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. 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 human suffering involved at the hands of the Soviets is appalling and now we are seeing a similar thing play out on the world stage which brings these issues sharply into focus.

Who tells your story?

Has your book club been searching for a novel about Ukraine? Given the devastating current events in Ukraine, you might be wishing to read more about the country and its people. If so, The Memory Keeper of Kyivis the perfect choice. I give this book five stars because it is something that needs to be read. How can this genocide be happening again less than 100 years later? There are many parallels between the historical and the contemporary timelines such as handling grief and finding love after loss. The stories work well in sync. There were some aspects that were spot on. Like teaching 2nd and 3rd generation their language. But nearly all else was pure fiction in both a form and melodrama sense of sentimentality for the Illinois narratives. TRUTHFULLY, almost all sentimentality has been sunk nearly completely in these survivors. And they drink alcohol. ALL. And, even if you don’t make this for your book club, I encourage you to make it for your family and discuss what is happening in Ukraine today and the historical events that shaped the country.

With the help of a kind neighbor who is fluent in Ukrainian, Cassie is able to translate her grandmother’s journal. Through this journal, Cassie learns of the unspeakable hardships her grandmother suffered during the Holodomor (great famine) inflicted on the Ukrainian people at the direction of Stalin in the 1930’s.

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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.