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smuds2's review against another edition
3.0
DNF'ed after "I'll Swallow Your Dreams" and "Kill The German", but I'm putting it as read because it's my life and I can do what I want.
I don't know much about contemporary Greek culture, or the issues they face. I basically just know that the debt crisis existed and exists, which meant I tried to shoe-horn many of the potential concepts into that framework of understanding - a framework that ultimately felt lacking. There was so much I missed in the first couple of stories, or at least that I felt I missed - and only felt like I scratched the surface of understanding because of that minute frame of reference.
Like I got some of the typical "jobless hopeless underclass" vibes, I understood some of the insular cultural implications of living on an island. But take the first story for instance - how are they foreigners? What is the implication behind an island person calling a mainland Greek person a foreigner? Is it similar to Mainers calling people "from away"? I don't know - and it felt integral to the story.
There were some general philosophical musings I found interesting - like the "what does it mean to know something bad is happening and what to do something but dont because my legs don't work? How is that different than not doing it because I live in community that reinforces that behavior? In both cases there is someone that recognizes that something that is happening should not happen, wants to stop it, and yet can't."
In the position where I didn't have the context behind the story, the writing would have had to carry the day - and this style just wasn't for me. And that judgement is not through any fault of the author or translator - it seems like a smooth writing and reading experience - just not what I enjoy.
I don't know much about contemporary Greek culture, or the issues they face. I basically just know that the debt crisis existed and exists, which meant I tried to shoe-horn many of the potential concepts into that framework of understanding - a framework that ultimately felt lacking. There was so much I missed in the first couple of stories, or at least that I felt I missed - and only felt like I scratched the surface of understanding because of that minute frame of reference.
Like I got some of the typical "jobless hopeless underclass" vibes, I understood some of the insular cultural implications of living on an island. But take the first story for instance - how are they foreigners? What is the implication behind an island person calling a mainland Greek person a foreigner? Is it similar to Mainers calling people "from away"? I don't know - and it felt integral to the story.
There were some general philosophical musings I found interesting - like the "what does it mean to know something bad is happening and what to do something but dont because my legs don't work? How is that different than not doing it because I live in community that reinforces that behavior? In both cases there is someone that recognizes that something that is happening should not happen, wants to stop it, and yet can't."
In the position where I didn't have the context behind the story, the writing would have had to carry the day - and this style just wasn't for me. And that judgement is not through any fault of the author or translator - it seems like a smooth writing and reading experience - just not what I enjoy.
mtomchek's review against another edition
4.0
"People invented fairytales and filled them with monsters so they wouldn't become monsters themselves. Because the truth can turn you into a monster. You have to become a monster if you want to withstand the truth."
"...a real man, a hero, isn't the guy who fights evil, but the guy who learns to live with it."
"You stare at the blue of the sky and feel like crying because you were born with arms instead of wings."
"...the greatest of all fears, which isn't the fear of death but the fear of life, the fear of living, the fear of living life in fear, the fear of life that makes us die a little bit every day."
"That's why we talk to ourselves. Because silence breeds monsters. Silence makes fear grow."
"To know that something doesn't exist and to believe in it anyhow - that, I think, is the only salvation left to us. Because if you believe in something that doesn't exist, maybe - who knows, maybe - one day the thing you believe in will appear."
"Evil triumphs when we all try to make something of ourselves, rather than do something important beyond ourselves."
"Every so often we have to lose our minds in order to come to our senses. So I wonder if maybe we first have to stop being what we are so that later we can become what we want to be."
"...life only starts to mean something once you understand that life has no meaning..."
"...we should believe in the sun not only because we see it, but because it's what lets us see everything else."
Ah...absolutely stunning. Christos Ikonomou presents us with four touching and beautiful short stories about Greeks who travel to an Aegean island to attempt a restart during the economic crisis occurring in Greece in 2007. This is a piece of history I did not know much about, so it was shocking to learn about all that was going on with the Greeks during this troubling era. I was touched and my heart ached for these people. So much beauty, and plenty of symbolism I was unable to pick up on. Strong and resilient people, indeed. The sea has so much power.
"...a real man, a hero, isn't the guy who fights evil, but the guy who learns to live with it."
