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BOTTLED GOODS.
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
16 posts | 16 read | 41 to read
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review
Morr_Books
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

I liked this book. The writing style was unique and worked for me. I haven't read much about life under communism, so this was an interesting story for me. This was a story of feeling trapped and searching for freedom with a side of magical realism. #IJTPbookclub #AwesomeApril #readathon @Andrew65

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 2y
43 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Morr_Books
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Spent this morning reading for this week's book club discussion! #IJTPbookblub #AwesomeApril

Andrew65 Hope you are enjoying it. 2y
33 likes1 comment
review
Bookalong
Bottled Goods | Sophie van Llewyn
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Pickpick

4🌟Set in 1970's communist Romania, this coming of age story follows a young woman named Alina. Her family comes under suspicion when her brother in law defects. With hints of magical realism, and folklore we get an intuitive look at the brutality of living under a governmental regime. Written in flash fiction, that attributes to Alina's cataclysmic storyline. Themes of freedom, family, and allegiance. I enjoyed this one quite a bit! #bookreview

Megabooks I love that cover! 4y
Bookalong @Megabooks its a stunner!😍 4y
13 likes2 comments
blurb
LeePeckover
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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New book, fire lit, doggo on duty. Bliss.

review
CaroPi
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

I loved this book is a short #historicalfiction story with a mix of #magicalrealism about a couple in Rumania during the cold war. It can be many stories of that time in any of the countries.
#bookly
Book #3 of my #bookfitnesschallenge #bfc #BFCr2

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 You‘re making great progress on your book goal! 5y
CaroPi @wanderinglynn yes this has put me back in track with my reading 😁 5y
20 likes2 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Bottled Goods | Sophie van Llewyn
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Pickpick

Alina lives in Romania under the communist regime of Ceaucescu. The secret service is everywhere, privacy a thing of the past. Alina and her husband make plans to leave the country. This little, flash fiction book mixes harsh reality with magical realism. The result is... unexpected, to say the least!

Great read, thanks for sending me this one Jessie 💕

Tamra Ummmm, looks like you are reading and driving. 😜 5y
marleed And in a Mini Cooper! 5y
BarbaraBB @Tamra @marleed I parked the Mini Cooper just to take the picture 🤓 5y
See All 6 Comments
marleed I have a Mini, as well! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘m glad you find it a great read. 💕 5y
75 likes2 stack adds6 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Thank you so much Jessie, for sending me this book, that I have been eyeing since the many intriguing reviews it get. It was such a surprise, nothing is better than unexpected bookmail. Thank you again, I am very grateful for your friendship from across the world ❤️😘

batsy Lovely 💕 5y
erzascarletbookgasm That‘s one super quick delivery! Hope you‘ll enjoy it. 💕 5y
BarbaraBB @erzascarletbookgasm I‘ll read it soon! You‘re too kind 💕 5y
76 likes3 comments
quote
charl08
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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I really like how the author twists the 'traditional' in format and presentation.

youneverarrived Agree 🙂 6y
charl08 @youneverarrived hope she writes more "long" fiction. 6y
39 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
charl08
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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I love little books like this, easy to fit in the hand.

review
youneverarrived
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

I liked the style of this one; the small, episodic chapters that quickly build a picture of Alina, her family and communist Romania. I thought the magical elements might put me off but they worked. A different and interesting way of telling a story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

AlaMich That‘s a great cover! 6y
BarbaraBB I‘ve got this one stacked. Looking forward to it! 6y
youneverarrived @AlaMich isn‘t it ♥️ 6y
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB I think you might like it. Looking forward to your thoughts 👍 6y
61 likes4 stack adds4 comments
review
batsy
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

The structure of this book won me over. It's a narrative sustained through episodic vignettes. Set in communist Romania, the atmosphere is oppressive, dark, & absurd. I was wary of the magical realism, but it's woven in so deftly & naturally. The structure, themes, & writing are very clever. The police state haunts every page; but interpersonal relationships, like between spouses or mothers & daughters, broke my heart. Distinctive & memorable.

batsy I did have occasional issues with it, mainly ideology. A communist police state & its ghoulish instruments of torture is something that needs to be told for what it is, but the narrator having come from Romanian nobility who were landowners colours the perception. So sometimes when Alina talks about the poor peasants (including the one she married), I get a whiff of something unpleasant, like disgust for the poor. #womensprize #womensprize2019 6y
Cathythoughts Excellent review! Stacked 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Oh wow - great review! Stacked! 6y
See All 16 Comments
batsy @Cathythoughts @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Thank you 💜 It's a unique, unexpectedly poignant read that wouldn't have been on my radar if not for the prize longlist. 6y
Ms_T Lovely review! 6y
Chrissyreadit That is a great review! 6y
TrishB Wonderful review 👍🏻 6y
Tanisha_A Super review! 👏 Stacked! 6y
RohitSawant Stunning review! 6y
Redwritinghood Great review! I really liked this one too. 6y
batsy @rohit-sawant @Redwritinghood Thank you! 🙂 6y
Izai.Amorim Great review. Extra kudos for the 'episodic vignettes.' 👍 6y
batsy @Izai.Amorim 😁 Thank you! 6y
GatheringBooks this has been on my book depository wishlist for the longest time - your review convinced me that i should get it for #WomenReadWomen2019 - Romania/Russia/Germany. 🧚🏼‍♀️📚💕 6y
batsy @GatheringBooks I hope you give it a try! Would love to know what you think. 6y
103 likes12 stack adds16 comments
review
Redwritinghood
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

#womensprize2019 This collection of flash fiction creates a story of oppression in 1970s Romania. Alina is a young wife and teacher. When her brother-in-law defects to France, she and her husband come under close scrutiny of the government. Told through multiple, linked vignettes, together they create a darkly humorous and frightening tale. 3.5⭐️

Reggie Sounds good. 6y
78 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
ReadingEnvy
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

This Women's Prize longlisted novel is told in flash style, with lists and little vignettes, set in Romania during the Ceaușescu era (1970s.)

Alina married a man in a lower class and really starts to regret it when his brother leaves the country without permission, making them a new target for the secret police. Mix that kind of oppression and intrigue with a folksy fantasy element and you end up with a unique read! I loved the ending.

HardcoverHearts I am looking forward to this so much! 6y
67 likes8 stack adds1 comment
review
Clare_Riley
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

Romania under Communist/ Ceausescu‘s rule wasn‘t a nice place. Set in the 1970s which I suppose was at a time when people were starting to realise just what they were missing. Alina‘s brother in law defects to Germany: those family members left (her and her husband) suffer the consequences. There‘s a hefty dose of magical realism in amongst some really unpleasant stuff (rape, torture - not loads, enough to scare her and a trigger warning!).

review
DreesReads
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
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Pickpick

This is the first “novella-in-flash” I have read—I had not heard the term before. I think it means a story told in snippets rather than extended narrative (the term is not defined). There is too much magical realism here for my taste, but I appreciated the taste of communist Romania, as the narrator grows from a single girl to a married teacher struggling after her brother-in-law defects. The author grew up in Romania. #netgalley

rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 6y
32 likes1 comment
review
Babs_book_obsession
BOTTLED GOODS. | SOPHIE. VAN LLEWYN
Pickpick

The frightening reality of life in communist Romania, which I admit to being largely ignorant about, plus some magical realism makes for a pretty fresh and unique novella. You also get some nicely complex, or in my mind, realistic, relationships developed too. There is something a little disjointed(?) about the chapters, they feel almost separate from each other in a way? I don't even think that is necessarily a bad thing but just different.