Child 44

About a month ago, I read Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith and hugely moving thriller, based on the crimes of Andrei Chikatilo.

Andrei Chikatilo

Andrei Chikatilo was a Soviet serial killer (often known as the Butcher of Rostov or the Red Ripper), who, between 1978 and 1990, committed the sexual assault, murder and mutilation of more than 52 (and probably over 56) women and children, mostly in the Rostov Oblast of the Russian SFSR. He was sentenced to death 1992 and executed February 1994. Child 44 is a fictional book inspired by the case of Chikatilo, however was set several decades earlier.

Child 44 tells the story of former MGB Agent Leo Demidov investigating a series of murders in Stalin's Russia, through exploring themes such as homosexuality in the USSR, secret police, orphanages and the paranoia of living in the dictatorship.It explores in detail the problem of soviet crime, where "there is no crime", and we lean that no matter if you committed the crime or not, if it's convenient for the state, then you did, meaning the blame often got handed to those from minority groups, or the countries' 'undesirables'.

This novel is hugely moving and had me sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time. I found it also demonstrated an example of the situation, when living in a dictatorship, something I have learnt about in detail in history over the years. I find books like Child 44 really allows me to put myself in someone else's shoes and really understand what life was like for the civilians of these evil dictatorships.

All in all, if you enjoy thrillers, crimes or historical fiction, then Child 44 is DEFINITELY worth the read. I cannot comment on other two books in the trilogy, The Secret Speech and Agent 6, as I have not got round to reading them yet, however I will say that I do have very high expectations for these books.

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Chocolate and Raspberry Brownies

I made these a few days ago and they are just HEAVENLY. I found that the raspberries added just a little extra and the fruitiness made them even tastier (and one could argue, healthier!).

You will need:

175g dark chocolate, broken into chunks

125g milk chocolate, broken into chunks

250g butter or margarine

225g soft brown sugar

4 large eggs

140g plain flour

40g cocoa powder

125g raspberries

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Line a roughly 25 x 25cm backing tin with greaseproof paper.
2. Put chocolate, butter and sugar into pan and gently melt, stirring with a wooden spoon until completly melted, and remove from heat.
3. Stir in eggs, flour and cocoa powder and add the raspberries. 
4. Put mixture in tin and bake on the middle shelf for 30 minutes. Let it cool before slicing into squares.

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Insprirational quotes to get you motivated

The mind is everything. What you think you become. – Buddha

It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot

…both success and failure are largely the results of habit! – Napoleon Hill

Either you run the day, or the day runs you. – Jim Rohn

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. – Arthur Ashe

Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see. – Confucius

If the wind will not serve, take to the oars. – Latin Proverb

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. – Dalai Lama

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen Covey

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. –George Addair

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford


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Stockholm, Sweden

In the summer I visited Stockholm, a beautiful city in Sweden. Because of the spectacular weather I was able to make the most of the city's stunning architecture and views. On my first day I visited Gamala Stan, Stockholm's 'old town'. Gamala Stan is right in the heart of Stockholm and consists of cute lanes and gorgeous colours.

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Tea and Books...

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