Under the Sickle and the Sledgehammer was a deeply thought-provoking read.

The title itself plays on the original "sickle and hammer" notion, trying to use "sledgehammer" to depict a deeply oppressive and violent regime.

This book is a memoir of Kirsti Huurre, who went from Finland to the USSR in the 1930s in the hopes of finding a better life for her and her son.
She quickly discovered that not everything looks like it is portrayed.
This memoir is deeply personal and depicts various historical events through Kirsti's eyes, but her eyes are not only hers—they paint a picture of what was experienced by many common folk.
The propaganda, the discrimination, and the deeply oppressive political tactics on all sides made my eyes twitch and my heart ache for all the people affected in the stories. Because it is not just a story - it is a personal piece of history, which must be understood, but is sadly repeated still.

While the situation has been explained, I am both fascinated and saddened that it took so many decades for this important work to be translated into English and reach a wider audience. I am happy and thankful I got to read this.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for granting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Under the Sickle and the Sledgehammer by Kirsti Huurre was a thought provoking memoir.

Per the blurb - The author is a Finnish woman who immigrated to the Soviet Union in the 1930s, convinced the new egalitarian state and workers’ paradise would provide a better life for her and her young son; she was hopeful that, once settled, she would be able to send for him. What followed was vastly different to what was promised: a life filled with fear, suspicion, violence and state-run propaganda that spun a web of lies around its people. Kirsti eventually escaped – defying the odds when so many of her friends and loved ones did not.

Probably due to the translation, this book took some time to get through, but it was such an interesting viewpoint of Russian life and how the author's viewpoint changed so much from before she arrived in Russia to her escaping what the realities were. It has a bit of dark humor, that got our author through the tough times, but it's terrifying that the realities of then are still happening in Russia today and in some instances are the same.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I think we all should read this and acknowledge that Russia is not a friend to the common man!

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the Advance Copy!

If you love history and don’t mind diving into dense political waters, Under the Sickle and Sledgehammer is a fascinating ride through Soviet history. Semyonov’s research is deep—sometimes so deep, you’ll feel like you’re trudging through snow. The sheer audacity of the Soviet regime is often laughable in its absurdity, though the humor is more dark than light. It’s definitely not a breezy read, but if you’re a history junkie who loves details, it’s worth the effort. Just make sure you’re in the mood to get a little too into the weeds.