Stasiland
Funder, AnnaDuring its forty-year-history, the former East Germany was the perfect police state. The secret police, known as the Stasi, had organised a large army of citizen informers. Funder, an Australian author, sets out to establish how it felt to live in "the most perfected surveillance state of all time". Her careful portraits of the people she meets, shine a dazzling light on one of the world's most paranoid and secretive regimes, and its effects on contemporary society.
Comments from Groups
Well structured with narrator and personal stories and history. A book to get your teeeth into. Taupo 004 This book left a powerful impact on the group and provoked lots of discussion. Everyone rated it very highly. Christchurch 031 Fascinating insight into a totalitarian regime. Good mixture of interviews, background information, analysis and personal involvement. Jervois 001 Serious subject matter but read almost like a novel. Rivetting. Upper Hutt 003 Very good journalistic investigation. Well written - almost poetic in places. ..Raised profound issues. Dunedin 029 Much discussion on East Germany, Berlin Wall, injustices for people. Sad and tragic experiences for people. Very good read. Invercargill 003
Pages
288
288
Year
2002
2002
Reviews
25-01-2022
Several of our group found this book hard work - content, style and names, particularly of the men. Three of us who are particularly interested in history, could view the book in the light of what happened to people in East Germany during the years of the Stasi. It also reminded us of 'Burying the Typewriter' which we read last year, another regime of fear and misery for the populace.
25-01-2022
A hard read, but found very interesting by those of us who finished the book.
25-01-2022
While some people thought it was lacklustre, it generated much discussion.
25-01-2022
A powerful and chilling read. Great insight into just a little of how life was under the G.D.R. Funder's writing was often beautiful, but she was still able to convey the harsh, brutal life lived by many under the Stasi regime. 4.5 was unanimous.
25-01-2022
2 members did not like the book, but everyone else was glad to have learnt so much about East Germany, and the pre-wall, post-wall era. Some members wondered if it could ever happen here.
25-01-2022
The guys really liked the book.
21-01-2022
An amazing book. None of us had any idea of life in the East and found it fascinating to see both sides; informed against, and informers. A book everyone should read.
19-07-2021
Really interesting to hear the stories from the other side of the wall and to put history in more perspective. Anna Funder really tries to bring all our senses into the story, with visceral descriptions of sight, sound, and smell. It is hard not to compare the past to current situations in the world and to think what kind of choices we would make, or are making.