"Jeder Mensch hat eine Sollbruchstelle..."

„Als die Tauben verschwanden“ ist ein Buch welches zwischen 1941 und 1965 in den verschiedensten Regionen Estlands spielt. In dieser Zeitspanne erfahren wir die Schicksale dreier Menschen, welche nicht nur untereinander verflochten sind, sondern auch im politischen Rad ihren eigenen Platz einnehmen.
Eine historisch fundierte Geschichte mit Schicksalen, Wünschen und Ängsten, getragen von Charakteren, die so unzensiert und menschlich sind, wie das Leben selbst. Verrat, Intrigen, unerfüllte Sehnsüchte, Liebe und der immerwährenden Frage:„ Wofür lohnt es sich zu kämpfen und wie weit würdest du gehen, um deine Freiheit zu bewahren?“

Für alle, die sich mit Nationalismus, Patriotismus, Verrat und Moral auseinandersetzen wollen, in einem Land, welches so noch nicht zu Wort gekommen ist.
Leute, die gerne Bücher mit Tiefgang und hoher Erzählkunst lesen, werden von diesem begeistert sein.

This book was painfully difficult to get through. We can all pretend to know what we would have done when the Nazis/Fascists took over, but we don’t really. When faced with starvation and imprisonment, our families disappeared. This was a bleak read for the summer – I’m not sure I could have handled it during a cold, dark winter.

Deception and betrayal, it’s all laid bare.

Bonus surprise: an author photo I would never have imagined.

Jak to jen...

Myslím, že Oksanen to řekla sama: "Už nějaký čas jsem hledala hlavní postavu pro svůj nový román ... téma i námět už jsem prakticky měla, ale chyběla mi tvář."

Bylo hrozně poznat, jak se snaží našroubovat svůj námět na postavy, kterým to vůbec nesedí, nemají skoro žádný charakter, většina z nich má víceméně jen jednu vlastnost (!), hrozně se pletou, nemají žádný vývoj a člověku jsou totálně lhostejné. A proto to bylo ve výsledku tak špatné, i když pointa je fakt skvělá (nebudu spoilovat).

"Sprādzienbīstams teksts"/Le Monde/
Tā var likties vien tad, ja pirms tam visā mūžā esi izlasījis tikai dažas grāmatas.

Tämä ei ollut minun tyyppiselleni lukijalle kirjoitettu kirja. Koin vaikeaksi päästä hahmoihin sisälle ja ymmärtää kirjan pointin, mutta tämän lukemisesta on aikaa, enkä muista enää niin hyvin, että osaisin selittää miksi.

Undeva prin liceu, citeam "Vacile lui Stalin" și mi se parea genială. Cativa ani mai tarziu, in primul an de facultate, citeam pe o banca in parc "Purificare" si mi se părea geniala. Ma tot intrebam: de ce nu stie mai multa lume de Sofi? In prezent am terminat de citit "Ziua cand au disparut porumbeii" si am inteles raspunsul la intrebare. Nu stiu daca intre timp mi s-a schimbat atat de mult gustul in literatura sau pur si simplu "Ziua cand au disparut porumbeii" este una dintre cartile mai slabe ale autoarei.
O actiune încâlcită, care sare dintr-un plan narativ in altul. Povestea nu are o linie clara, nu are un deznodământ clar, ceea ce in cazul asta nu este un bonus. In schimb ce mi se pare ca a reusit sa transmita bine este ceața acelor vremuri, degradarea la care se coborau unii oameni pentru a ajunge pe placul KGB ului.

I won this from Goodreads giveaways and I was THRILLED because my husband is Estonian, and I'm interested in WWII (aren't we all) and I have to say this is the first novel about Estonia during WWII I've ever seen.
The novel revolves mainly around three characters, Edgar, the protagonist, his wife Juudit, and his cousin Roland. It's actually about Edgar adapting his personality, name, and loyalties to fit whoever was in power at the time, and how he effectively avoids and ultimately silences the two people closest to him who could give him away. He's kind of a disgusting and wicked traitor, but he certainly plays his cards well.
Someone else in a review said it was a novel of the futility of resistance to power, and I could see that. It's also a pretty interesting look into the mind of a very bad man.
The chapters weave in between the early 1940s and the early 1960s slowly revealing things for the reader in a very gripping way. I was somewhat confused about things which either says something about me being a sort of distracted reader, OR perhaps about the switching of dates or names. Also, I feel like I didn't know ANYTHING about the Soviet and/or Nazi occupation of Estonia and perhaps if I had understood the background a little bit more it might have helped.
But anyway, I think it was good. There were a few of "those scenes" for you conservative readers. There is sort of a subplot that maybe Edgar is a homosexual. Certainly his marriage was sexless, so with things like that going on, you will definitely run into some things you might not want to read, but I think overall it was a very good book. The construction is interesting and Edgar is a very well drawn character. It is up for another giveaway right now, and I'd recommend signing up.