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nonlinearpaolo's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
gillesdelatoet's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
princessmaia's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
fedes_library's review
4.0
" 'Do you speak English?' Liner asked in English. 'just say what you've got to say' the rider grinned and turned around abruptly, the razor-sharp edge of his hat catching Liner in the eyebrow. 'You all come here and you get verbal diarrohea. Motherfuckers.' Then he added in English 'Yes, speak English. yes, speak English!"
This kind of direct and gritty humour pervades the collection of 50 short stories by Enev. As a foreigner who is not familiar with the specificities of Bulgarian history, economics, politics or culture, i found this collection very interesting, as it managed to convey a recongizible portrayal of the country by showing its contradictions, beauties, and sorrows. I really enjoyed how some stories seemed to stress the idea that poetry can be found behind anything: tradition and modernity, colours and dark, music and silence. And the conflicts that the characters seem to face, can be seen as part of this 'hidden' and unspoken beauty, which is not romanticized by the author, but simply exposed through surreal and absurd events and elements.
Reading this book is definitely not sufficient to understand a complex country such as Bulgaria, But it can for sure be an entertaing tool to approach for the first time such a fascinating - as well as contradicting - society.
This kind of direct and gritty humour pervades the collection of 50 short stories by Enev. As a foreigner who is not familiar with the specificities of Bulgarian history, economics, politics or culture, i found this collection very interesting, as it managed to convey a recongizible portrayal of the country by showing its contradictions, beauties, and sorrows. I really enjoyed how some stories seemed to stress the idea that poetry can be found behind anything: tradition and modernity, colours and dark, music and silence. And the conflicts that the characters seem to face, can be seen as part of this 'hidden' and unspoken beauty, which is not romanticized by the author, but simply exposed through surreal and absurd events and elements.
Reading this book is definitely not sufficient to understand a complex country such as Bulgaria, But it can for sure be an entertaing tool to approach for the first time such a fascinating - as well as contradicting - society.