Although some insights can be gleaned about the " Afterlife of Totalitarianism in Eastern Europe" ( the sub-title), there is no coherent narrative. Some anecdotes are interesting but the morass of names and stories fail to speak to any overarching cogent theme. It is more of a travel book consisting of the author's experiences rather than a historical analysis.
Disappointing because post-communist Europe is a worthy topic that needs comprehensive treatment, but this book fails to achieve that. ( )

Ich bin schon gespannt auf Rezensionen, ob vielleicht andere meine Meinung teilen?! Jedenfalls war die Lektüre für mich reine Zeitvergeudung.
Der Aufbau ist ziemlich chaotisch, von einem Land zum nächsten und wieder retour. Menschen und Namen tauchen auf, auch wiederholt, aber dann hat man schon wieder vergessen, in welchem Zusammenhang sie standen. Sehr mühsam zu lesen und wenig informativ. Wer soll die Zielgruppe sein? ( )

In the 20th century, few groups have endured the abrupt changes in fate of Polish Jews. Once allied with communists and supportive of their egalitarian vision, they found themselves, post-World War II, turned against and often outed as traitors. What is the real identity, the true legacy of these partisans? What simmering anger lies beneath decades of history? Shore, an academic, frames these stories in a personal timeline, retelling what she learns in the order she learns it. Little is at it appears on the surface, she learns. A tough read, but a valuable one. Highly recommended. (144) ( )