A fantastical and troubling look into Socialist Romania and family drama.

Bottled Goods is about Alina and her husband Liviu who become Persons of Interest after his brother defects to the West. That already tells you everything you need to know going into this novel. There are some elements to the story that I completely overlooked

Spoiler

magical realism

in the synopsis here on goodreads which positively surprised me. It was definitely weird at the (very) first moment but also better overall (now that I think about it). Going into that aspect of the story blind

Spoiler

magical realism

made me experience it in a different way -- I went into it with less before-thoughts that I had already constructed in my head of the story to come. Which was good. 

I absolutely love the cover; it fits the theme and storytelling perfectly and the symbolism behind it really resonates with me. The writing is super easy to read through (especially in combination with the short chapters) and I liked the human truths sprinkled throughout the descriptions. The characters are complex and simple at the same time; they can be kind, they can be mean, they can be sad, they can be vicious. Maybe all at once. It was interesting to read about their dynamics and how the relationships changed and/or stayed the same over the course of the timeline. 

Now that I know the context in which the phrase "Bottled Goods" is used in the book, it's really bizarre to think about what I had in mind when I first read that title. I can't properly unsee/unread the thought behind those words which makes it hard to convey my thought process from before I knew it. What did I think the relation to the title would be? Did I even think about it at all or did I just accept that as the title without asking myself what it means? I can't remember. But I wish I knew -- would've been nice to compare those thoughts. 

Bottled Goods is the first book that I read from the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019 Longlist. I can't say yet how I would rate and rank this book in relation/comparison to the other nominations so I'll just leave it at this right now: It was good. I liked it. 

Blog: https://softheartswarmeyes.wordpress.com/
Rating: probably 3.25 Stars?

Around the World Reading Challenge: ROMANIA
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3.5 rounded down

Set in 1970s Communist Romania, this story is told in a series of chapters that essentially function as flash-fiction vignettes. It blends in magical realism, which I love, and though was really interesting here. The story was quite quick and certainly engaging, though I did find it a smidge bleak overall. Glad to have picked this one up, even if it wasn't my absolute favorite.

A useful reminder as to what life is like in a genuine dictatorship, which makes some of the complaints of many in western nations about having to wear a mask during a global pandemic seem somewhat peevish.

Rich and evocative, this is a good little read.

Thank you Harper Perennial for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Romania in the 1970's lives under the thumb of a brutal Communist leader. The Cold War rages, and Alina simply wants to live the best life she can. Yet, she doesn't have a very good relationship with either her mother or her husband, and her brother-in-law just left the country, never to return. After his defection, the authorities from the government have been stopping by, asking questions and trying to coerce confessions out of Alina and her family. Their acquaintances now shun them also. Can Alina escape this suffocating oppression, or is she doomed to a life of surveilled, robotic, joyless ennui?⁣
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I really liked the elements of Romanian folklore and the occasional inclusion of magic within Alina's story. Living under an oppressive regime can crush even the hardiest souls, and for times like that, I think magic may feel absolutely necessary for those subjected to such strong restrictions on their liberty. While this book is relatively short, it also covers a lot of ground, following Alina for over two decades as she deals with her life's ups and downs. If you're looking for something a bit different from your usual fare, one that blends history, oppression, hope, and a sprinkle of magic, Bottled Goods might be your kind of contraband. Just don't let -them- see you with it, because they're always watching...⁣

4.5 ⭐/5

I think I’ve only read one other book set in Romania, a historical, The Girl They Left Behind. Bottled Goods is a slim novel at less than 200 pages and was nominated for the 2019 Women’s Prize. The book is set during the 1970s when Communist dictator Ceausescu was in power.

Alina seeks freedom. She is a teacher, along with her husband, Liviu. When her brother-in-law defects, it leaves Alina and Liviu under suspicion and harsh surveillance. Alina is surrounded by difficulty - her mother, an angry student, and a Secret Services agent. On top of it all, her marriage has gone sour, and it appears Alina is completely stuck until her aunt offers a solution involving magic.

Bottled Goods is perfectly written in a nuanced style. I loved how the author included magic and folklore in the storytelling in a well-integrated way. The book has an exceptionally fast pace, accelerated by short chapters, some only a page in length. Bottled Goods is a novel well worth the acclaim it has received and then some.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

Incredible!
So many wonderful ideas in here to fit the narrative arc and the characters so fully formed. The humour in it is lovely.

(4.5, it's very good. RTC)

Possibly the shortest book in contention for the Women’s Prize this year, van Llewyn’s novella-in-flash uses its bantamweight to its advantage. The story of Alina’s and Liviu’s marriage, and the strain it’s put under when Liviu’s brother defects and the Romanian secret services begin a merciless program of harassment against the couple, its most graphic and terrifying moments last no longer than three or four pages and have greater impact as a result. The opening chapter establishes an expectation of magical realism (Alina’s grandfather, apparently “shrunk” by his wife to keep him safe from the State, has spent years living in a bird cage) that has long been a staple of writing about life under a totalitarian regime, but van Llewyn’s brevity keeps it fresh and new.