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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A deeply weird book. The comparisons to Eco are apt, although there's more of Baudolino in it than Name of the Rose. Will probably get better with 2nd, 3rd reads.
I’m not really sure what this book is about and what I just read, and anyone who tells me they understood it is lying. However, I live for the weird quotes in this that just roll seamlessly through the pages in the most matter of fact manner like it’s normal. It is really a creative exercise to experience these quotes. I’ll have to go back and find some to share here. They’re too good not to share.
Amazing. Unlike anything else I've ever read, a multitude of strange, beautiful stories slowly coalesce into an emergent narrative that speaks of the continuing generational strangeness of experiencing nationality, ethnicity and religion as an outsider or immigrant. Will likely reward several rereads, for a small book it is incredibly dense.
If I could, I'll give this jewel 7 stars. It is now one of my top 5 all-time favorite books. Mr. Pavić's imagination is a wonder to behold, an inextinguishable well of powerful images. Reality became dough in his words, making the real, surreal and imaginary coexist seamlessly at once, with harmony and dream-like quality. Thank you Goodreads for suggesting me this book, you've made my day.
It’s funny how experimental novels either a) super engaging reads (cf Umberto Eco , B.S. Johnson or Ali Smith) or b) fail completely ( a lot that are featured on this list). Dictionary of The Khazars falls between the two. Also as a small disclaimer ; I received the male version of this book as the female one was unavailable at the time.
The Dictionary of the Khazars is a detailed history of the Khazar race. However the trick is that the novel takes the form of Dictionary entries so as you read each entry you get a an idea of the Khazars story and all the bit players. To make matters more interesting the book is divided into three parts : A Christian , Muslim and Jewish view of the Khazar people AND the making of the dictionary itself (there’s a huge homage to Eco here).
In some parts I had a lot of fun piecing things together , plus Pavic adds a lot of interesting surreal moments , but I felt that in places the plot runs dry and that the author was trying way too hard to be different. I wouldn’t say that this is a failed experiment but rather a curate’s egg of a book.
I liked the format of Dictionary of the Khazars a lot (I actually read the femail edition), but didn't connect much with the stories/entries.
Originally published on my blog here& in July 2000.
The Dictionary of the Khazars has one of the most unusual structures of any novel; as its title implies, it is written in the form of a dictionary, with alphabetically arranged entries. It is also about two other dictionaries, one a seventeenth century collection of material relating to the Khazars (a people inhabiting the Balkans in the early middle ages), and the other a book used by the Khazars for the interpretation of dreams. This triple meaning is typical of the book, and enables Pavic to include all kinds of material: historical documents about the Khazars (particularly the Khazar polemic, the most famous incident in their history); information about the compilers of the seventeenth century dictionary and their esoteric interests; and a murder mystery involving twentieth century researchers specialising in the Khazars. To complicate the structure still further, there are two versions of the novel (called male and female); these differ in one paragraph, which is the one which assigns blame for the murder. (This is a most annoying little foible.) The dictionary is also divided into three, with entries relating to Christian, Jewish and Islamic sources about the Khazars - the polemic referred to was an argument between representatives of these religions, as a result of which the Khazars were to decide which religion to take.
There are many criticisms which can be made of the book, which is rather of its time. Obvious influences, at least in the English translation, include the fashionable Salman Rushdie, Umberto Eco and John Barth, though it never has the quality of these authors. The dictionary idea is not fully carried out, which makes the novel distinctly easier to read but diminishes the point of the gimmick. There are only a small number of entries, most of which are quite extended (twenty pages or more). Much of the occult and psychological material is rather pointless and not very interesting, such as the idea that all copies of the seventeenth century dictionary were destroyed except one, printed in poisoned ink which killed all who read it. This could be the basis of something quite fascinating, if it were related to something else, such as censorship of books which might make readers think in a different way from that desired by their rulers. The major problem it that the writing is not as good as the writer thinks it is - which of course may be due to the translator rather than the author; much of it has a distinctly smug quality which is rather off putting.
