Another book about the Soviet system of forced-labor camps is "The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom" by Slavomir Rawicz. It has been made into the movie "The Way Back."
The first four are excellent books. Not only are they based on history, but they are very well written and quite suspenseful. I haven't read the last book on the list.
The author of "Short Hair Detention" has since moved to the U.S. where she now gives testimonial talks about her experiences for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. You can see video recordings of her speaking on their website.
Great idea. It's common for me to be reading a novel and quit on it because it twists history in the favor Communism. I almost stopped reading Timothy Hallinan's series set in Thailand when he basically blamed the Khmer Rouge takeover on the U.S. and never mentioned the word "Communist".
I have put two of Ruta Sepetys' novels on my Audible wishlist and am ordering a copy of Short Hair Detention. Thanks!
(You might add One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.)
The CCP has TOO MUCH to say about American film production! I believe the mega bucks of Chinese theater attendance is being used as leverage in deciding our film content. Not a good trend. Opppenheimer lost his security status due to communist affiliation, although he was mot a party member. Nolan chose to leave out material that I woud like to have had further explained. I'd like to see how the PBS special 'handled things' and would especially like to read 'American Prometheus'.
The PBS special or "American Prometheus" might provide a few more of the details the movie missed. "Blacklisted by History" by M. Stanton Evans describes the evidence about Oppenheimer that was revealed by the Venona Intercepts and USSR documents released in the 1990s. Much of this evidence has been ignored by left-wing historians, filmmakers and authors--who prefer to portray Oppenheimer and other supporters of communism as victims rather than transgressors.
Thank you for your patience. I have now seen 'Oppenhiemer'. I think Director/Writer Nolan delivered a good first "cut'. There is a truly fine film, more or less, within the three hour 'march across time' I recently sat through. But far too many topics were given, IMO, litttle or no attention. Billed as a biopic, I was hoping to see much more of his culturally formative years. Specifically, I would have liked to seen portrayed how the respect ( adoration? ), of Marx and his teachings were nurtured within his corteri. For example, by the time he was coming of age, the horrific human buchery of Holodomore was wrapping up. Did he miss news of that? Did his friends? How? I'd like to see Nolan dive a little deeper, into this among several other areas, with the next cut.
Thanks for sharing your impressions of "Oppenhiemer." I still haven't seen it yet and don't know if I will. I have the impression from the reviews I've read that it's Hollywood propaganda. Did the movie mention that Oppenhiemer gave U.S. nuclear secrets to the USSR, or that he was required to leave his job in the U.S. government because he was a national security risk? I have the impression from the reviews that the movie presents Oppenheimer as a victim of persecution. I've heard that no Hollywood film today is released without the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. I can only surmise that this film passed the CCP's approval with flying colors. PBS has recently published a 2-hour special on Oppenheimer and I predict it will be much the same. My interest in both films would be as good examples of propaganda.
I have not seen it yet but the trailers appear to paint Oppenhiemer in a positive light as a man of conscience. I have read that he was a soviet agent and communist loyal to Moscow who relinquished his job in the U.S. federal government when adverse security findings about him were exposed by Senator Joseph McCarthy. I have written about this topic in my article 'McCarthyism' Facts & Fiction" at https://2026.substack.com/p/mccarthyism-facts-and-fiction. The original source of the information is a thoroughly researched book written by M. Stanton Evans titled "Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies." What is your take on the movie? Is it worth watching and, if so, why?
Another book about the Soviet system of forced-labor camps is "The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom" by Slavomir Rawicz. It has been made into the movie "The Way Back."
The first four are excellent books. Not only are they based on history, but they are very well written and quite suspenseful. I haven't read the last book on the list.
The author of "Short Hair Detention" has since moved to the U.S. where she now gives testimonial talks about her experiences for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. You can see video recordings of her speaking on their website.
In looking for the Sepetys book "Beyond Shades of Gray" I found it under the title "Between Shades of Gray". FYI
Thanks for catching my typo. I have made a correction on the online version of my article.
Great idea. It's common for me to be reading a novel and quit on it because it twists history in the favor Communism. I almost stopped reading Timothy Hallinan's series set in Thailand when he basically blamed the Khmer Rouge takeover on the U.S. and never mentioned the word "Communist".
I have put two of Ruta Sepetys' novels on my Audible wishlist and am ordering a copy of Short Hair Detention. Thanks!
(You might add One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.)
An excellent recommendation. Solzhenitsyn's other famous book is "Gulag Archipelago." He has also written "Warning to the West."
The CCP has TOO MUCH to say about American film production! I believe the mega bucks of Chinese theater attendance is being used as leverage in deciding our film content. Not a good trend. Opppenheimer lost his security status due to communist affiliation, although he was mot a party member. Nolan chose to leave out material that I woud like to have had further explained. I'd like to see how the PBS special 'handled things' and would especially like to read 'American Prometheus'.
The PBS special or "American Prometheus" might provide a few more of the details the movie missed. "Blacklisted by History" by M. Stanton Evans describes the evidence about Oppenheimer that was revealed by the Venona Intercepts and USSR documents released in the 1990s. Much of this evidence has been ignored by left-wing historians, filmmakers and authors--who prefer to portray Oppenheimer and other supporters of communism as victims rather than transgressors.
Elizabeth,
Thank you for your patience. I have now seen 'Oppenhiemer'. I think Director/Writer Nolan delivered a good first "cut'. There is a truly fine film, more or less, within the three hour 'march across time' I recently sat through. But far too many topics were given, IMO, litttle or no attention. Billed as a biopic, I was hoping to see much more of his culturally formative years. Specifically, I would have liked to seen portrayed how the respect ( adoration? ), of Marx and his teachings were nurtured within his corteri. For example, by the time he was coming of age, the horrific human buchery of Holodomore was wrapping up. Did he miss news of that? Did his friends? How? I'd like to see Nolan dive a little deeper, into this among several other areas, with the next cut.
Thanks for sharing your impressions of "Oppenhiemer." I still haven't seen it yet and don't know if I will. I have the impression from the reviews I've read that it's Hollywood propaganda. Did the movie mention that Oppenhiemer gave U.S. nuclear secrets to the USSR, or that he was required to leave his job in the U.S. government because he was a national security risk? I have the impression from the reviews that the movie presents Oppenheimer as a victim of persecution. I've heard that no Hollywood film today is released without the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. I can only surmise that this film passed the CCP's approval with flying colors. PBS has recently published a 2-hour special on Oppenheimer and I predict it will be much the same. My interest in both films would be as good examples of propaganda.
Would like your take on the new film 'Oppenheimer'.
I have not seen it yet but the trailers appear to paint Oppenhiemer in a positive light as a man of conscience. I have read that he was a soviet agent and communist loyal to Moscow who relinquished his job in the U.S. federal government when adverse security findings about him were exposed by Senator Joseph McCarthy. I have written about this topic in my article 'McCarthyism' Facts & Fiction" at https://2026.substack.com/p/mccarthyism-facts-and-fiction. The original source of the information is a thoroughly researched book written by M. Stanton Evans titled "Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies." What is your take on the movie? Is it worth watching and, if so, why?
I plan to see it very soon. I'll get back to you when I do.
Thank you. I would like to know your impressions.