This is how places must be used in historical stories. This is a story of the resilience of the human spirit, the love that sees us through our darkest hours and the true horror of what happened during the Holodomor. Trina wrote: "I have just finished the book and don't mind admitting I "ugly cried" I need to take some time to process what I've read before writing my review. It's hard to say how much I loved it because it's ..."

Je maakt steeds sprongen naar deze gebeurtenissen die zich rond 1929-1934 afspelen. Vooral deze stukken vond ik erg interessant en heftig. Je leest over de grote liefde van Katya en de vreselijke dingen die zij, haar familie en andere bewoners van Oekraïne hebben moeten meemaken. Ook is het natuurlijk interessant om meer over Cassie en haar dochtertje te lezen, maar de periode van Katya vond ik toch net even wat boeiender. Er zitten echt schokkende momenten tussen namelijk.If you’re at all interested in historical fiction, Ukraine/Russia, and little known pieces of history, I highly recommend this novel. Thank you to the author for bringing this story to light. Perhaps I know too much about immigrant Ukrainians to IL and also their first generation. Or Croatians, or Polish, or Lithuanians, or Slovaks. But maybe it is the form of this writing. Both I think.