Reviews

Bottled Goods by Sophie Van Llewyn

amandaym's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 rounded up
found this one by accident at the library when i went in for a completely different book and i am so glad i found it.
equal parts historical fiction, romanian folklore, and the feeling of being crushed by the pressures from those around you until you burst- it’s a must read

yayis55's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

stanro's review against another edition

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informative mysterious medium-paced

3.5

This is a strange book. So often modern authors provide great detail that you can either immerse yourself within, or be frustrated by. 

This is brief - a sketch rather than an oil painting. Being set in communist-era Roumania, it provided me with plot, character, politics plus a touch of Marquez - plenty of interest in other words.

janeylouthecat's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this book in one sitting - I couldn't put it down!! Sophie van Llewyn writes flash fiction and this is a so-called 'novella in flash' - a story made up of lots of smaller, flash fiction stories. I've never read a book with this sort of structure before and I really enjoyed it, a tale told in short, intense bursts. The narration also switches between the first and third person, which I liked.
The book is set in Communist Romania, where the protagonist, Alina, and her husband, Liviu, attract the attention of the security services when the latter's brother defects to France. As life gets increasingly difficult for the couple, they start planning to defect themselves, but there are obstacles in their way, which Alina has to remove using somewhat extraordinary methods.
The resulting book is a fascinating and at times horrifying depiction of life in Ceausescu's Romania, intermingled with flashes (pun intended) of the supernatural, folk tales and magic. It sounds like an odd combination, but I found that it worked, perhaps in some part due to the flash-fiction structure.
It's certainly a unique book - I've never read anything like it before - and it is thoroughly deserving of its place on the longlist for the Women's Prize for fiction for 2019.

ginger_curmudgeon's review against another edition

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4.0


I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from “Bottled Goods”, but I wasn’t counting on such a delightful telling of a woman’s life in Romania during the Communist regime. Don’t get me wrong, Alina experiences some rather horrible things, but the lyrical style of telling and the flash fiction style chapters are a combination to treasure. The things the author doesn’t show are equally as vivid, for me, as those that she does show. When I wasn’t reading the book, I found myself wondering what Alina was up to and what was coming next. I confess that I forgot that magical realism would be making an appearance, and I’m not always a fan, but I wasn’t put off by this turn in the story. I actually found some humor in it, whether that was Sophie van Llewyn’s intent or not. I finished this one two days ago and am still experiencing book hangover. I highly recommend “Bottled Goods” when it’s released.

bgg616's review against another edition

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5.0

This novel is the first by flash fiction author van Llewyn. I wasn't familiar with the genre but after reading this novel, I'm a fan. The story is set in Romania in the era of Ceausescu. It is the era of the Iron Curtain and a communist dictatorship. The mood of the novel is at times bleak. Alina is a teacher and is under investigation, and constant harassment, for allegedly not reporting who student who brought contraband to school. Her brother-in-law defects which causes further problems especially with her husband, Liviu. The atmosphere ranges from oppressive to magical. Romania is a country still full of folk traditions, and belief in spirits. Alina maintains a spirit that is remarkable considering her surroundings. Van Llewyn's simple prose is exquisite and made this book a marvel. Read this gem of a book!

notoriousesr's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.0

lacywolfe's review against another edition

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4.0

Really loved this quick little book. (And it's so cute!). I've been reading about post-communist Eastern Europe in [b:Café Europa Revisited: How to Survive Post-Communism|53230639|Café Europa Revisited How to Survive Post-Communism|Slavenka Drakulić|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603738910l/53230639._SY75_.jpg|80566701] so I was in the mood to read about communist Romania?!? Anyway, Alina's story was painful at times, but the storytelling was spot on. A little magical realism never hurt anyone!

stacialithub's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a tightly told novella (about 50 short chapters) about a life in communist Romania, when one is on the wrong side of the authorities. The author uses magical realism as a counterpoint, showcasing some of the older, outlawed traditions & folklore (such as catching fairies -- Sanziene -- or shrinking people). It all works beautifully to show the horrors of living under a communist regime, the hope one can find, the old vs. the new, & the hard, strange twists of life that one can endure.

196books's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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