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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity in Books
Dec 31, 2017
Outstanding insight, meticulous and moving
Other than historians and international lawyers you will not have heard of the lawyer Hersch Lauterpacht yet he is a very important figure in Philippe Sands' magnificent book.
East West Street is different and distinct in many meaningful ways, telling the fascinating story of the beginning of international human rights, but rather do so as dry legal history it focuses on two of the most significant individuals.
The author weaves the stories of Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin into Sands' own personal family story, which all tie into the 'city of lions' (Lviv/Lwow/Lemberg) in the first few decades of the 20th century. Both men and Sand's own family lived here, a place where East and West meet, hence the book's title.
It culminates into their assistance with the Nuremburg trials of ten senior Nazi figures, with Lauterpacht preparing the first drafts of the opening and closing speeches of the chief prosecution. Crucially he crafted the wording of Article 6 of the Nuremberg Charter, enshrining crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression into international law. Lemkin, in the same vein, constructed the concept of genocide, even coining the term.
And Sands discusses his detective work to find answers to numerous questions about his family. In the end his journey reveals tragedy, but a tragedy lightened by knowing the truth.
This is an outstanding book by a barrister, filmmaker and writer. It reeks of intellectual strength, and truly superb.
East West Street is different and distinct in many meaningful ways, telling the fascinating story of the beginning of international human rights, but rather do so as dry legal history it focuses on two of the most significant individuals.
The author weaves the stories of Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin into Sands' own personal family story, which all tie into the 'city of lions' (Lviv/Lwow/Lemberg) in the first few decades of the 20th century. Both men and Sand's own family lived here, a place where East and West meet, hence the book's title.
It culminates into their assistance with the Nuremburg trials of ten senior Nazi figures, with Lauterpacht preparing the first drafts of the opening and closing speeches of the chief prosecution. Crucially he crafted the wording of Article 6 of the Nuremberg Charter, enshrining crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression into international law. Lemkin, in the same vein, constructed the concept of genocide, even coining the term.
And Sands discusses his detective work to find answers to numerous questions about his family. In the end his journey reveals tragedy, but a tragedy lightened by knowing the truth.
This is an outstanding book by a barrister, filmmaker and writer. It reeks of intellectual strength, and truly superb.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Girl on Fire in Books
May 7, 2018
Addictive reading
"I woke up and the world was gone.
All was silent, all was black, the darkness so complete that it was as if all the light had been drained from the world."
Those are the dramatic opening lines to this book which had me hooked and eating up the pages as if my life depended on it.
Mr Parsons writes with grit, authenticity and humanity which I find very addictive and although Max isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, he is a very engaging character that I love getting to know a little more with each outing.
I must admit that there were times when I felt reality was ignored for the sake of the story (i.e. missed suspects which, in my opinion, were glaringly obvious) but I just put them to one side and continued to enjoy the ride on Mr Parsons' roller-coaster because, after all, this isn't a true story although the subject matter certainly is unfortunately.
Although this can be read as a standalone, I would very much recommend you read the others in the series as this will give more depth and understanding to the main characters and will enhance the whole reading experience.
I would highly recommend this series and Tony Parsons as a great British author and would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for an impartial review.
All was silent, all was black, the darkness so complete that it was as if all the light had been drained from the world."
Those are the dramatic opening lines to this book which had me hooked and eating up the pages as if my life depended on it.
Mr Parsons writes with grit, authenticity and humanity which I find very addictive and although Max isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, he is a very engaging character that I love getting to know a little more with each outing.
I must admit that there were times when I felt reality was ignored for the sake of the story (i.e. missed suspects which, in my opinion, were glaringly obvious) but I just put them to one side and continued to enjoy the ride on Mr Parsons' roller-coaster because, after all, this isn't a true story although the subject matter certainly is unfortunately.
Although this can be read as a standalone, I would very much recommend you read the others in the series as this will give more depth and understanding to the main characters and will enhance the whole reading experience.
I would highly recommend this series and Tony Parsons as a great British author and would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for an impartial review.
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee, Susan Elizabeth McClellan is the first book I've read about North Korea. The author's voice is genuine and emotional as it relates to the personal story of his adolescent years in North Korea during the 1990's. It is about a young man's awakening from naive child who believes his country is perfectly fine to realizing that not all people are treated equally. This is a memoir. The reader learns what it's truly like to grow up in North Korea
The most fascinating thing about North Korea and this memoir is the way the cult of personality works. It is deeply ingrained that Kim Jong-un is an almost magical being, someone to be revered, a perfect specimen of humanity leading the best country on Earth. It is actually illegal to mishandle any images of the Supreme Leader, never mind speak out against the regime.
Sungju Lee recounts his childhood through the 1990's famine. He begins in Pyongyang, a naive child with blind faith in his leader. This later changes as his family is forced to move to a poorer area of the country where the locals are starving and executions happen regularly. The reader learns about the complete lack of awareness that is characteristic of the more fortunate North Koreans. This is especially children. Their belief is that everyone is provided for and no one goes hungry.
