Reviews

Bolla by Pajtim Statovci

krobart's review

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 This novel is beautifully written and ultimately haunting. However, I so disliked Arsim that it was hard for me to read. He is absolutely vile in his behavior to almost everyone in the book but especially to his wife and children, whom he periodically deserts and beats when he is there. When he thinks later that he did his best by them, he defines this as financial support. Really, he deserts anyone who poses any difficulties. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Hate crime, Racism, Religious bigotry, Genocide, War, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

lizz_lemon's review against another edition

5.0

The description really doesn't prepare you for how sad this book is. It's well written but so tragic.

alpsu123's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

punyorin's review against another edition

5.0

this book made me cry so hard my mom had to come hold me for a moment

keytone's review against another edition

4.0

reaaaally fucking bleak

ercole's review against another edition

5.0

É la prima volta che leggo qualcosa di
questo autore e devo dire di essere rimasto
incredibilmente colpito! Gli invisibili mi hanno
lasciato un’angoscia e un senso di
smarrimento cosi profondi che non posso far
altro che complimentarmi con l'autore. La
storia mi ha preso moltissimo, e leggero al
piu presto
"Le transizioni", dello stesso autore.

gbatts's review against another edition

5.0

Pajtim Statovci is a master at compassionate portrayals of thoroughly unlikeable characters (note: I don’t condone Arsim’s actions, but Statovci shows where they are coming from). Though he is perhaps the only writers that I have read from a European formerly socialist state that does not mention salami in his writing.

This is my third Statovci novel and my favourite. I love novels based on folklore. This novel is named after an Albanian legend, and the Arsim/Miloš romance is explicitly inspired by this legend. The Arsim/Ajshe relationship is based on a Melusina-type fable. Both relationships were beautifully and movingly drawn and were equally as interesting.

bunzl's review

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

daladala's review against another edition

5.0

Jes, pitkästä aikaa tulin lukeneeksi täyden viiden tähden Finlandia-voittajan! Ristiriitaiset päähenkilöt, joista en vielä kirjan loputtuakaan tiedä mitä mieltä pitäisi olla, mennessään vievät lyyriset lauseet ja jatkuvasti yllä pysyvä mystisyyden viitta. Suosittelen.

ronbert's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75