Book Review - Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary by Victoria Amelina

 

Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary by Victoria Amelina is a diary of the author’s experience during the war in Ukraine. When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Victoria was a published author and an active member of the country’s literary scene. She was in the process of writing a new novel.  After the invasion, Victoria spent her time documenting and researching war crimes and extraordinary women who joined the resistance.

The book was published posthumously after the author had died during the invasion. Hence, there were parts of the books that weren’t finished, and it felt a bit fragmented, understandably so. Unfortunately, we need a book like this, to show the horrors that occur during war. While the book is an important read, I didn’t connect to it. Some of the parts felt like it was jumping around. Some sentences, thoughts, paragraphs, and even chapters were not completed. It was hard for me to understand where Victoria was going with a half-finished thought. It was hard to understand what the point of the book was. It felt like a diary but then a book showcasing other women. I feel like Victoria had started the book planned one way and then switched directions but unfortunately, wasn’t able to complete it.  I stopped reading the book around the halfway point. I believe readers who have more cultural or emotional connection to Ukraine might appreciate the book more than me.