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steveatwaywords's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
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? No
3.5
This is my first Kostova book, read as part of my trip to and reading around Bulgarian history. As such, I really appreciated the dedication and care Kostova takes in representing the country honestly and sympathetically. She sought to offer a novel dedicated to the country she herself fell in love with; she enlisted worthy partners (Georgi Gospodinov amongst them) to review and advise on her work; and for anyone who has not traveled there, this is a fine entry door into Bulgaria's troublesome 20th-century history (and into the 21st).
But this goal, perhaps, is exactly where the novel becomes a bit of a disappointment. At times, it reads as much like a tour intro of Bulgaria rather than a tightly-written and considered story. As others have written, the plot premise stretches credulity, so--so long as a reader is prepared to enjoy the adventure and ignore its likelihood--its merely a fair enough story. For me, that premise (a modern American dives into a mystery of the difficult politics and history of Bulgaria) itself created much of the trouble: in her need to offer native English-speaking readers a character we can relate to (and who would ask our questions), the story became unbelievable. Add to this a too-quickly-sketched and too-convenient climactic scene to resolve it all and I sighed in despair.
The real strength of the novel comes, of course, in the historical story her protagonist uncovers, that of the characters and circumstances of the Soviet-era labor camps where thousands vanished (and which is still problematic for many Bulgarians to discuss). That story, told in the novel through testimony and journals, is compelling and at times beautifully written. It reveals facets of interrogation and prisoner survival that are missed in many similar books. How it colors the lives and behaviors of contemporary politics and families is compelling. And this alone makes this longish novel worth the read.
I wish Kostova trusted her readers enough to write that historical tale and let us live in it. I wish she had trusted herself enough to avoid the few writerly strategies which awkwardly pepper the book for "creative" interest: some awkward point of view shifts, some too-coincidental connections, a kind of uber-capable partner, a remote and implausible love interest, a moment of surreal or magical karma which is left to tantalize only.
The Shadow Land is a worthy and important story nearly betrayed by writerly gimmicks and strategies.
But this goal, perhaps, is exactly where the novel becomes a bit of a disappointment. At times, it reads as much like a tour intro of Bulgaria rather than a tightly-written and considered story. As others have written, the plot premise stretches credulity, so--so long as a reader is prepared to enjoy the adventure and ignore its likelihood--its merely a fair enough story. For me, that premise (a modern American dives into a mystery of the difficult politics and history of Bulgaria) itself created much of the trouble: in her need to offer native English-speaking readers a character we can relate to (and who would ask our questions), the story became unbelievable. Add to this a too-quickly-sketched and too-convenient climactic scene to resolve it all and I sighed in despair.
The real strength of the novel comes, of course, in the historical story her protagonist uncovers, that of the characters and circumstances of the Soviet-era labor camps where thousands vanished (and which is still problematic for many Bulgarians to discuss). That story, told in the novel through testimony and journals, is compelling and at times beautifully written. It reveals facets of interrogation and prisoner survival that are missed in many similar books. How it colors the lives and behaviors of contemporary politics and families is compelling. And this alone makes this longish novel worth the read.
I wish Kostova trusted her readers enough to write that historical tale and let us live in it. I wish she had trusted herself enough to avoid the few writerly strategies which awkwardly pepper the book for "creative" interest: some awkward point of view shifts, some too-coincidental connections, a kind of uber-capable partner, a remote and implausible love interest, a moment of surreal or magical karma which is left to tantalize only.
The Shadow Land is a worthy and important story nearly betrayed by writerly gimmicks and strategies.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Physical abuse, Suicide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Police brutality, Homophobia, and Gun violence
emmonsannae's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It took me some time to gather my thoughts about this book. It was excellent! E.K. is a master storyteller. This book starts as a modern mystery that reveals its roots in a communist forced-labor camp. Like her other books, this one switches seamlessly between generations as the past meets in the present. What was most striking about this novel was E.K.’s dedication to Bulgarian history—in particular, to the histories of the men who lost their lives or their minds in work camps. She’s gentle and respectful while simultaneously refusing to shy away from reality. It made the book difficult to read and impossible to put down. I’d recommend it highly (but mind the warnings—there is a lot of difficult and graphic content).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Grief, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Deportation, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
rodiemom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Murder
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