The Dictionary of the Khazars has one of the most unusual structures of any novel; as its title implies, it is written in the form of a dictionary, with alphabetically arranged entries. It is also about two other dictionaries, one a seventeenth century collection of material relating to the Khazars (a people inhabiting the Balkans in the early middle ages), and the other a book used by the Khazars for the interpretation of dreams. This triple meaning is typical of the book, and enables Pavic to include all kinds of material: historical documents about the Khazars (particularly the Khazar polemic, the most famous incident in their history); information about the compilers of the seventeenth century dictionary and their esoteric interests; and a murder mystery involving twentieth century researchers specialising in the Khazars. To complicate the structure still further, there are two versions of the novel (called male and female); these differ in one paragraph, which is the one which assigns blame for the murder. (This is a most annoying little foible.) The dictionary is also divided into three, with entries relating to Christian, Jewish and Islamic sources about the Khazars - the polemic referred to was an argument between representatives of these religions, as a result of which the Khazars were to decide which religion to take.
There are many criticisms which can be made of the book, which is rather of its time. Obvious influences, at least in the English translation, include the fashionable Salman Rushdie, Umberto Eco and John Barth, though it never has the quality of these authors. The dictionary idea is not fully carried out, which makes the novel distinctly easier to read but diminishes the point of the gimmick. There are only a small number of entries, most of which are quite extended (twenty pages or more). Much of the occult and psychological material is rather pointless and not very interesting, such as the idea that all copies of the seventeenth century dictionary were destroyed except one, printed in poisoned ink which killed all who read it. This could be the basis of something quite fascinating, if it were related to something else, such as censorship of books which might make readers think in a different way from that desired by their rulers. The major problem it that the writing is not as good as the writer thinks it is - which of course may be due to the translator rather than the author; much of it has a distinctly smug quality which is rather off putting.
I haven't really read anything like this before. That's not to say that similar things don't exist... but if they do, they're not my usual bailiwick. That makes it hard for me to describe and classify this one. Let's see what we can do.
First, it is fiction. Second, it's not really a dictionary. Instead, it's a novel concept for telling a story... it purports to be three different "dictionaries" describing an actual historical event: the religious debate (described in Kaghan Joseph's letter to the foreign secretary of Cordoba) that ultimately led to the conversion of the Khazar Empire to Judaism. The three different dictionaries are written by later Christians, Jews, and Muslims respectively while they try to discover what really happened at the Khazar Polemic. As such, they provide overlapping and differing points of view of the real subjects of the book.
I won't say any more, since a large part of the fun is figuring out what is really happening and what the book is really about as you read through the different dictionaries and begin to put things together for yourself. I often found myself jumping back to an entry to read it in a wholly new light. The writing itself is lyrical, full of non-sequiturs and anecdotes about life, death, dreams, and the nature of time.
As I write this review, I'm still trying to put all the pieces together, and am looking forward to some further web surfing to determine how much of the book was actually historical (I suspect very little). I like books that make me think, and this one did.
First, it is fiction. Second, it's not really a dictionary. Instead, it's a novel concept for telling a story... it purports to be three different "dictionaries" describing an actual historical event: the religious debate (described in Kaghan Joseph's letter to the foreign secretary of Cordoba) that ultimately led to the conversion of the Khazar Empire to Judaism. The three different dictionaries are written by later Christians, Jews, and Muslims respectively while they try to discover what really happened at the Khazar Polemic. As such, they provide overlapping and differing points of view of the real subjects of the book.
I won't say any more, since a large part of the fun is figuring out what is really happening and what the book is really about as you read through the different dictionaries and begin to put things together for yourself. I often found myself jumping back to an entry to read it in a wholly new light. The writing itself is lyrical, full of non-sequiturs and anecdotes about life, death, dreams, and the nature of time.
As I write this review, I'm still trying to put all the pieces together, and am looking forward to some further web surfing to determine how much of the book was actually historical (I suspect very little). I like books that make me think, and this one did.
A wonderful book and one I will return to with pleasure in future years.
The basis for the novel is the true story of the Khazars - a semi-nomadic people that rapidly created a powerful empire in the 7th Century and then just as rapidly disappeared in the 10th. They left behind relatively little reliable historic records, and the vacuum has been filled by myth: this novel is an imaginative contribution to their reconstructured history.
