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#ManBookerInternationalPrize2018
blurb
Simona
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My personal shortlist for this year Man Booker International Prize. A varied collage of genres, themes and styles, some are very serious, some less, but all are worth your attention 😘

Leniverse I've been wondering about Frankenstein in Baghdad. The title caught my attention at the library. I'll add it to my list of books to borrow. 6y
Simona @Leniverse The author has certainly chosen a very different way of narrative to tell the story about what was/is wrong in the post-war Iraq. (edited) 6y
BookishMe @Leniverse yes I too am intrigued by the title. Can't recall if it's in the library. But it's been cropping up on my book radar and I am unlikely to forget it 6y
Cinfhen Just took a screenshot 6y
74 likes5 comments
review
Simona
The White Book | Han Kang
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Panpan

Non-conventional novel, whose main thread is death and white color. It is written in vignettes, imageries and that creates very poetic vibes.
Excellent prose, interesting combination of a different media, but unfortunately - this book was not for me and my ‘review‘ stems solely from my lack of interest 🤷‍♀️

ephemeralwaltz Oooh interesting. Might be a bit too experimental for me as well. I almost bought it a few weeks ago but I‘ll put it off for a while. 6y
Simona @ephemeralwaltz I liked Vegetarian, but this one reminds me more on some art performance/installations rather than novel 🤔 6y
ephemeralwaltz @Simona I understand. I haven‘t read The Vegetarian yet but I really liked Human Acts! 6y
See All 7 Comments
readinginthedark This sounds more my speed than Vegetarian. 🤔 Might give it a try! 6y
Simona @readinginthedark If you like modern art and experimental writing, yes, you should try this one. 6y
Simona @ephemeralwaltz Human Acts is still in my TBR pile ... 6y
61 likes2 stack adds7 comments
review
Simona
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Pickpick

Just like is Frankenstein - consisting of body parts of different people is also this novel - patchwork of different genres, POW, stories within stories, with the main theme of the absurdity of the war and about vicious circle of revenge . Interesting way to present the post-war Iraq, sectarian fights, corruption, ineffective government ... through the everyday life, where suicide bombings are nothing special ... ⭐️⭐️⭐️

merelybookish That's a good quote. I bailed on this. Due to mood mostly, but also I have ghost character fatigue. But maybe I should give it another go? 6y
Simona @merelybookish This quote is the essence of the whole story (IMO). How far did you get? 6y
merelybookish @Simona A couple hours in on audio. The mother believed her "Daniel" was home. 6y
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Simona @merelybookish Maybe audiobook is the reason? The ghost character isn‘t just the classical ghost and he doesn‘t act like that ... I read his part as the symbol for everything what was/is wrong in the country and although he is one of the main characters, the others are in the foreground. He is just a tool to derive the narration. 6y
ephemeralwaltz Wow!! This is high up on the TBR since I first read the title. 6y
batsy What a fantastic quote. 6y
62 likes4 stack adds7 comments
review
Simona
Die, My Love | Ariana Harwicz
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Pickpick

The story that puts the depression on the forefront - a woman who is trapped between motherhood, the role of a wife and her own femininity, is built of short chapters - images that perfectly presented her fast, chaotic flow of thoughts. Excellent prose, interesting structure and unique presentation of a claustrophobic feeling when an individual is a prisoner of his own life. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Suet624 Intriguing review. Stacked. 6y
batsy Very interesting review! When I wanted to buy it from Book Depository they had run out of stock :( Need to check again. 6y
Simona @batsy I ordered it the same day when the longlist was announced ... and when ebook from the longlist is not available, the print version on BD is (usually) sold out. I will send you my copy 😘 6y
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Simona @Suet624 It‘s heavy, atmospheric book, and at the same time cold and warm and filled with pain, but so beautiful... 6y
Simona @Suet624 @batsy Text in the picture is first page, and IMO, extremely expressive and strong begging to tell the story... (edited) 6y
batsy Thank you for the offer Simona, you are very kind! But I checked and it seems to be back in stock 💜 6y
Simona @batsy 👍Happy reading 😘 6y
60 likes3 stack adds8 comments
review
Simona
Like a Fading Shadow: A Novel | Antonio Muoz Molina
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Pickpick

Two completely different stories (one about author‘s intimate reflections on writing, literature and his life, and one about the killer of Martin Luther King) have one common point - Lisbon. Individually they are excellent, but the structure doesn‘t feel as whole coherent novel, more as forced ... but it is absolutely an interesting blend of perspectives, genres and styles. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

57 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Simona
The Dinner Guest | Gabriela Ybarra
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Pickpick

Intimated story of the author and her family (with the focus on kidnapped grandfather and dying mother) is painted on the historical background - the terrorist activism of the separatist group ETA in Spain. It is an emotional story, but without excessive sentimentality, and precisely this narrative voice is the strongest element in this average, but very readable story. For now ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but I have a feeling that this is a slowly sneaking up story...

LeahBergen Nice review 👌🏼 6y
batsy Great review, Simona. Forgive me, I have let you down—I have barely even read one from the longlist 😳 Maybe I should aim for the shortlist? 🤣🤣 6y
Simona @LeahBergen Thank you 😘 6y
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Simona @batsy I will remind you on that next week 😘 6y
Suet624 How many books on the long list have you read? 6y
Simona @Suet624 I‘m currently reading twelfth 🤓 6y
Suet624 Wow! That‘s impressive. Your favorite so far? 6y
Simona @Suet624 For now - hesitating between 7th Function of Language and 6y
Suet624 I think I must have stacked Flying Mountain after reading your 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 review. 6y
60 likes10 comments
review
Simona
The Stolen Bicycle | Wu Ming-Yi
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Mehso-so

Yes, the story is about a stolen bicycle. This is the main thread of the narrative, and author create around this personal family history and the history of Taiwan. I like the idea, but unfortunately, not the execution. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

57 likes1 stack add2 comments