"Bury Me Standing" by Isabel Fonseca. All I can say is WOW. It is a work of non-fiction and is on the subject of the Roma (primarily in Eastern Europe). It is absolutely amazing- the writing is fantastic (informative, but not stuffy- and she includes her personal impressions, which are all very thoughtful and interesting) but the subject... is fascinating. She includes the history of the European Roma as well as tackles modern (as of 1995, but they are still timely) issues. It gracefully covers a summer she spent living with a Roma family to current Roma political objectives, the Holocaust to weddings. I have to say, I was really unaware of the complexities, fundamental cultural beliefs and difficulties facing the Roma. They are so frequently romaticized, and we truly know so little about this group of 12 million people. Isabel Fonseca is honest about the culture of the Gypsies. She presents the good with the bad in a way that is fair and the reader comes to understand the complexity of the situation.
It is not always a "light read"- it would be a disservice to not explore the grinding poverty, discrimiation or the Holocaust when speaking of the Roma, but it is a book with a "quick flow" and is intelligent and earthy and I couldn't put it down.
If you are looking for a book that will make you think, will learn something from, but will keep you reading instead of making dinner (my husband has made dinner the past 3 nights while I read!) this one will do it!
It is not always a "light read"- it would be a disservice to not explore the grinding poverty, discrimiation or the Holocaust when speaking of the Roma, but it is a book with a "quick flow" and is intelligent and earthy and I couldn't put it down.
If you are looking for a book that will make you think, will learn something from, but will keep you reading instead of making dinner (my husband has made dinner the past 3 nights while I read!) this one will do it!
: Probably the same thing he was told growing up.
