Reviews

A bizarre and moving book.
I’ve read the entire thing and I can’t for the life of me tell you what it’s about.
It’s like floating on a cloud in a dream, making you think about the implications of time and what it means.
Every time I put it down, I felt like I was waking up from something that wasn’t quite a dream but also not quite real.
I really enjoyed this book.

canbelibrary's review against another edition

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emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

elbell1012's review against another edition

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4.0

This one is tough one to rate. If I'm rating this novel as a whole based on technicalities, it must be a five star book. If I'm rating on my own personal enjoyment, the beginning and end each receive a 5, but the middle is a 3.
My own initial interest in this book was the concept of the clinic of the past, and I would have gladly read a book entirely on that. However, the past leaked out of the clinic and what was before medicinal became in infection on Europe. This lead to, and how could it not, each country choosing its own time to nest in. Politically charged times were reverted to with reignited passion. And while I know that soviet demonstrations and reliving past battles was necessary to the novel to show how backwards this going backwards was, it is not why I had bought this book. The ending, however, was a saving grace. You parting with this novel will not leave you satisfied with a happy ending. You'll close the pages and feel a sense of discomfort or even grief. I know I did as our narrator, once enraptured with finding the past, loses his own memory.
No matter where we find ourselves in this novel, you cannot deny the beautiful praise of Gospodinov. If nothing else, I recommend this book solely for that.

jameonbooks's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Finishing this felt like giving birth — do not recommend reading it during a busy period!! Phenomenally written, amazing story!! Who knew a book about our concept and perception of time and the past could be this wonderful.

bethniamh's review against another edition

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“Suddenly it all made sense - her eternal morning questions of whether they had found her mother or whether her brothers were alive. We also understood why she squirreled away crusts of bread and other leftovers from the cafeteria, hiding them in her cupboard. Everything that awakened that memory had to be avoided-showers, the clicking of the nurses' high heels in the hallway. (We switched them out with soft slippers.) The daytime lighting was softened. Part of the cafeteria was divided into smaller, cozy booths, so as to avoid large common areas and the rattling of silverware. Unwittingly you realize how many things in a clinic are potentially charged with hidden violence, as Foucault would say.

Nothing would ever be innocent again-bathrooms, cafeterias, the gas stove, a doctor in a white coat who wants to give you a shot, the lighting, the barking of dogs outside, the sharp voice, certain German words...”

“I would start my first novel, so I would have somewhere to go home to when I was going crazy”

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