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ljutavidra's review against another edition
4.0
Posle klimavog početka, na kraju mi je ova knjiga prirasla za srce.
Sofija piše na takav način da vam se brzo podvuče pod kožu; naravno, tome doprinose i ona univerzalna ženska iskustva koja opisuje, ali i raspad Jugoslavije. Drago mi je što je pobegla od bilo koje naznake pretencioznosti, piše jednostavno, na momente skoro naivno poput deteta, i to je nešto što mi je nedostajalo da čitam u poslednje vreme.
Njena rastrzanost između zemlje koja se raspala i čudne, nove Australije je jedinstvena, a opet tako dobro poznata. Mogla sam da se zamislim na njenom mestu, ta želja da se pobegne od prošlosti i da izgradi od sebe nešto drugačije, ali i ona nostalgija koja uvek tinja u nama i koja nas zakuje za jedno mesto (bilo ono fizički opipljivo ili mentalno).
Volela bih doduše da su neki delovi bili kraći, narativ se otegao beskonačno, ali takvi su memoari - unosiš i one bitne, i one manje bitne sitnice.
Sofija piše na takav način da vam se brzo podvuče pod kožu; naravno, tome doprinose i ona univerzalna ženska iskustva koja opisuje, ali i raspad Jugoslavije. Drago mi je što je pobegla od bilo koje naznake pretencioznosti, piše jednostavno, na momente skoro naivno poput deteta, i to je nešto što mi je nedostajalo da čitam u poslednje vreme.
Njena rastrzanost između zemlje koja se raspala i čudne, nove Australije je jedinstvena, a opet tako dobro poznata. Mogla sam da se zamislim na njenom mestu, ta želja da se pobegne od prošlosti i da izgradi od sebe nešto drugačije, ali i ona nostalgija koja uvek tinja u nama i koja nas zakuje za jedno mesto (bilo ono fizički opipljivo ili mentalno).
Volela bih doduše da su neki delovi bili kraći, narativ se otegao beskonačno, ali takvi su memoari - unosiš i one bitne, i one manje bitne sitnice.
novelvisits's review against another edition
4.0
My Thoughts: Sofija Stefanovic did a wonderful job telling the story of her immigrant experiences in Miss Ex-Yugoslavia. Stefanovik was born in socialist Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1982. No one had much, but her parents as intellectuals, lived a stimulating life constantly debating the politics of their country. When Sofija was 5, her parents, concerned about the growing political unrest in their country, made the difficult decision to immigrate to Australia. This was only the first move for the family. After two years in Australia (enough time to gain citizenship) they returned to Yugoslavia. The situation in Belgrade grew worse, so after another two years they fled back to Australia.
With each move, Stefanovic was again the outsider. The initial transition to Australia was the most difficult as everything was new, she had to learn English, and other children were not welcoming. Back in Belgrade, her Serbian now had a strange accent and the other kids looked at her with suspicion. After returning to Australia for good, her family could find comfort with others in the larger Yugoslavian diaspora, but the constant worry about the wars at home took their tole.
Though Stefanovic worked to balance her personal journey with the wars raging in Yugoslavia, at times the political side of her book bogged down. It was important to fully understand Stefanovic’s experiences and feelings of being an outsider, but I would have liked just a little less of the history and a little more of the story of her evolution. I found the last part of the book especially appealing as Stefanovic came to fully realize the horrors of all wars and the plight of innocent immigrants displaced by them.
Note: I received a copy of this book from Atria Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Original Source - Novel Visits: https://novelvisits.com/mini-reviews-miss-ex-yugoslavia-and-now-we-have-everything/
With each move, Stefanovic was again the outsider. The initial transition to Australia was the most difficult as everything was new, she had to learn English, and other children were not welcoming. Back in Belgrade, her Serbian now had a strange accent and the other kids looked at her with suspicion. After returning to Australia for good, her family could find comfort with others in the larger Yugoslavian diaspora, but the constant worry about the wars at home took their tole.
Though Stefanovic worked to balance her personal journey with the wars raging in Yugoslavia, at times the political side of her book bogged down. It was important to fully understand Stefanovic’s experiences and feelings of being an outsider, but I would have liked just a little less of the history and a little more of the story of her evolution. I found the last part of the book especially appealing as Stefanovic came to fully realize the horrors of all wars and the plight of innocent immigrants displaced by them.
Note: I received a copy of this book from Atria Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Original Source - Novel Visits: https://novelvisits.com/mini-reviews-miss-ex-yugoslavia-and-now-we-have-everything/
morethanthepages's review against another edition
5.0
This is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read. Sofija is excellent at describing the way her young self thought and rationalized (even if it didn't make sense) which I can completely relate to. It's funny and sad and completely encompasses the feeling of finding yourself in surrounding and trying to feel acceptance while also staying true to who you are and where you come from. This is one I'm going to be giving to people as gifts because everyone needs to hear her story and the story of the wars in Yugoslavia and what may differ from what people seem to know from what the news showed. Anyone who cares about perspectives and learning different points of views should 100% read this book. Not to mention Sofija is crafty with her humor and strong in her writing to make you cry. I felt that I was with her in Belgrade and in the Melbourne suburbs. READ THIS and share the story. And Payton Turner (co-founder of Girls at Library) did the awesome cover art for the US edition.
annetjeberg's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book! Being born in 1982 too, I definitely recognised some references, and I found Sofija's voice to be a very interesting (and entertaining) one.
In my head we would be friends.
In my head we would be friends.
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
2.75
miss ex-yugoslavia is an informative memoir that explores the life of an immigrant that straddles multiple places and cultures - that tricky space of feeling like one never quite belongs anywhere - as well as shedding light on the yugoslav wars.
i like the way stefanovic narrates many of the realizations in her younger yrs abt the larger world, how it's more complex than she initially thought and how things nevertheless often get overly simplified, in addition to her painfully relatable and honest childhood + teenage inner thoughts and qualms. however, the book failed to retain my attention at points bc of the pacing - sometimes it's slow and way too detailed that it needs to be - thus making it a task to slog thru. for that, i cant fully say that i 'like' this book but it's a not-bad read anyway.
i like the way stefanovic narrates many of the realizations in her younger yrs abt the larger world, how it's more complex than she initially thought and how things nevertheless often get overly simplified, in addition to her painfully relatable and honest childhood + teenage inner thoughts and qualms. however, the book failed to retain my attention at points bc of the pacing - sometimes it's slow and way too detailed that it needs to be - thus making it a task to slog thru. for that, i cant fully say that i 'like' this book but it's a not-bad read anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Genocide and Violence