Review of Sunflower Underground

[Annabell Samuel]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sunflower Underground" by Richard W. Coad.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has been the talk of the day. It begins to question whether the old Soviet Union has truly been disintegrated. While we ponder the tumultuous love-hate relationship between Russia and Ukraine, Richard Coad takes us back to the time he spent in Kyiv. Between 1995 and 1999, the author had three spells in Ukraine. He shared his experiences, from academic to social to political.

"Sunflower Underground: A Kyiv Memoir" by Richard Coad is not the regular memoir you are used to reading. The author added a fictional touch to this memoir. While most of the things he shared happened, some characters, timelines, and details were altered to create a dramatic effect. However, I couldn't differentiate the fictional parts from the non-fictional elements; everything blended so well that I would not have believed had I not read it in the author's notes. This spoke highly of the author's writing prowess and ability to craft amazing stories.

The three spells of the author's sojourn in Ukraine had highlights worth reading. The author was attracting attention to himself without knowing. In the first spell, he attracted the attention of Professor Korolyuk, which eventually put him on Professor Harris' radar. In his second spell, he attracted the attention of some folks in the mathematics institute who were unhappy with the strides he was making. In his third spell, he attracted the attention of the Ukrainian government in a way that readers would not see coming.

I liked that this memoir was not one-dimensional. There were so many aspects of the author's story that added spice to the narrative. The author's social life was well described. He also had a good sense of humor, which he sprinkled sparingly throughout the book.

There was nothing I didn't like about the book, so I'd rate it five out of five stars. I'd recommend it to folks who would love to read an Englishman's account of his four-year sojourn in Kyiv.

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Sunflower Underground
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[Loner Pen]

This review paints a compelling picture of "Sunflower Underground: A Kyiv Memoir" by Richard Coad, highlighting the author's skill in blending fiction and non-fiction seamlessly. The reviewer found the book engaging and captivating, with various aspects of the author's life in Ukraine, including academic, social, and political experiences. The memoir's multi-dimensional nature and the author's sense of humor were appreciated. The reviewer gave the book a five-star rating and recommends it to those interested in an Englishman's four-year journey in Kyiv. Overall, based on this review, the book appears to be a great read. Powerful themes, explored with sensitivity and depth.

[Charmaine Mahlangu]

This is more of a political genre. Sounds really interesting . It's just not my cup of tea. I am surprised you finished the book. Well done on your review

[Mojisola Omowunmi Omotosho]

Thank you for your review! "Sunflower Underground: A Kyiv Memoir" by Richard Coad sounds like a captivating and multifaceted memoir that blends fact and fiction. Your praise for the author's storytelling ability and how the narrative seamlessly integrates various aspects of his life in Ukraine is compelling. It's great that the book offers humor and depth, making it an engaging read. Your five-star rating and recommendation underscore its appeal to readers interested in personal accounts of life in Kyiv during the 1990s.

[Liam Patel]

Well y'all, this here review sure got me intrigued 'bout that book "Sunflower Underground: A Kyiv Memoir" by Richard Coad. Seems like this fella done a fine job mixin' up true tales and a dash of fiction. Can't even tell what's real and what's made up! The author's experiences in Ukraine, from academic to social to political, got me mighty interested. And I just can't resist a good blend of humor and storytelling. I reckon this book is a solid five outta five stars! I'd surely recommend it to anyone lookin' for a unique memoir. Profound character development, felt authentic and meaningful.