"You stare at the blue of the sky and feel like crying because you were born with arms instead of wings."
"...the greatest of all fears, which isn't the fear of death but the fear of life, the fear of living, the fear of living life in fear, the fear of life that makes us die a little bit every day."
"That's why we talk to ourselves. Because silence breeds monsters. Silence makes fear grow."
"To know that something doesn't exist and to believe in it anyhow - that, I think, is the only salvation left to us. Because if you believe in something that doesn't exist, maybe - who knows, maybe - one day the thing you believe in will appear."
"Evil triumphs when we all try to make something of ourselves, rather than do something important beyond ourselves."
"Every so often we have to lose our minds in order to come to our senses. So I wonder if maybe we first have to stop being what we are so that later we can become what we want to be."
"...life only starts to mean something once you understand that life has no meaning..."
"...we should believe in the sun not only because we see it, but because it's what lets us see everything else."
Ah...absolutely stunning. Christos Ikonomou presents us with four touching and beautiful short stories about Greeks who travel to an Aegean island to attempt a restart during the economic crisis occurring in Greece in 2007. This is a piece of history I did not know much about, so it was shocking to learn about all that was going on with the Greeks during this troubling era. I was touched and my heart ached for these people. So much beauty, and plenty of symbolism I was unable to pick up on. Strong and resilient people, indeed. The sea has so much power.
adru's review against another edition
5.0
Jälle Kreeka uuem värk ja väga hea, väga mõjuv ja haarav, syda valutab kohe algusest kaasa, poolmagav inimene loeb ka aina edasi. Sobib hästi komplekti teiste viimase aja lemmikute Cormacu ja "Seven killingsiga", nii kirjutamise kui ka teemade poolest (ei tea, kas mulle satuvad headest ette just sellised või on aeg, kus mulle rängad raamatud meeldivadki?), aga kui lugesin intervjuust, et selle autori yks öökapiraamatuid on "Blood meridian", siis paneb judisema kyll. Tahaks teda õlale patsutada, et ära muretse, elu on natuke hea ka.
ajkhn's review against another edition
4.0
While this is the sort of book I am supposed to absolutely love, I mostly found it...good? I enjoyed the four interwoven stories, and really responded to them emotionally, I suppose it was just a bit thinner than I expected.
It's bummer pop, for sure, so know that going in. There isn't much glee, just people responding to the situations they find themselves in, which are all really the same situation. It's beautiful prose in a lot of spaces, and a lot of individuals who are in their awfulness despite/because of their intelligence. So it hurts to read. But if you're of a mind to be put in that sort of place, you may very well enjoy it.
It's bummer pop, for sure, so know that going in. There isn't much glee, just people responding to the situations they find themselves in, which are all really the same situation. It's beautiful prose in a lot of spaces, and a lot of individuals who are in their awfulness despite/because of their intelligence. So it hurts to read. But if you're of a mind to be put in that sort of place, you may very well enjoy it.
yc0210's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Almost unbearable heavy and oppressive
swineberg's review against another edition
5.0
Poetic in a way that sweeps you up in its tide, carrying you along through the fears, hopes, angers, and divisions of those displaced by the Greek economic crisis and those who continue to profit from and pillage a country in crisis.
I’ll be recommending this book widely and thinking about it for a long time to come.
I’ll be recommending this book widely and thinking about it for a long time to come.
tsenteme's review against another edition
4.0
Ένα ακόμα καλό ελληνικό βιβλίο. Από αυτά που τελευταία αλλάζουν την εικόνα της ελληνικής λογοτεχνίας, κατ' εμέ. Πολύ ρεαλιστικό για την σύγχρονη ελληνική κοινωνία. Ο συγγραφέας περνάει πολλά μηνύματα. Το συστήνω ανεπιφύλακτα σε όλους.
swordsmith's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kiramke's review against another edition
4.0
Oof. Despair. But also excellent and thoughtful political commentary, interesting viewpoint and insight.
lovepjonson's review against another edition
5.0
Ugh, everything I want in a book. My people/homeland/cultural references, a fast pace, stream of consciousness, and interlocking through-lines that make you want to read it again so you can see all the connections.
Shout out to Audrey for sending it to me!!! <3
Shout out to Audrey for sending it to me!!! <3