Javor
Fun fact: In 1961 this book and LOTR were nomineted for Nobel price, and guess which one won... This one.
Now that I have your attention, I can start mansplaining.
Even though I think LOTR is not that great of a book, the incredibly detailed world that Tolkien made made such an impact on literature and all other media can be hardly be explained by words. This book is also very detailed and narrative but is realistic and brutal as much as LOTR is not, and pretty much forgotten outside countries of former Yugoslavia and literature snobs( I think).
The book takes historical approach of telling the story of the bridge and settlement around it (Višegrad) across several centuries. As bloodsheds, wars, and different authorities take over, and characters change frequently the bridge stands as a striking monument defying the time itself, like a sleeping stone giant.
It is a slow read mind you. Like a grampa telling you story of the old days, but it is interesting and will warm you and tuck you in its pages in that dark and raw way that eastern European books do.
Cheers.
Fun fact: In 1961 this book and LOTR were nomineted for Nobel price, and guess which one won... This one.
Now that I have your attention, I can start mansplaining.
Even though I think LOTR is not that great of a book, the incredibly detailed world that Tolkien made made such an impact on literature and all other media can be hardly be explained by words. This book is also very detailed and narrative but is realistic and brutal as much as LOTR is not, and pretty much forgotten outside countries of former Yugoslavia and literature snobs( I think).
The book takes historical approach of telling the story of the bridge and settlement around it (Višegrad) across several centuries. As bloodsheds, wars, and different authorities take over, and characters change frequently the bridge stands as a striking monument defying the time itself, like a sleeping stone giant.
It is a slow read mind you. Like a grampa telling you story of the old days, but it is interesting and will warm you and tuck you in its pages in that dark and raw way that eastern European books do.
Cheers.
A tense, mysterius, unforgiving and on the moments humerus novel set in small region in the tense, mysterius, unforgiving and on the moments humerus Balkans.
It is a thriller and a book about life small remote village among small folk and their small lives. The "thriller" side (I do not like that term and I do not know if I am using it corectly but my lack of vocabulary and laziness are here so it will do) is interesting and it keeps the plot going and I like the interwined realistic perspective and childlike naive fantasy that softens (or worsens) some grussome scenes.
Personally I read far too many books covering the theme of growing up in rural parts of South-Eastern Europe, and yes I am from those parts (if my grammar did not uncover that yet) so for me it felt a bit repetitive but I think that outsider may find a lot of interesting here.
Cheers.
A tense, mysterius, unforgiving and on the moments humerus novel set in small region in the tense, mysterius, unforgiving and on the moments humerus Balkans.
It is a thriller and a book about life small remote village among small folk and their small lives. The "thriller" side (I do not like that term and I do not know if I am using it corectly but my lack of vocabulary and laziness are here so it will do) is interesting and it keeps the plot going and I like the interwined realistic perspective and childlike naive fantasy that softens (or worsens) some grussome scenes.
Personally I read far too many books covering the theme of growing up in rural parts of South-Eastern Europe, and yes I am from those parts (if my grammar did not uncover that yet) so for me it felt a bit repetitive but I think that outsider may find a lot of interesting here.
Cheers.
A perfect entry book if you want to want to enter a long dark,cold and very descriptive world of classic Russian novels.
It has all the ingredients that make a classic Russian novel; depressing Russian atmosphere, long descriptive dialogue, focus on motives and thoughts of the characters, and so on, and so on... but it is short, very short in comparison to others of its kind and it is written in first person.
I found it very similar to Crime and Punishment, especially the main character. On the other hand, the perspective from the first person really gives it a more direct approach to main character line of thought which is refreshing for the genre. The first part of the book is just one big monologue, which might as well be my favorite piece of literature, later it waters down with an actual story but still remains what it is, just a great read that I can not describe how much I am happy to pick up.
Cheers.
A perfect entry book if you want to want to enter a long dark,cold and very descriptive world of classic Russian novels.
It has all the ingredients that make a classic Russian novel; depressing Russian atmosphere, long descriptive dialogue, focus on motives and thoughts of the characters, and so on, and so on... but it is short, very short in comparison to others of its kind and it is written in first person.
I found it very similar to Crime and Punishment, especially the main character. On the other hand, the perspective from the first person really gives it a more direct approach to main character line of thought which is refreshing for the genre. The first part of the book is just one big monologue, which might as well be my favorite piece of literature, later it waters down with an actual story but still remains what it is, just a great read that I can not describe how much I am happy to pick up.
Cheers.
You know that feeling when you read a good book and it feels everything you do can be connected what you just read.
Like a shadow you can not get a rid of, it is annoying but comforting at the same time. You found yourself between those pages and found an author who shares same human feelings and thoughts as you. It reminds you that you are not special, you just need to think less and talk more. And also that shadow throws a shade on everything you read in near future. You wish that every next book has similar shape and words like that shadow. But it is hard to accept that every book should be different and that every man and woman are pretty much the same.
I did not write anything about the book itself, because I do not want to. I want anyone to read it with an empty mind and take from it as much as they can.
Cheers
You know that feeling when you read a good book and it feels everything you do can be connected what you just read.
Like a shadow you can not get a rid of, it is annoying but comforting at the same time. You found yourself between those pages and found an author who shares same human feelings and thoughts as you. It reminds you that you are not special, you just need to think less and talk more. And also that shadow throws a shade on everything you read in near future. You wish that every next book has similar shape and words like that shadow. But it is hard to accept that every book should be different and that every man and woman are pretty much the same.
I did not write anything about the book itself, because I do not want to. I want anyone to read it with an empty mind and take from it as much as they can.
Cheers
You know that feeling when you read a good book and it feels everything you do can be connected what you just read.
Like a shadow you can not get a rid of, it is annoying but comforting at the same time. You found yourself between those pages and found an author who shares same human feelings and thoughts as you. It reminds you that you are not special, you just need to think less and talk more. And also that shadow throws a shade on everything you read in near future. You wish that every next book has similar shape and words like that shadow. But it is hard to accept that every book should be different and that every man and woman are pretty much the same.
I did not write anything about the book itself, because I do not want to. I want anyone to read it with an empty mind and leave take from it as much as they can.
Cheers
You know that feeling when you read a good book and it feels everything you do can be connected what you just read.
Like a shadow you can not get a rid of, it is annoying but comforting at the same time. You found yourself between those pages and found an author who shares same human feelings and thoughts as you. It reminds you that you are not special, you just need to think less and talk more. And also that shadow throws a shade on everything you read in near future. You wish that every next book has similar shape and words like that shadow. But it is hard to accept that every book should be different and that every man and woman are pretty much the same.
I did not write anything about the book itself, because I do not want to. I want anyone to read it with an empty mind and leave take from it as much as they can.
Cheers
