This book was very interesting. I thought it was interesting learning about the history of Ukraine. The authors writing style was very good too

Originally written in the 1990s and expanded and republished in 2015 and in 2022 to include information about the most recent Russian invasions, Anna Reid’s Borderland works well as an introduction to Ukrainian history. The original text (about 70% of the book) jumps from region to region and hits the “highlights” of Ukraine’s past. While I appreciate that this format allows for a quick introduction into Ukraine, it did make for a rather fragmented reading experience.

In the beginning, Reid notes that the language and names used in the two sections of the book will reflect the different times the sections were written in, and I appreciate the way she pivots from the original text to the new information. That being said, I found much of the information to be very surface level and was expecting more analysis.

Reid herself narrates the audiobook, and I thought she did a good job though I think having a physical copy of the book to reference places and spellings as I read would have been helpful.

A very well researched history of Ukraine. The author comes off as very academic, so I wouldn’t say this is an easy book to pick up and put down. The narrative varies from personal travels and experiences to very detailed Holocaust scenes. I found it difficult to get through, though I recognize how much work went into writing this very informative book.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*

BORDERLAND, a mix of Ukrainian historical events and personal anecdotes from an expat, is a good introduction into the vast history of Ukraine for a western audience. Updated to reflect the 2022 war, the author opens the book by acknowledging her use of outdated terminology in the first part of the book.

However, before starting this book, I think it's important to read other reviews on Goodreads and come to your own conclusions on whether this book is a good choice for your needs.

I don't know how to review this book. I ended up unable to finish it because I felt like it wasn't doing justice to the rich history that is the Ukraine. I have never traveled there myself, but I have taught kids who were from the Ukraine and not once have I ever heard anyone say that they don't feel like they are Ukrainian. Maybe I am missing something. This book got a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews, so I raised my rating to 2 stars just because I must have missed something, but this book was definitely not for me.

2 stars

this was interesting subject matter, especially considering current events, but it was just so dry that it took me forever to get through.

This is incredibly well researched and well written. I had almost zero knowledge of Ukrainian history going into this so I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of information thrown at me but found it all very interesting. The narration is excellently done and really keeps you interested in the vast amount of material covered. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this wonderful book on Ukraine.
I wanted to read it because 1-my father's family was from Ukraine when it was Russia before they came to the US and 2--to understand the history of this brave country better.

Anna Reid is both the author and the narrator of the audiobook. Her narrating voice is confident and easy to listen to. She has divided the book into two parts. The first part written in the 1990s is history. She has gathered this history through facts, interviews, and the artistic lineage of great Ukrainians. I did not know the wonderful writer Gogol was from Ukraine. She uses some of these writings to paint a picture of the landscape of Ukraine. I was ready to jump on a plane and see for myself--if it weren't for the massive destruction of Russia in Ukraine. She ends Part One by saying how vulnerable Ukraine was to the ambitions of Putin.

Part Two opens with the current past. The war is four months in at the time of her writing. All her worst fears had come true. Though Reid is a historian, it is clear she is rooting for Ukraine to maintain its independence.

I loved this book. It is clear, the history is fascinating, and Reid is a writer who knows how to make history compelling and, in this book, immensely readable. I loved having this read to me. Reid's voice is so easy on the ear and if I could have, I would have listened to the whole thing in one sitting. Highly recommend.

Civil unrest in neighboring countries has always been of such interest to me, but in the decades of oppression and injustice that European nations have endured, from countless bloody wars and battles to dictatorships, and natural disasters, they can't seem to catch a break. I'm talking about Ukraine here. Listening to non-fiction/history audiobooks is the most intriguing way to learn about the past, present, and future to educate others so we can eliminate the hate from repeating itself.