Originally I had planned not to write a "review" for this book, but after I read a few chapters I quickly changed my mind. As the title suggests, Young Stalin details the life of a young Joseph Stalin, focusing on his life from the time of his birth in December 1878 up until shortly after the Bolsheviks seized power in a dying Russian Empire during the Russian Revolution in 1917, which would later lead to the formation of the Soviet Union. Written by Simon Sebag Montefiore, Young Stalin was written as a prequel to Montefiore's 2004 book Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar, which focuses on Stalin's life during his years in power.
To be honest, until I picked this book up, my knowledge of Joseph Stalin had been very limited. I've had a near basic knowledge of Stalin's history for many years now, but not nearly as much as I should have had. I found the book to be brilliantly written, and, from the moment I picked it up, I was surprised at how interesting and informative it was. All in all it was much better than I had expected it to be, and I'd recommend it to anybody who has a deep interest in 20th century history and those who drove those historical events.
During the past week I've been reading a very interesting and insightful book called Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of It's Participants put together and edited by a man by the name of Kevin Patterson, and a woman named Jane Warren. It's title is quite self-descriptive, so I trust there's no need for me to detail what lies within it's pages. I found it to be a very light and informative read, unlike many non-fictional works which, despite often being informative, are not always simple and easy to follow due to the sheer amount of information their pages bombard their readers with.
Outside the Wire is a perfect book for anybody, Canadian or otherwise, who is interested in gaining some degree of understanding of exactly how much Canadian soldiers have been doing in Afghanistan. Personally I found the chapters which touched upon Afghan women and their current way of life very insightful, for, though I've read and learned a lot of what the conditions are like over there for our troops and the average everyday Afghan, I've rarely come across much information offering insight into the day to day lives of Afghan women these days, especially in a family setting or amongst themselves. There is no better way to understand a conflict than to read accounts of it written by those who have experienced it first hand, which is exactly what Outside the Wire offers those who decide to read it. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!
Considering that within the next few months I'll be leaving for St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec to begin my Basic Training to become a member of the Canadian Forces, I've often found myself coming to the realisation that, in just a few short months, I'll soon be leaving my home behind and finally beginning my own life. After I've left home – a home in which I've lived since I was born – my time living here will nearly be at an end. I'll still be returning home for a short period after I've finished my Basic Training, but once I've left to take my course at the the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering (CFSATE) in Borden, Ontario, graduated, and have begun my career, I'll be making my final move from home to my own place wherever it is I'm posted.
That being said, lately I've found that I am much more inclined to spend more of my spare time out and about when the monotony of my indoor life gets the better of me. I've been going for more walks lately and find myself taking routes I haven't taken in quite a long while; I want to take in sights and once-familiar places as much as I possibly can because, to be honest, I may not see some of them again until years in the future if ever. I guess I'm just incredibly sentimental sometimes, not to mention nostalgic. I've even been taking my digital camera out with me when I go out so that I can take pictures of some of my favourite places and sights around my neighbourhood.
As much as I'm excited to get on with my life and get the hell out of this place and away from some of it's people – people who had made growing up hell for me with their constant slandering and foolishness (I still can't figure out how Kevin and I managed to start a brush fire while he was working and I was sound asleep in my bed) – I can honestly say I'm going to miss being here, too. This is the only place I've ever lived; nearly every good memory I have has taken place here. So when the day comes that I will be leaving, it will definitely be a sad day, but only for a day; there is so to do, and to see, and to experience in the future!
