The Three Old Ladies’ Tea opens with a young man appearing at a tram stop in the middle of the night, where he begins undressing before collapsing into a coma-like state, all while a policeman looks on uncomprehendingly. And in these opening paragraphs, we find the template by which Friedrich Glauser will continue to draw … Continue reading Review: The Three Old Ladies’ Tea by Friedrich Glauser
Nilufar Sharipova's short story collection You've Got Grave Issues depicts hilarious snapshots of the 'Municipal Cemetery Department' and its employees, hence the title's double entendre. You've Got Grave Issues speaks to the sense of control humans believe we wield over our lives. An array of masterfully rendered characters demonstrate the anxieties, concerns, and thrills we … Continue reading Review: You’ve Got Grave Issues by Nilufar Sharipova
Slavenka Drakulić continues her look at life after communism in the book Cafe Europa her sequel to How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed. It's a great read and an honest read from the 1990s that rings true close to twenty years after she wrote it. If you think regular consumers in the West sometimes … Continue reading Review: Cafe Europa by Slavenka Drakulić
Hedgemond the Hunter is a house-proud hedgehog whose attachment to his home mystifies the other animals in this narrative poem. After Hedgemond enjoys a lovely dinner with Fox, he insists on returning home despite the late hour. Miffed, Fox follows him to discover what all the fuss is about. En route Wolf, Bear, and Wild … Continue reading Review: Hedgehog’s Home by Branco Čopić
About five years ago, an American friend of mine, whose book taste I completely respected, told me about this book. He was so enthusiastic I knew someday I would read it, even though I had never heard of the author, never heard of the book, and knew nothing about Bosnia. I never suspected then, that … Continue reading Review: The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andrić
Mariam Petrosyan's award-winning epic The Gray House is a sprawling yarn of a story, a coming-of-age tale wrapped up in threads of magical realism and mystery. The eponymous House is a boarding school for disabled children and teenagers, which sits on the outskirts of town, ignored by the people of the Outsides. Its residents, a … Continue reading REVIEW: The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan
The problem of choice is most difficult when you are a child. How do you define yourself? How do you define your position in the world, your gender, your future sexual choices? And it is even more difficult when others try to define you. The most difficult fight is against those who want to tell … Continue reading Review: Playing a Part by Daria Wilke
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 