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I liked this book. The writing style was unique and worked for me. I haven't read much about life under communism, so this was an interesting story for me. This was a story of feeling trapped and searching for freedom with a side of magical realism. #IJTPbookclub #AwesomeApril #readathon @Andrew65

Spent this morning reading for this week's book club discussion! #IJTPbookblub #AwesomeApril

4🌟Set in 1970's communist Romania, this coming of age story follows a young woman named Alina. Her family comes under suspicion when her brother in law defects. With hints of magical realism, and folklore we get an intuitive look at the brutality of living under a governmental regime. Written in flash fiction, that attributes to Alina's cataclysmic storyline. Themes of freedom, family, and allegiance. I enjoyed this one quite a bit! #bookreview

New book, fire lit, doggo on duty. Bliss.

I loved this book is a short #historicalfiction story with a mix of #magicalrealism about a couple in Rumania during the cold war. It can be many stories of that time in any of the countries.
#bookly
Book #3 of my #bookfitnesschallenge #bfc #BFCr2

Alina lives in Romania under the communist regime of Ceaucescu. The secret service is everywhere, privacy a thing of the past. Alina and her husband make plans to leave the country. This little, flash fiction book mixes harsh reality with magical realism. The result is... unexpected, to say the least!

Great read, thanks for sending me this one Jessie 💕

Thank you so much Jessie, for sending me this book, that I have been eyeing since the many intriguing reviews it get. It was such a surprise, nothing is better than unexpected bookmail. Thank you again, I am very grateful for your friendship from across the world ❤️😘

I really like how the author twists the 'traditional' in format and presentation.

I love little books like this, easy to fit in the hand.

I liked the style of this one; the small, episodic chapters that quickly build a picture of Alina, her family and communist Romania. I thought the magical elements might put me off but they worked. A different and interesting way of telling a story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The structure of this book won me over. It's a narrative sustained through episodic vignettes. Set in communist Romania, the atmosphere is oppressive, dark, & absurd. I was wary of the magical realism, but it's woven in so deftly & naturally. The structure, themes, & writing are very clever. The police state haunts every page; but interpersonal relationships, like between spouses or mothers & daughters, broke my heart. Distinctive & memorable.

#womensprize2019 This collection of flash fiction creates a story of oppression in 1970s Romania. Alina is a young wife and teacher. When her brother-in-law defects to France, she and her husband come under close scrutiny of the government. Told through multiple, linked vignettes, together they create a darkly humorous and frightening tale. 3.5⭐️

This Women's Prize longlisted novel is told in flash style, with lists and little vignettes, set in Romania during the Ceaușescu era (1970s.)

Alina married a man in a lower class and really starts to regret it when his brother leaves the country without permission, making them a new target for the secret police. Mix that kind of oppression and intrigue with a folksy fantasy element and you end up with a unique read! I loved the ending.

Romania under Communist/ Ceausescu‘s rule wasn‘t a nice place. Set in the 1970s which I suppose was at a time when people were starting to realise just what they were missing. Alina‘s brother in law defects to Germany: those family members left (her and her husband) suffer the consequences. There‘s a hefty dose of magical realism in amongst some really unpleasant stuff (rape, torture - not loads, enough to scare her and a trigger warning!).

This is the first “novella-in-flash” I have read—I had not heard the term before. I think it means a story told in snippets rather than extended narrative (the term is not defined). There is too much magical realism here for my taste, but I appreciated the taste of communist Romania, as the narrator grows from a single girl to a married teacher struggling after her brother-in-law defects. The author grew up in Romania. #netgalley

The frightening reality of life in communist Romania, which I admit to being largely ignorant about, plus some magical realism makes for a pretty fresh and unique novella. You also get some nicely complex, or in my mind, realistic, relationships developed too. There is something a little disjointed(?) about the chapters, they feel almost separate from each other in a way? I don't even think that is necessarily a bad thing but just different.