A review by nothingforpomegranted
Broken April by Ismail Kadare

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A disturbing fable about the culture of blood feuds among Albanian mountain people and the wealthy amateur sociologist who takes his new bride on a honeymoon to observe them. The novel begins with Gjorg lying in wait for the man he is responsible for killing because he had killed his brother, knowing fully that pulling the trigger effectively ensures his own death sentence, to be enacted within a month. The conflict between duty, honor, and desire for life pervades the entire novel and characterizes Gjorg’s ultimate demise. Simultaneously, Bessian and his wife are fascinated (and distressed) by the customs of the mountain people and the emerging discovery of the sheer quantity of active blood feuds, made all the more apparent and chilling to the reader by the chapter written from the perspective of the blood lord, responsible for collecting the blood tax  throughout the region. 

This was a quick read that welcomes deep analysis. The characters were intriguing and complicated, and it offered a peek into a culture I know very little about, which is exactly what I’m looking for when I buy books when I travel. 


If you liked…
The Pearl - fable, short and quick, family dynamics and desperation, conflicts of duty and desire
Don Quixote - a foolish adventure story with bizarre side characters and innkeepers who like to gossip