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thepoisonwoodreader's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Death, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Violence, Confinement, and War
eri_123's review against another edition
3.0
The book that accompanied my trip to Montenegro. I didn't go to Podgorica, but I did stay in Ulcinj (where part of the book is set) and the book's descriptions rang so true!
Now what we called the Central Canal is an interesting thing: it had not actually been dug for the passage of water. The people of Ulcinj originally made that tunnel because of a different enemy - one of flesh and blood. It led from the old fortress by the shore to half a kilometre inland, all the way from today's promenade, where you find one boutique after another with second-rate Italian wares and jewellers peddling trinkets from Turkey.
And:
I decided to go for a walk through the Ulcinj olive groves where Goran and I used to go and hide from the unbearable crowds that gathered in the town in the summertime, in the tourist season.
The perception of Montenegro and Montenegrins is not so complimentary, but it's very funny. I felt that the misadventures of this journalist turned speechwriter would have made a fine tale, but unfortunately the book descends into a weird conspiracy theory/international mystery tour/dream diary and loses all coherence. However I did love the uniquely Montenegrin parts of the book and it was very witty.
Now what we called the Central Canal is an interesting thing: it had not actually been dug for the passage of water. The people of Ulcinj originally made that tunnel because of a different enemy - one of flesh and blood. It led from the old fortress by the shore to half a kilometre inland, all the way from today's promenade, where you find one boutique after another with second-rate Italian wares and jewellers peddling trinkets from Turkey.
And:
I decided to go for a walk through the Ulcinj olive groves where Goran and I used to go and hide from the unbearable crowds that gathered in the town in the summertime, in the tourist season.
The perception of Montenegro and Montenegrins is not so complimentary, but it's very funny. I felt that the misadventures of this journalist turned speechwriter would have made a fine tale, but unfortunately the book descends into a weird conspiracy theory/international mystery tour/dream diary and loses all coherence. However I did love the uniquely Montenegrin parts of the book and it was very witty.
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