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#BookerLonglist #5

Very elegantly written, I became engaged in the book immediately I enjoyed following the narrator‘s struggle to live in NYC while she‘s still strongly rooted in the Albania she left behind. Het empathy for other refugees jeopardizes her mental wellbeing as well as her closest relationships. She moves between this empathy and self-preservation and there seems no closure. An impressive read.

#ReadTheWorld2025 #27 #Albania

This book was a total #BlameItOnPangoBooks purchase; I loved the cover and the summary sounded right up my alley. It was a hoot! I love Mrs Pollifax, she‘s like a feistier version of Jessica Fletcher from ‘Murder, She Wrote‘. I also appreciated this being a quick read, only 233 pages - no lull in the action. I don‘t necessarily need to binge the entire series right now, but I‘ll definitely keep it mind when I need a fun palate cleanser.

Albanian folk tale reimagined as a medieval police thriller. A habitual reread, something about this story that haunts me: the serious inspector trying not to give in to capital R Romantic notions of bonds & love & promises. Ghost story, detective story, national pride & family bonds. The “bessa,” a promise that can overcome death. What do you dare believe? Translated from French translated from Albanian, but solid. 1986, tr. 1988

In capitalism, people claimed to be free and equal, but this was only on paper because only the rich could take advantage of the rights available.....
'Do you remember Black Boy?' teacher Nora asked when we read Richard Wright's autobiography in school. 'In the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, a poor black person cannot be free. The police are after him. The law works against him.'

This was fun! Published in the 1960s. Emily Pollifax, a widow in her 60s, is bored so she decides to become a spy for the CIA. They of course don't hire her as a spy, but through a mix up, they do recruit her to vacation in Mexico & pick up a package. Things didn't go according to plan & she is kidnapped by communists & sent to a prison in Albania. Much of the plot relies on coincidence and dumb luck, but I still enjoyed it

1. Freesia has always been my favorite, so fragrant!
2. I‘m grateful that my family and friends all have their health. Grateful that I appear to still have all my marbles (maybe hubby wouldn‘t agree!). Grateful that my parents brought me up with unwavering love and instilled a lot of confidence and the feeling I could accomplish anything.

Thanks @Deblovestoread 🩷

#WondrousWednesday

Bleak and painful. Whilst Bolla portrays the impact of violence and turmoil suffered by the Balkan people, Arsim takes centre stage. A difficult and unpleasant character, as destructive as the war raging on in the background. Difficult to rate as the strength of this novel lies in how unlikeable it is. 8/10

This book has a strange story of a woman marrying a snake, and when he arrives he is escorted by paranymphs. This word makes sense for someone accompanying a bride or groom, but it‘s an unfamiliar one.

#WeirdWordWednesday #WeirdWords

I downloaded this a few nights ago when I needed a new ebook to read a few pages before bed. Set in Albania during a time of transition after communism, it was strangely compelling with its mix of storytelling. There‘s a contemporary story of Mark and his girlfriend in the changing city combined with his remembrances of stories and strange dreams. I found it interesting, but in the end I didn‘t quite understand it.

#1001books #Reading1001

Kadare‘s novel about the Kanun, a traditional legal system, and blood feuds paints a stark and grisly view of the Albanian Alps. The plot follows Gjorg during his Bessa (30-day truce) before he faces retribution. I didn‘t find the story that gripping but the sense of place and insight into the Kanun was both fascinating and bleak in equal measure. 6/10