In Free, Lea Ypi opens with a memorable description of a young girl hugging the knees of the bronze statue of Joseph Stalin, which was made headless during recent student protests.
Her story revolves around her family and the political confusion that exists among them. Her
…more homeland, Albania, is undergoing change and she is trying to grow up. Lea was 11 years old when communism began to collapse. She and her family enter periods of great transition in their thinking and in their lives. Much of the book involves conflicting feelings and questions in the minds of the central characters. Voting in free elections was unsettling for instance, and Lea has a lot of inner turmoil about the actions of her parents.
I was constantly trying to unlock an understanding of Lea's internal political evolution, making this book challenging to read. It was helpful to learn that she currently teaches political theory in London. Having little knowledge of Albania, I appreciated learning more about the turmoil within the country. (less)
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