Reading the World discussion

Country - Serbia
Also in Boxall's 1001 Books to Read

From Wikipedia

There is no easily discerned plot in the conventional sense, but the central question of the book (the mass religious conversion of the Khazar people) is based on a historical event generally dated to the last decades of the 8th century or the early 9th century when the Khazar royalty and nobility converted to Judaism, and part of the general population followed.

However, most of the characters and events described in the novel are entirely fictional, as is the culture ascribed to the Khazars in the book, which bears little resemblance to any literary or archeological evidence.

The novel takes the form of three cross-referenced mini-encyclopedias, sometimes contradicting each other, each compiled from the sources of one of the major Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). In his introduction to the work, Pavić wrote:

No chronology will be observed here, nor is one necessary. Hence each reader will put together the book for himself, as in a game of dominoes or cards, and, as with a mirror, he will get out of this dictionary as much as he puts into it, for you [...] cannot get more out of the truth than what you put into it.

I read this a few years ago after buying a copy of the book at a used book sale. It was weird and fascinating.
There are apparently two versions of the book-male and female versions. I didn't know that but luckily I had the female version!
This is like a long fantastic fairy tale-wonderful escapist reading!

My copy says androgynous edition, a little of both male and female, I guess.

Always love to get your comments, Rosemarie. TYVM

Oh yay: a 1001 book I haven't read: I'll try to get in on this one.

Was also wondering if we're going to be doing the nominations for botm books t any time this year, or if the mods are just selecting them? I'm cool either way, but likely will only pop in if it's 1001 books, or something i can wiggle in if it's for a country I haven't crossed off yet.

I had to abandon this book. I found myself skipping HUGE swaths of the narrative. Would not be right to say I read it.

Celia wrote: "I had to abandon this book. I found myself skipping HUGE swaths of the narrative. Would not be right to say I read it."

That's too bad but totally understand. I'm just over halfway through and it's...okay. I find the concept much more interesting than the execution, but at least I'll have my Serbia book completed.

I have a copy from the library now. It is the female version but not sure, after reading everyone’s reactions to it, that I will actually read it.

Finished this one like a week ago, I ended up giving it 3 stars. I did find the execution quite a bit drier than I was hoping for, but I thought the structure and idea were novel, so I settled on 3 instead of 2.

The fact that the book largely fictionalized everything about the historical Khazars didn’t really bother me, because the book was really about how different cultures see the same events and other cultures through entirely different lenses. The structure of having a Christian, Muslim, and Jewish account of their history was a cool idea. I’m not sure about the “male” vs “female” version though. I’ve read the changed passage in both, and I get that it serves the purpose about how one changed decision can change the outcome of the future. The actual change didn’t seem that significant to the book though and makes me feel like this was largely done as a marketing ploy for novelty points.

Overall I’d say it was fine: cool structure idea, little boring in experience.

Amanda wrote: "Finished this one like a week ago, I ended up giving it 3 stars. I did find the execution quite a bit drier than I was hoping for, but I thought the structure and idea were novel, so I settled on 3..."

Excellent review, Amanda. You helped me to appreciate the book a tad bit more.

Amanda wrote: "Celia wrote: "I had to abandon this book. I found myself skipping HUGE swaths of the narrative. Would not be right to say I read it."

That's too bad but totally understand. I'm just over halfway t..."

I changed my Serbia book to Hidden Camera