miocyon's review against another edition
5.0
I have to start with how I found out about this book. This past summer I took my mother to Greece to see the village where her father's family is from and to see cousins there that she either met only once or not at all. Turns out that the village is actually just over the border in Albania, in an area that ended up on the wrong side of the border when it was drawn at the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. My cousin there, with whom I had only corresponded with over facebook, set up everything for us in Albania, and got us a hotel in the nearest town to the village, Gjirokastër. We heard stories from the cousins about life in Albania as a Greek. About the changing of occupation during WWII, about living under the communist dictator Hoxha and not being able to leave (this is why my mom hadn't met them). It was an incredible experience.
The town of Gjirokastër was lovely - slate roofs, winding streets, great food. It turns out that it is the birthplace of Hoxha, as well as the author of this book. Kadare was an Albanian, and this book, while fictional, is based on his life of growing up in the town, mainly during WWII and the rise of Hoxha. I actually got the book there, and it was recommended to me by a guy running a book and map store in town.
The book is as lovely as the town. It's told through the eyes of a young boy as he witnesses all the changes around him. Seeing the old ladies proclaim every change is 'the end of the world'. Watching the Italians march through town, then leave, then the Greeks come, then the Italians again, then the Germans, then finally Hoxha's partisans, and not really understanding it all, but seeing it all as part of a grand adventure. It verges on magic realism at times, but only because the narrator imparts his own wonderment and fantastical explanations onto the events. I really can't recommend this book enough, especially if you have any interest in the history of the area, or the Balkans more broadly.
The town of Gjirokastër was lovely - slate roofs, winding streets, great food. It turns out that it is the birthplace of Hoxha, as well as the author of this book. Kadare was an Albanian, and this book, while fictional, is based on his life of growing up in the town, mainly during WWII and the rise of Hoxha. I actually got the book there, and it was recommended to me by a guy running a book and map store in town.
The book is as lovely as the town. It's told through the eyes of a young boy as he witnesses all the changes around him. Seeing the old ladies proclaim every change is 'the end of the world'. Watching the Italians march through town, then leave, then the Greeks come, then the Italians again, then the Germans, then finally Hoxha's partisans, and not really understanding it all, but seeing it all as part of a grand adventure. It verges on magic realism at times, but only because the narrator imparts his own wonderment and fantastical explanations onto the events. I really can't recommend this book enough, especially if you have any interest in the history of the area, or the Balkans more broadly.
lorenadh27's review against another edition
4.0
This story was a neat experience - I don't know if I understand Albania better or not, but I feel like I understand the nuances of this specific environment at least a little bit. I'm getting more and more comfortable with magical realism, which I didn't expect. Interesting perspective on WWII. 2nd in my journey in books around the world.
juhule's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mactammonty's review against another edition
3.0
The narrator is a young boy who is living through WWII in Albania. It is confusing, just as a young boy would be confused by the different factions in Albania at the time.
silverthorn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death