Maggie Stiefvater's Reviews > Between Shades of Gray
Between Shades of Gray
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This is not a pretty book.
Even though I found this novel exceptionally well-written, it was not a pleasure to read. It’s about Lithuanians displaced to Siberian work camps during World War II. It was pretty unflinchingly brutal, but here’s why I think you ought to read it:
1. It is a side of World War II that you might not have seen before. I certainly hadn’t heard these stories of displaced Europeans, and I have to say, having been to Lithuania on tour last year, it made so much of what they said have deeper meaning. I found their fierce national pride lovely and charming when I was there; after this novel, it seems incredibly brave and honorable.
2. Mom. The mother is really the heroine of this story (and that is my one nitpick about this novel: the narrator has no arc and no agency — all of the action is carried by her mother and her sort-of-boyfriend). She has such an incredible flame and kindness in her. One of my favorite book moms.
3. Shades of gray. The title promises and the novel delivers. Characters we think are horrid actually do incredibly kind things, and character we regard as friends do awful ones.
4. If you combine 2 and 3, you get my favorite part, which is that it makes you look at people an entirely new way. I love books that stretch my brain, and this one sat with me for hours and hours.
5. Wonderful sense of place, even when the place isn’t so wonderful. Like Lucy Christopher, I trust the author to take me someplace different, and I’ll be picking up whatever she writes next.
Even though I found this novel exceptionally well-written, it was not a pleasure to read. It’s about Lithuanians displaced to Siberian work camps during World War II. It was pretty unflinchingly brutal, but here’s why I think you ought to read it:
1. It is a side of World War II that you might not have seen before. I certainly hadn’t heard these stories of displaced Europeans, and I have to say, having been to Lithuania on tour last year, it made so much of what they said have deeper meaning. I found their fierce national pride lovely and charming when I was there; after this novel, it seems incredibly brave and honorable.
2. Mom. The mother is really the heroine of this story (and that is my one nitpick about this novel: the narrator has no arc and no agency — all of the action is carried by her mother and her sort-of-boyfriend). She has such an incredible flame and kindness in her. One of my favorite book moms.
3. Shades of gray. The title promises and the novel delivers. Characters we think are horrid actually do incredibly kind things, and character we regard as friends do awful ones.
4. If you combine 2 and 3, you get my favorite part, which is that it makes you look at people an entirely new way. I love books that stretch my brain, and this one sat with me for hours and hours.
5. Wonderful sense of place, even when the place isn’t so wonderful. Like Lucy Christopher, I trust the author to take me someplace different, and I’ll be picking up whatever she writes next.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
June 1, 2011
–
Finished Reading
July 4, 2011
– Shelved
July 4, 2011
– Shelved as:
young-adult
November 7, 2013
– Shelved as:
recommended
Comments Showing 1-50 of 88 (88 new)
message 1:
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Lora
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rated it 5 stars
Jul 04, 2011 11:57AM
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Congrats on your new book coming out this month - I pre-ordered and am anxiously awaiting!
I think it's important to read this book above all because few people know this side of World War II. Before reading this book I've never heard about it, too.
Moreover I think one of the most beautiful things of the book is the courage of the 15-year-old girl who never loses hope, even when everyone would.
Lovely written and great view of the perspectives of different people.
It only took me 2 days to read it and I just finished it.
And number 5! The place isn't wonderful. It was terrible place but the author fill our minds up with the love. Ultimately, I think the author wants to tell there are some angelic people inspite of terrible place. And there is one humane aspect (though Elena was an angel. haha). It is when she heard the dead of her husband she became sick and she died. I could feel the love between couple. And I also think it taught Lina and Jonas the power of love.
After all, thanks to your review I could organize and memorize the book briefly, Thanks to you!!!
I also think that this book is not just a novel but it is an evidence that reveals how cruel the Soviet Union was. And I also agree with the five reasons why we have to read this book. Especially, for me, I agree with your number 2. Even though Lina's mom was also in hard conditions, she didn't give up protecting her children and that's a mother who was often portrayed as a "sacrifice."
Thank you for giving me such a nice opportunity to share my opinion with others.
Actually, the first time I saw the title and the cover of this book, I underestimated what the book says. It seemed to be a pretty book, which is about the survival of a Lithuanian girl. But, as you posted, it is not a pretty book. This book carries the history of deportation of Lithuanian in World War 2. It was not only the story about the girl who was suffered from the bitter cold. The first sentence you posted inspired me. thank you
I totally have the same opinion with you about number 1,2. I also didn't know about specific thing of World War 2. I just vaguely assumed that it must be terrible and the Poles must be seriously victimized.After reading this book, now, I exactly know how the war had humiliated the victims and I realized the cruelty of it.
I think the Mother was almost an angel. She didn't hesitate to share food to others. She sacrificed herself to her children, Lina and Jonas, to the end. You're right. She's heroine. The warm-hearted angel heroine.
This book is not the one that can pleasure the readers. But still I think it is beautiful in another meaning because I was so impressed by the neighborly love of Lithuanians, the sacrificial love.
I also like the reason number 1. I didn't know how terrible situations were to prisoners like Lina and others. It is nice to see Lithuanians have such national pride. They deserve it because it is hard for anyone to survive through those environments.
Also as you said in number 5, I really love the author because she depict the story really well. Thank you for great comments.