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rubyhosh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Police brutality
Moderate: Confinement and Torture
Minor: Rape
njw13's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
varsha_ravi's review against another edition
3.0
There's something in the way we swirl around each other late in the evening, whispering in one another's ear, gathering the remnants of our feast. There's something in the way we smile and hold our hands, turn the TV, radio, up loud, leave the water running, confounding the men who tapped into our lives, so we can speak and make plans about our brightening future. There's something in the way hope creeps up behind our backs and presses its palms against our eyes, leaving us smiling, but blind to the future. And we are both reluctant to speak its name, for fear that it might vanish. There's something in the way we hold each other at night, like shipwrecked passengers, like the summer when the sea was licking at our toes, like the first time we met. There's something in the way we say, We will, We will, Wil, ringing in our ears like music.
The subtle brilliance of Sophie Van Llewyn's novella, Bottled Goods, is in its simplicity of writing, compounded by a compelling story of life under a communist regime. Narrated in episodic vignettes, from shifting perspectives, you follow Alina, a teacher in a local school under constant scrutiny from the Secret Services, following her brother-in-law's recent escape to a neighbouring country. Her problems are further accentuated by the stifling interference of her over-bearing mother and her crumbling marriage. Alina takes the help of her Aunt Theresa, a manifestation of all the rich tradition and folklore, beliefs and myth of ancient Romania, to plan her escape from the tightening noose of her increasingly precarious circumstances. The narrative is laced with wonderful touches of magical realism that fit very well into the narrative.
The short chapters and poetic allure of the writing, interesting choice of words and punctuation made this novella an incredibly unique piece of writing. It felt reminiscent of stories from Anthony Marra's The Tsar of Love and Techno and The Accusation by Bandi. If there are a few books you are planning to read from the longlist, make this one of them!
aniastef86's review against another edition
5.0
Consigliato a chi ha amato “La volpe era già il cacciatore” di Herta Müller, ma anche a chi si è immerso ne “L’ottava vita”, per ritrovare il dolore delle vite annientate da un regime che non ammette deviazioni. E a tutti gli altri, perché è una pagina di Storia che merita di essere esplorata e approfondita.
emmedevorak's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
ethelglz's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
morr_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
gurofl's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
wendel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It’s interesting when a writer doesn’t need a lot of words, but still manages to say a lot, even between the lines. It also leaves me wanting for more… Still 4 stars for this surprising and refreshing novella.
tommooney's review against another edition
4.0
Very good. Reads at times like some kind of Orwellian nightmare. But of course this was life under an oppressive dictatorship in Romania.
Alina and her husband become people of interest to the security services after her brother-in-law defects to the West. Thereafter theirs lives are under constant scrutiny, with eyes everywhere - at work, on the street and even within their own family.
The building sense of claustrophobia is very well rendered and the incorporation of Romanian folk tales into the narrative is done with great skill. Excellent and very effective writing. I very much enjoyed it.
Alina and her husband become people of interest to the security services after her brother-in-law defects to the West. Thereafter theirs lives are under constant scrutiny, with eyes everywhere - at work, on the street and even within their own family.
The building sense of claustrophobia is very well rendered and the incorporation of Romanian folk tales into the narrative is done with great skill. Excellent and very effective writing. I very much enjoyed it.