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There are currently 22 member reviews
for Free
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Bonne O. (Hartwell, GA)
Is freedom really free?
What I loved about this book was the way such a significant historical event as the collapse of the Soviet Union was presented. Lea Ypi's memoir of living through Albania's abrupt transition of socialism to the formerly maligned capitalism provides a realism that could never be duplicated in a history book. Belief systems for millions of people are uprooted. The author sites numerous examples, some humorous, some tragic, of her family and others suddenly experiencing free speech, free elections, free markets, and open borders. Free also gives the reader a rare glimpse of daily life in a socialist society where the collective is paramount, religion is nonexistent, propaganda is preached in the schools, goods are limited or scarce, and praise for the leader is embedded in all aspects of life. Despite a universal desire for democracy and freedom, the author causes the reader to reflect on the price that one actually pays for freedom.
"Free" should be required reading in all high school and college world history classes.
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Beth C. (Sioux Falls, SD)
Free - What Does freedom Mean
Albania is not a country that we hear about frequently. It's a small country across the Adriatic Sea from Italy and Greece. It is closely related to the Balkan countries and was generally under Soviet influence after WWII. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Albania tried its own version of Socialism.
Lea Ypi grew up in Albania. In this fascinating account, she describes the portion of history that covers her lifetime as well as background information that explained her family's role in civic affairs.
She takes a philosophical approach to her memoir by using it to define freedom.
I found the book to be delightfully readable while broaching complicated political, economical, and philosophical theories. I would recommend it to book groups and readers who want to understand a different culture.
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Linda J. (Urbana, OH)
Free or not so free
This was my first "trip" to Albania. It was my first "trip" to Albania that involved the fall of the Iron Curtain and the 1997 revolution in that country. In fact, other than realizing that Albania is second alphabetically in a list of all the world countries.
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the age of the author (at the times she was writing about) since the schooling system is different from ours. The author intermixed her own heritage with explanations for what was happening in the government.
There is much to learn and so much presented here. Her parents' disagreements about the type of government, whether to stay in Albania or emigrate to Italy, whether to invest in the newest forms of making money (this part had me on the edge of my seat from the first mention).
This one had so much information that it deserves a second read to pick up on so much that I know I missed. Not a quick read, I but I love learning new.
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Gloria K. (Madison, WI)
Free by Lea Ypi
I am writing this review under the assumption that you, the reader, has read other reviews of Free and have an idea of what the book is about. Based on this assumption I am approaching this review experientially by comparing events in my life which are similar to those in the childhood of Lea Ypi.
As a child I grew up in a multigenerational family with my grandparents who immigrated to the USA from Czechoslovakia, my "1st Generation " parents and my "2nd Generation " siblings.
When I was a young child my grandmother told me about Stalin and life under Communist rule. She told me about scarcity and why it was important for us to send medicine, clothing, coffee and other necessities to our relatives in
Czechoslovakia.
My grandparents and parents spoke Czech when they were discussing politics. This was the protective double speak or "code" that was used when children were present, just as Lea Ypi heard code about Stalin, Uncle Enver, and the whereabouts of family members.
My first visit to Czechoslovakia was in the 1970's. My second and subsequent visits took place after President Vaclav Havel lead the peaceful "Velvet Revolution ". The cultural changes that took place after my initial visit were amazing.
Lea Ypi did an excellent job of explaining Albania's road to democracy was filled with violent protests. Her words painted a picture of the difficulties the Albanians faced as their political system was in transition and the multil-leveled effects it had on the citizens who grappled with the changes.
It is my hope the reader will learn a great deal about Albania as I did. I also hope the reader will contemplate the question "What is the cost of Freedom?"
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Vicky S. (Manhattan Beach, CA)
Free - A Different Perspective
Just as I enjoy International movies for the varied approach and perspective, different from the typical US point of view, I appreciate international books for the same reason. Free offered the idea of Freedom from an Albanian point of view at two different times in history which frequently contrasted with US views of freedom. I loved the various ways that Ypi explained how each of her parents and her grandmother approached aspects of life - such as money.
Each chapter of the book would provide topics for enthusiastic book club discussions. I enjoyed parts of the book and some vignettes definitely stuck with me and made me laugh at times. Though the book was not one that I "could not put down".
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Peggy A. (Morton Grove, IL)
"We're so sorry, Uncle Enver"
A good book takes you out of the familiar and into an unknown world. This book did that for me. All I knew about Albania is that the comedian Jim Belushi came from there. Reading Lea Ypi's biography changed that. Her story is about a life bisected by the collapse of one system and an introduction to another which was anything but idyllic. In addition to being an illuminating memoir, it was also engagingly funny. Having lived through two opposing political ideologies and coming out as a world renowned political theorist makes me want to read more about her current perspectives.
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Victoria B. (Little River, SC)
Things We Don't Think About
As Americans we are happy when a former Communist/Socialist country shrugs off its shackles and moves towards what we consider a free democracy-based state. What we never consider perhaps is what happens to the people and institutions in that country when that occurs. Free by Lea Ypi is a recounting of exactly that in Albania in 1991.
Ypi writes about what happened to her family when this momentous event occurred. Having grown up with the indoctrination inherent in a communist state, as a child Ypi doesn't consider herself not free to follow her dreams. Her parents know differently. They know her life is already plotted and there will be little she can do to change the course.
Free gives the reader lots of things to think about not the least of which is what freedom means to different people. Ultimately Ypi's idea of freedom is decidedly different than that of her parents.
Her story details Albania's transition and her own ongoing journey to reconcile her political beliefs with her parents'. There is irony in her struggle but the reader can be sympathetic to her while not agreeing with her conclusion.
This is a worthy read to learn about the real difficulty of a political system in transition and its effect on its citizens.
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