Notes from Hell

Notes from Hell

Author	Nikolay Yordanov and Valya Chervenyashka
Genre	Biographical novel
Publication date	November 20, 2009
Pages	138
ISBN	1920143475[1] 9789542608226 [2]

"Notes from Hell" is a biographical novel, written by Nikolay Yordanov and Valya Cherveniashka about her life in several Libyan prisons during the HIV trial in Libya. It follows the events during eight and a half years, spend behind the bars during the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. Cherveniashka was accused for being involved in mass murder of hundreds of Libyan children, deliberately infecting them with HIV virus in hospital in Benghazi. She was sentenced to death several times between 2002 and 2007.

About the book

In 1999 seventeen Bulgarian nurses are kidnapped from the hospital in which they work in Benghazi, Libya and are confined in a police station in the capital Tripoli. The next eight and a half years five of them will spend in different prisons accused of deliberately infecting more than 400 children with HIV. They survived torture, physical and mental abuse, and several death sentences, before their liberation in 2007. ^[3]

"Notes from Hell" is a confession of an ordinary woman whose face becomes familiar to the whole world. The book tells about her work in Benghazi, about the reasons for the infection of the children, about the monstrous tortures she suffered, the terror, uncertainty and friendship in the Libyan prisons, about what it feels like to have three death sentences and survive.

Chapters

1. "Introduction"
2. "Arrival in Libya"
3. "Children of Libya"
4. "Infection"
5. "Lost"
6. "The Red Carpet"
7. "My 'Accomplices’"
8. "The Hell In Me"
9. "Lies And Confessions"
10. "Mama Salma's Treasure"
11. "Defendants"
12. "Case № 44/99"
13. "My Sins Against Nasya"
14. "Mabruka"
15. "Freedom in Prison"
16. "Case № 213/2002"
17. "Death Men Walking"
18. "We Are Not Alone"
19. "The Embrace"
20. "My New life"
21. "Buns And Chocolate Cake"

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Printed editions

1. Bulgaria - by "Hermes Books" on November 20, 2009.^[4]
2. South Africa - by "30° South Publishers" in February 2010 ^[5]

eBook editions

1. "30° South Publishers" in 2011
2. "NY Creative and Publishing" in September 2014 ^[6]

Critical Reception

The book received positive reviews in Bulgaria, the country Chervinashka is originated from. A journalist from "Standart newspaper" calling it "a significant topic of discussion". Another newspaper, "Telegraph" praises the title as "one of the most emotional and revealing confessions".^[7] TV journalist Ani Tzolova is describing it as "powerful story". ^[8]

In South Africa "Notes from Hell" also got positive reaction from the critics. According to Michelle Bristow-Bovey from "Cape Times", "Notes from Hell" documents more than a decade of torture, cruelty and despair. This intimate account is relayed with raw honesty and emotion. A cold, sobering look at some of life's injustices." Dries Brunt from "Citizen" claims that "...This story shows brutality in its most extreme form, a willful act of cruel injustice for which the Libyan government stands accused. Reading this book will make you cringe."^[9]

The eBook edition also collected excellent reviews. "A horrific story well told, Notes From Hell will stir every emotion you have within you. You won’t walk away and forget this book for a very long time, if ever", says Bil Howard from "Readers' Favorite" ^[10]

The cover of eBook edition in 2014

References