This book is every eye-opening and terrifying.
The most fascinating thing about North Korea and this memoir is the way the cult of personality works. It is deeply ingrained that Kim Jong-un is an almost magical being, someone to be revered, a perfect specimen of humanity leading the best country on Earth. It is actually illegal to mishandle any images of the Supreme Leader, never mind speak out against the regime.
Sungju Lee recounts his childhood through the 1990's famine. He begins in Pyongyang, a naive child with blind faith in his leader. This later changes as his family is forced to move to a poorer area of the country where the locals are starving and executions happen regularly. The reader learns about the complete lack of awareness that is characteristic of the more fortunate North Koreans. This is especially children. Their belief is that everyone is provided for and no one goes hungry.
This book is every eye-opening and terrifying.
David McK (3632 KP) rated The Genesis Fleet - Ascendant (Book 2) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Second entry in John Hemry's (Jack Campbell is his pen-name) 'Genesis Fleet' series, which acts as a precursor to his 'Lost Fleet' series or its sequels in 'Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier' and in the 'Shattered Stars' series.
As a precursor, this takes place centuries before the 'Lost Fleet' series, when humanity has really only just taken to the stars, centuries before The Alliance and The Syndicate struggle for control of the stars and before 'Black Jack' Geary is born (however, his ancestor Rob Geary has a central role in these novels).
The bulk of this book - the vast majority, even - actually deals with an attack on the colony world of Kosatka, with the action taking place (and described) in both space and on the ground. Although Rob Geary is tasked with protecting his own colony world of Glenlyon, his investigations into an attack on a ship passing into that system leads him to an allied system, where he learns that another allied system (the afore-mentioned Kosatka) is in imminent danger of invasion. Reasoning that those attackers would move on to attack Glenlyon after Kostaka falls, Geary makes the decision to aid in the defence, somewhat stretching his own orders …
In short (like any other work in any of the 'Lost Fleet', 'Beyond the Frontier' or 'Shattered Stars' series) a relatively straight-forward plot that only really exists to provide an excuse for the (admittedly, well-told) action!
As a precursor, this takes place centuries before the 'Lost Fleet' series, when humanity has really only just taken to the stars, centuries before The Alliance and The Syndicate struggle for control of the stars and before 'Black Jack' Geary is born (however, his ancestor Rob Geary has a central role in these novels).
The bulk of this book - the vast majority, even - actually deals with an attack on the colony world of Kosatka, with the action taking place (and described) in both space and on the ground. Although Rob Geary is tasked with protecting his own colony world of Glenlyon, his investigations into an attack on a ship passing into that system leads him to an allied system, where he learns that another allied system (the afore-mentioned Kosatka) is in imminent danger of invasion. Reasoning that those attackers would move on to attack Glenlyon after Kostaka falls, Geary makes the decision to aid in the defence, somewhat stretching his own orders …
In short (like any other work in any of the 'Lost Fleet', 'Beyond the Frontier' or 'Shattered Stars' series) a relatively straight-forward plot that only really exists to provide an excuse for the (admittedly, well-told) action!
ClareR (5996 KP) rated A Long Petal of the Sea in Books
Jan 14, 2020
My first, and not my last, Isabel Allende book!
A Long Petal of the Sea is my first foray into the books of Isabel Allende, and after reading this, it most certainly wont be my last.
This is the sweeping historical story of the Dalmau family, their role in the Spanish Civil War, their escape in to France (which was horrific), and their journey to Chile as refugees on the ship ‘Winnipeg’ arranged by the poet Pablo Neruda.
It’s a devastating and yet heartwarming look at humanity and it’s ability to endure. I hadn’t known about the concentration-style camps that the French forced the Spanish refugees in to after Franco and his right wing party won the Civil War. It looks as though people have always been able to destroy one another in inhuman ways (this is no surprise to me, by the way). We see more of the use of concentration camps in Chile after the military coup.
The main characters, Victor and Roser Dalmau continue to see Chile as their home, over and above Spain. They show us that home is where your friends, family and community are - and that you can make this home anywhere.
This book really is a joy to read. I’ve learnt so much of the history of this time, as well as having the pleasure of just reading a great story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for my copy of this book to read.
This is the sweeping historical story of the Dalmau family, their role in the Spanish Civil War, their escape in to France (which was horrific), and their journey to Chile as refugees on the ship ‘Winnipeg’ arranged by the poet Pablo Neruda.
It’s a devastating and yet heartwarming look at humanity and it’s ability to endure. I hadn’t known about the concentration-style camps that the French forced the Spanish refugees in to after Franco and his right wing party won the Civil War. It looks as though people have always been able to destroy one another in inhuman ways (this is no surprise to me, by the way). We see more of the use of concentration camps in Chile after the military coup.
The main characters, Victor and Roser Dalmau continue to see Chile as their home, over and above Spain. They show us that home is where your friends, family and community are - and that you can make this home anywhere.
This book really is a joy to read. I’ve learnt so much of the history of this time, as well as having the pleasure of just reading a great story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for my copy of this book to read.
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