It is getting colder and colder. At -38°C we don't have to work any more.Surviving the Gulag is the first-person account of a complex woman who survived five horrifying years in Russian prison camps: starved; beaten; and worked nearly to death. A story like Ilse Johansen's is rarely told-of a woman caught in the web of fascism and communism at the end of the Second World War and beginning of the Cold War. Her candid account of her time as a prisoner; written soon after her release; provides startling insight into the trials of a German female prisoner under Soviet rule. Readers of memoir and history; and students of feminism and war studies will learn more about women's experience of the Soviet gulag through the eyes of Ilse Johansen.
#1001827 in Books 2016-02-23 2016-02-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.30 x 1.10 x 6.30l; 1.25 #File Name: 1633881504330 pages
Review
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating studyBy Sharon RobideauxAt first I was skeptical that Sparks could persuade me of the thesis; which is that fundamentalist (conservative) Christianity actually increases criminality and overly harsh punishment; but by the end of the well-written book; I was convinced. Like many people; I had always heard that Christianity was a crime deterrent. After all; prisons have many religious programs and educational opportunities provided by churches. So surely religion conveyed some benefits for crime prevention. Surely; if nothing else; people who became religious were less likely to commit future crimes. Right? Apparently; the reverse is true. Christianity is actually based on some horrifically violent concepts; and somehow; the God of Love loses out to the punitive War God of the Old Testament more often than not. Conservative Christians are eager to punish anyone who believes differently or lives by other principles. Women; children; gay people; atheists; non-Christians; all are suspect and all suffer condemnation by Conservative Christians. Their faith and their Bible allow them to justify corporal and capital punishment; as well as allowing them to justify child and spouse abuse. This book should be required reading for anyone entering any part of the criminal justice system.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Must Read!!!!By Jody WinklerAwesome book. Everyone in America should read this. A real eye opener. Jody Bargerstock0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy F. OvereemAn insightful discussion of the relationship between fundamentalist Christianity and right wing politicians.
