The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov, translated by Angela Rodel

I haven't read this, as it just didn't appeal. David Naimon did an interview with the author and translator earlier in the year, which was very good: https://tinhouse.com/podcast/georgi-g...

I have this one checked out from the library right now and am thinking about starting it today, though I've seen some less than convincing reviews.

Whenever I hear the synopsis, I can’t help thinking this should have been a short story.

I DNF'd it quite early because I was annoyed with the platitudes. It felt like I was being mocked honestly.

I started it and something about the writing/narrator is annoying me

David wrote: "I haven't read this, as it just didn't appeal. David Naimon did an interview with the author and translator earlier in the year, which was very good: https://tinhouse.com/podcast/georgi-g...-..."

Same here, sounded okay but didn't think it would hold my attention.

The only one on the list I’ve read. It was nicely done, with an interesting, though not feasible, idea for Alzheimer treatment.
That premise kept me invested, though there was a lot of philosophical musing that felt unnecessary.

The best translated novel that I read last year, hands down.

Interesting interview with Andrea Bajani on the occasion when the novel was shortlisted for an Italian prize that eventually Marías won with his last novel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhBCO...

The novel is an antithesis to ultranationalism, among other things (would not be surprised that nationalists, especially from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, would hate it though coming up with some different reasons...)

Tracy wrote: "though there was a lot of philosophical musing that felt unnecessary"

It's this that irked me the most. It's a far cry from being properly philosophical while it aims to appear as such and the effect is... platitudes.

I did like the literary references in this one Mann's Der Zauberberg,, Woolf's Auden’s poem September 1, 1939, Woolf's 'on or about December 1910 human character changed'.

It could have irked me but this one (cf Birthday Party) fell on the right side of impressed/enjoyment for me.

One thing I found a little odd. A crucial concept for the novel is Ernest Renan’s idea that a nation is a group of people who have agreed to jointly remember and forget the same things. But his most famous line is that a nation is a daily referendum ("L’existence d’une nation est (pardonnez-moi cette métaphore) un plébiscite de tous les jours") which is obviously highly relevant for the plot, but I don't think is a line mentioned in the book.

Paul wrote: "But his most famous line is that a nation is a daily referendum ("L’existence d’une nation est (pardonnez-moi cette métaphore) un plébiscite de tous les jours") which is obviously highly relevant for the plot, but I don't think is a line mentioned in the book."

It was. At first I also didn't remember it (no pun intended :-)) but found it among my highlighted passages:

“I no longer remember who said that a nation was a group of people who have agreed to jointly remember and forget the same things.

Ernest Renan, back in the nineteenth century, I taught him to you, K. tosses in.”

It was the line about daily referendum that Paul meant was not quoted.

Right, it wasn't quoted, but I understood Paul if it was mentioned ("I don't think is a line mentioned in the book.") It was referenced and paraphrased. I agree with Paul that it is at the heart of the book - its second half, that is.

It was more the specific reference to a referendum. Given that is the whole idea of the book.

I understood the first half of the novel to be more about remembrances and forgetting at personal level, in contrast to the collective one in the second half.

I want to like this because my lives’ long bestie is Bulgarian. I feel I ought to support Bulgarian writers.

I actually ended up really enjoying this. I do think the first half was stronger than the second, but the premise was so intriguing and I quite enjoyed the narrator.

I read about half of The Physics of Sorrow and really enjoyed Gospodinov’s humor, but I lost interest at some point, I tried again and lost interest again. I don’t know if it was a matter of timing for me or if Gospodinov should write shorter books.

Not sure if it's of use to anyone at this stage but this one's now on UK Netgalley.

I thought this was really good. Just read in a single sitting and thought the end part in particular very good.

That's great GY, Vesna's glowing endorsement was also very persuasive if I can catch up with the pile I've got to get through then I'll try this one too.

Yes one of the better ones on the list.

Review won’t be for another week or so.

It is a bit uneven - the referenda part in Bulgaria did not hold my interest fully but there are lots of really nice ideas and literary references.

I also like that it’s such a recent book.

First part of “Time Shelter” reminded me of the recent project “Dau” made by Russian film director Ilya Khrzhanovsky. Film takes place in a Soviet academic institution in 1930s-1960s. During the filming period actors (and film crew) have been living right on the full-blown set of institution in immersive environment: staying in character off-camera, wearing authentic clothes and footwear (or newly made but of appropriate fashion), using corresponding household items, getting their wages in Soviet rubles etc.

I’m biased - because I don’t remember the last time a Bulgarian was shortlisted for the Booker if ever? - but
I think this book poses some really interesting questions about memory, remembrance, and the past. It is truly Bulgarian in its approach so I am not sure how many people will get the subtleties without knowing history and cultural context, but even without the details, the main themes I think are universal.

I think you're right, Kay - a first for Bulgaria. What is it about the approach that feels particularly Bulgarian? (Aside from the One Country Taken As an Example section.) I'm always interested in books that feel anchored to time and place in their approach to universal themes.

Yes even allowing for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize this is a first from-Bulgarian book. In the US, the same author's The Physics of Sorrow was shortlisted for the BTBA.

I'm equally intrigued by the truly Bulgarian, as it felt to thid anglo-reader if anything less culturally specific than many on the list. but I suspect that is because the references are, as you say, subtle.

I’m a bit late to this discussion, but I just finished this one. There were some comments and scenes I really liked, but the overall book felt very messy to me. It didn’t come together well, and there were a lot of parts that didn’t seem to fit into the story the author was trying to tell. The humor is charming, though.