The centre of the novel is an event that is recorded in history (albeit scholars disagree if it actually happened or is more myth) - the Khazar Polemic when the ruler of the state decided that the people should convert to either Judaism, Islam or Christianity, and invited a representative of each religion to argue the case for their faith.
The historical record suggests that the Khazars converted to Judaism, but the basis for the novel is an alternative history where the actual outcome is lost in history and each faith has it's own alternative tradition where their faith was successful. Pavic also adds his own elements of Khazar culture with a strong emphasis on the importance of dreaming.
The story focuses on 4 main groups of people - with each time three separate characters from each faith. Firstly, the three participants in the polemic (Cyril, Ibn Kora and Isaac Sangar), the three contemporary chroniclers of the debate (Cyril's brother Methodius, Al-Bakri and Judah Halevi), three 17th century figures who seek to reconstruct the Khazar legend and who find themselves linked by dreams (Avram of Brankovich, Yusuf Masudi and Samuel Cohen) and finally three late 20th Century historians researching the Khazars (Dr Isailo Suk, Dr Abu Kabir Muawia, Dorethea Schultz). Incidentally many of these are based on actual historical figures, albeit heavily embroidered by Pavic's imagination.
Where this novel really comes into it's own is the unique narrative style. The tale is told in the form of a dictionary of inter-linked entries, with separate dictionaries for each faith.
While it is possible to read the book linearly from cover to cover, it is much more rewarding to dip in and out of the book, and follow the references from one entry to another.
Either way, a fascinating story emerges and despite the lack of a conventional narrative, the story is linked up beautifully in a final appendix. There it becomes clear that the 20th century historians are each a form of reincarnation of their 17th century predecessors. And most satisfyingly three characters representing the devil himself (Nikon Sevast - Avram's scribe, Akshany a lute player, and Ephronsinia Lukarevich the lover of Cohen) reappear in the guise of a pleasant family of Belgians, keen to ensure that the truth of the Khazars will never be found.
A truly engrossing read.
The basis for the novel is the true story of the Khazars - a semi-nomadic people that rapidly created a powerful empire in the 7th Century and then just as rapidly disappeared in the 10th. They left behind relatively little reliable historic records, and the vacuum has been filled by myth: this novel is an imaginative contribution to their reconstructured history.
The centre of the novel is an event that is recorded in history (albeit scholars disagree if it actually happened or is more myth) - the Khazar Polemic when the ruler of the state decided that the people should convert to either Judaism, Islam or Christianity, and invited a representative of each religion to argue the case for their faith.
The historical record suggests that the Khazars converted to Judaism, but the basis for the novel is an alternative history where the actual outcome is lost in history and each faith has it's own alternative tradition where their faith was successful. Pavic also adds his own elements of Khazar culture with a strong emphasis on the importance of dreaming.
The story focuses on 4 main groups of people - with each time three separate characters from each faith. Firstly, the three participants in the polemic (Cyril, Ibn Kora and Isaac Sangar), the three contemporary chroniclers of the debate (Cyril's brother Methodius, Al-Bakri and Judah Halevi), three 17th century figures who seek to reconstruct the Khazar legend and who find themselves linked by dreams (Avram of Brankovich, Yusuf Masudi and Samuel Cohen) and finally three late 20th Century historians researching the Khazars (Dr Isailo Suk, Dr Abu Kabir Muawia, Dorethea Schultz). Incidentally many of these are based on actual historical figures, albeit heavily embroidered by Pavic's imagination.
Where this novel really comes into it's own is the unique narrative style. The tale is told in the form of a dictionary of inter-linked entries, with separate dictionaries for each faith.
While it is possible to read the book linearly from cover to cover, it is much more rewarding to dip in and out of the book, and follow the references from one entry to another.
Either way, a fascinating story emerges and despite the lack of a conventional narrative, the story is linked up beautifully in a final appendix. There it becomes clear that the 20th century historians are each a form of reincarnation of their 17th century predecessors. And most satisfyingly three characters representing the devil himself (Nikon Sevast - Avram's scribe, Akshany a lute player, and Ephronsinia Lukarevich the lover of Cohen) reappear in the guise of a pleasant family of Belgians, keen to ensure that the truth of the Khazars will never be found.
A truly engrossing read.
Not quite a book so much as a sudoku crossed with an encyclopedia.