Greta G's Reviews > Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
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I will never forget a documentary I saw about the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl power plant in 1986. This documentary, The Battle of Chernobyl, directed by Thomas Johnson, provides a very good understanding of what happened at the time of the accident and afterwards. It contains rare original footage and interviews with people who were present, or involved in the handling of this catastrophe. It's available on demand on Vimeo and I highly recommend it, because I think it's a really good addition to this book (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thebattleo...).
I would have struggled understanding the translator's preface, and the tenor of some testimonies, if I hadn't seen this documentary.
The prologue of the book is in fact the first interview, with the widow of a fireman who arrived at the plant a short time after the explosion. Until now, I've never heard such a heartbreaking story. I doubt anyone who reads this interview, will ever be able to forget it.
The book also ends with another heartbreaking testimony, again from a widow. The long-term suffering of her husband is horrifying.
In between these, there are interviews with all sorts of people affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The author wrote the testimonies down just the way they were told. That makes them very personal and honest. On the other hand, sometimes it made no sense at all what some where saying.
Overall, it's an eye-opening, honest work that's very different in approach. How do people feel, think, live, after being confronted with this terrifying catastrophe.
"Chernobyl is like the war of all wars. There's nowhere to hide. Not underground, not underwater, not in the air" (p.75).
"It was constantly being compared to the war. But this was bigger. War you can understand. But this? People felt silent" (p.141).
"This level of lying, this incredible level, with which Chernobyl is connected in our minds, was comparable only to the level of lies during the big war" (p.143).
I would have struggled understanding the translator's preface, and the tenor of some testimonies, if I hadn't seen this documentary.
The prologue of the book is in fact the first interview, with the widow of a fireman who arrived at the plant a short time after the explosion. Until now, I've never heard such a heartbreaking story. I doubt anyone who reads this interview, will ever be able to forget it.
The book also ends with another heartbreaking testimony, again from a widow. The long-term suffering of her husband is horrifying.
In between these, there are interviews with all sorts of people affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The author wrote the testimonies down just the way they were told. That makes them very personal and honest. On the other hand, sometimes it made no sense at all what some where saying.
Overall, it's an eye-opening, honest work that's very different in approach. How do people feel, think, live, after being confronted with this terrifying catastrophe.
"Chernobyl is like the war of all wars. There's nowhere to hide. Not underground, not underwater, not in the air" (p.75).
"It was constantly being compared to the war. But this was bigger. War you can understand. But this? People felt silent" (p.141).
"This level of lying, this incredible level, with which Chernobyl is connected in our minds, was comparable only to the level of lies during the big war" (p.143).
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Reading Progress
October 8, 2015
– Shelved
October 22, 2015
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Started Reading
October 26, 2015
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63.98%
""It was constantly being compared to the war. But this was bigger. War you can understand. But this? People felt silent" (p.141)."
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151
October 28, 2015
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Jul 01, 2017 03:59AM
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I think the translator did an outstanding job too. He wrote a preface that gives readers some context ; and the translation of some of the obscure testimonies mustn't have been easy.
Imo, that's an understatement.
Thank you Tara. Yes, it was terrifying. There are nuclear plants not far from Antwep, the biggest city in Flanders with an important port. I live there. There are technical problems regularly. It's unimaginable that something like this would happen here and turn the city into a ghost town.
I know what you mean about those power stations. Until 5 years ago, there was a nuclear power plant about 20 miles (30 km) north of where I live. It was shut down due to a radiation leak and various other technical issues. There is just so much that can go wrong with these plants.
My grandparents left Chernobyl in 1912. Other relatives were not so fortunate.
My grandparents left Chernobyl in 1912. Other relatives were not so fortunate."
I'm so sorry to hear your family lived there and some had to go through this ordeal. It must have been especially painful for your family. I hope all your relatives survived and all is well with them now.
Thanks Amanda! I will check it out.
I watched it. Amanda, and it was great. Thanks again!
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You’re right. It isn’t available anymore on YouTube. If you really want to see it, you can rent it on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thebattleo...).
Thanks Carol. I know what you mean. It can really trigger anxiety but it’s indeed important to be fully aware of the seriousness of such an accident. People tend to underestimate the consequences of any disaster and believe that everything will be fine in the end but that’s not necessarily true. After Chernobyl and Fukushima, some countries decided to immediately shut down older nuclear power plants. In Belgium, it was decided to shut them down gradually, but since there’s no feasible alternative, Belgian governments keep postponing this.