Review is Taken from The Pewter Wolf. Novellas was given by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

I've fallen into a big of a reading slump. So when the co-author of the Witch's Kiss trilogy, Katharine Corr, said I should try reading a novella, this was one of the titles that caught my eye...

Set in communist Romania in the 1970s, Bottled Goods follows Alina who, after her brother-in-law defects to the West, she and her new husband become people of interest to the secret services. As this strain takes root in their marriage, Alina turns to her aunt for support, not her mother...

The story held my attention, even though am going through a reading funk. I really liked the writing styles, which is the main reason why I kept reading (though I do have faults, which I will talk about later). In Bottled Goods, each chapter's writing style is different from the previous - first person, third person, diary entry, list, first person of one chapter, first person of a second chapter, third person. It always had something happening. Each chapter ended with a cliffhanger of sorts so, of course, I had to keep clicking on my kindle to find out what happened next.

But because am in this reading funk, I did have problems. Problems I would normally get over very quickly, but in this mindset, all I could see were these problems. With Bottled Goods, I do think it's the style of writing, how each chapter changed how it was written. I liked this, but it does take a little while for you to get use to. Plus, when there were two chapters told in first person but from two different chapter and you have no indicator of who it is in the chapter title, it's throws you out a little bit.

Plus, it's magical realism. I love a good magical realism. But with Bottled Goods, the magic element comes quite late in the story, and with the story's blurb hinting that it's there from the start, it got annoying waiting for it to come and, when it did, it was a side step. I do wonder on if the magical element was completely removed from Bottled Goods, if the story would have still worked (barring one element, I think it might have).

I did like this, don't get me wrong, I did. But because of my reading frame-of-mind at the moment, am super nit-picky. Maybe if I reread these in the future, these won't bother me so much, but it was nice to read something not over 300 pages long and yet still packed a punch, which this did.

an odd book. Very good, but also - very strange. Not sure what to make out of it. Atmospheric but elusive

4.5

I read Bottled Goods in two sittings. It's a small book which I found extremely compelling.
First of all, I had no idea what flash fiction was, but whatever the definition is, I liked it. A lot.

This book resonated with me on a personal level, as I am a Romanian child of the 70s, so many of the stories, descriptions, foods, rituals, behaviours, social and work relations were very familiar.

I thought van Llewyn accomplished so much with so little. The structure worked incredibly well to put together a jigsaw puzzle of life in Communist Romania, to make up a picture that was pretty realistic, simple yet complex.

I couldn't stop asking myself whether my assessment was objective, even knowing there is no such thing as objectivity when it comes to any form of art. I've been told that I can be harsher or too critical when it comes to anything Romanian. It's complicated. I loathe nationalism/patriotism and while I am not ashamed to be a Romanian, I also don't feel pride. I like to think I'm more than geography, while also having the geography in my blood, to a certain extent. I am happy that I got to experience some Communism but was lucky to be a teen when it ended so I didn't get brainwashed. I can smell propaganda like a bloodhound. Anyway, what I'm trying to say in my convoluted, unedited way, is that I believe this is an objectively good book.

There is one magical element to the story, which didn't quite work for me, even though I understood it served a purpose and added a bit of quirk to a bleak story.

So, yeah, I'm glad I read Bottled Goods and I'm grateful to Deanna for bringing it to my attention.

I hope this book finds a bigger readership and I'm looking forward to reading more from Sophie van Llewyn (I'm guessing it's a pen name as it's not Romanian in the least).

Realismo magico per raccontare l'oppressione della dittatura di Ceausescu in Romania.
Veloce, fresco, forte e originale.

This was my first venture into “flash fiction” and because of this book, it won’t be my last! Flash fiction is a type of short story that is typically under 1500 words. It has plot and character development, despite how quick of a read it is. In her novel, Sophie van Llewyn actually incorporated a few of her flash fiction stories into this longer form story. It made for an insightful read about Alina, a teacher living under the communist dictatorship of 1970’s Romania. When her brother-in-law defects and flees the country, Alina and her husband are placed under suspicion and surveillance by The Secret Service. Despite its heavy subject matter, this book had heart, humor, and some magical realism that added in something extra special. Coming in at under 200 pages, this one can be easily read in one afternoon. I flew through it, and hope you’ll enjoy it too!

Fantasy? Realismo magico? Che genere è? Un romanzo dall'ambientazione insolita (in termini statistici), dalla costruzione interessante e che apre spazio a tante riflessioni. Ho provato ad affrontarle qui: https://spotify.link/ytPH9ON37Db

Bottled Goods.
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Can't thank @fairlightbooks enough for sending this beautiful book.
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Considering how I haven't had the chance to read flash fiction novella much, this book came in quite handy. The cover is lovely yet it made me wonder the purpose of a cat on it. By the time I finished reading this book, I knew perfectly well why she chose a cat. @fairlightbooks has come up with these modern pocketbook series to promote quality writing by new authors and it's so convenient to carry them with you while you head out. If you're ever looking for a light read then you know where to look. This book is also Longlisted for the Women's Prize 2019.
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The story is set in the 1970s in communist Romania and focusses on the lives of Alina and Liviu. Alina, a young woman falls in love with her fellow tour guide Liviu and they get married. Their future does not seem bright like that of newlyweds when Alina's brother-in-law defects to the West. Things don't improve much when Alina's mother keeps her daughter at an arm's distance for marrying someone lower their class. Alina then becomes part of a serious crime when she fails to report the possession of an illegal comic in the hands of her student. She then gets regular visits by a perverted and ruthless secret service agent who makes her life a living hell.
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Alina has a caring Aunt who has connections in the secret service and also has a hand at practicing ancient rituals and beliefs. The very first chapter refers to the existence of magic realism in the book when they bury Alina's grandfather who was the size of a thumb. This is perhaps the very first time that I witnessed magic realism in a novel and I was stunned by the narration. The life of Alina is complicated as she struggles to love her husband, please her mother and get out of the country but what makes it interesting is the way the book has been segmented into 51 short stories, few in the form of letters. The language is excellent and very easy to comprehend. Though this book has a simple narration, it might not please everyone if they aren't open to experience flash novella and magic realism. But it's something worth giving a try :)
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Rating - 4/5.