Scan barcode
A review by bookish_arcadia
Dancing Bears: True Stories about Longing for the Old Days by Witold Szabłowski
4.0
This is a fascinating oral history that in its first part tells the story of Bulgarian dancing bears, removed from performance into (relative) freedom in nature reserves. In the second half Szablowski speaks to a variety of people from Cuba. to Estonia, to Kosovo about their experiences of the post-Soviet world. From dyed-in-the-wool party members to black-marketeers, pro-EU campaigners and those determined to roll back capitalism. He paints a striking, complex and often uncomfortable picture of what the fall of Communism has really meant for those formerly of the Soviet Bloc. In particular he focuses on those prepared to overlook the crimes of the old regimes in the face of rising prices, unemployment, homelessness, and cultural alienation in modern Europe. He compares the current trend towards revisionism and nostalgia to the habit of the old dancing bears, who, even after years of freedom still dance to the old tunes when given the right cues.
Szablowski features very little in the interviews he records. There is no direct Interwiewer’s voice, only the responses his questions receive. It is often funny to hear vehement refusals and accusations to questions the readers doesn’t hear and I imagine the technique is to bring reader and interviewee closer and give the impression of unedited speech. It’s very effective for the reading experience and maintains a lively and engaging read but on such a divisive and ideological subject it does leave me wondering about the technique of the interviews. What is there in these gaps?
Szablowski shows sympathy with all of his subjects, even the most hostile and there is a marvellous dry tone to his writing. He clearly doesn’t agree with the most vehement apologists but he demonstrates understanding for those struggling with the flaws of the new system. After all, nostalgia is a powerful ameliorative force and for many capitalism and liberalism has not transformed their difficult lives. There is an excellent interplay of the funny and the profound and the parallels he draws between the two halves of the book are more sensitive than they might appear.
Szablowski features very little in the interviews he records. There is no direct Interwiewer’s voice, only the responses his questions receive. It is often funny to hear vehement refusals and accusations to questions the readers doesn’t hear and I imagine the technique is to bring reader and interviewee closer and give the impression of unedited speech. It’s very effective for the reading experience and maintains a lively and engaging read but on such a divisive and ideological subject it does leave me wondering about the technique of the interviews. What is there in these gaps?
Szablowski shows sympathy with all of his subjects, even the most hostile and there is a marvellous dry tone to his writing. He clearly doesn’t agree with the most vehement apologists but he demonstrates understanding for those struggling with the flaws of the new system. After all, nostalgia is a powerful ameliorative force and for many capitalism and liberalism has not transformed their difficult lives. There is an excellent interplay of the funny and the profound and the parallels he draws between the two halves of the book are more sensitive than they might appear.