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Full Circle by Vered Neta
Boston, 1989. Confronted by news of the Velvet Revolution, Ana collapses in the street. Returning home, she’s reminded of her past when her daughter, Yael, accuses her of being ignorant about politics.
Prague, 1968. Focused on her medical studies and disinterested in the political uprising, Ana’s fate is sealed when handsome, enigmatic libertarian Jan, her childhood friend, returns to her life. Drawn into the fight against oppression, Ana is warned against involvement by Helen, her mother, who, as a Holocaust survivor, knows the dire price of oppression.
As Soviet tanks roll into Prague, Ana and Jan find themselves on the frontlines, where, in one act, Ana’s life is destroyed. Now hunted by the government, her only hope of realising her dreams lies in escaping beyond the Iron Curtain.
Full Circle unravels the age-old conundrum: hold fast to principles or embrace the brutal grip of survival?
Artisan Book Reviews:
In the thought-provoking historical novel, Full Circle: From the Depths of Uncertainty, Purpose Arises by Vered Neta, a young woman joins her peers in the quest for Czechoslovakia’s liberty after it is invaded by Soviet troops.
Ana is oblivious to the political turmoil brewing around her. All she has ever wanted is to become a doctor. Now more than ever, she is determined to fulfill her dreams. Everything seems to be falling into place until her childhood friend, Jan, comes back into her life. Ana is encouraged by Jan to join in the fight for Czechoslovakia’s freedom from the tyrannical communist regime. But Ana’s mother, who experienced the horrors inflicted by the Nazis, is convinced that freedom is elusive and not worth the struggle. As political upheaval ensues, Ana’s life and goals are derailed forcing her to change course. In 1989 during the Velvet Revolution, Ana recalls her experiences and recounts them to her daughter.
Full Circle is a story of growth, courage and fortitude. Vered Neta creatively chronicles the events that frame Ana’s story, providing eye-opening and educational historical detail. After the end of the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the country is later invaded by the Soviets. Many like Ana’s father long to see their country free. Though his wife is concerned about the political unrest growing over the Soviet invasion, Ana’s father longs for self-rule. Vered Neta does a fairly good job of describing the events surrounding the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia and later, the Velvet Revolution. Ana’s journey is intertwined with the rising political dissension.
The story features interesting characters with engaging storylines. Through fine descriptions and an nicely structured plot, the characters and the story’s backdrop are brought to life. Ana is persuaded by Jan to join the students’ union and becomes involved with a group of students who challenge her beliefs. She is drawn to him and is inspired by his passion for freedom. Indifferent to the prevailing political changes at first, Ana later becomes actively involved. The characters’ lives are upended when they encounter brutal resistance.
In Full Circle, author Vered Neta captures the political shifts that occurred in Czechoslovakia in 1968 and 1989. It is a political thriller that will inspire strength and resilience in its readers. Book read and reviewed by Anna Davis for Artisan Book Reviews.
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