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A review by swordvampire
The Encounter by Gabriela Adameșteanu
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
man....
The Encounter is a disorientating haze of memory and nostalgia associated with leaving home. Written in many different POVs, completely different styles, and hopping between reports and prose, the novel is purposely confusing.
The English summary does a poor job of selling the book, but in its essence, it is about a professor—Traian Manu—who had defected from the Romanian communist regime and is invited back to his country of birth. Although I think a bare understanding of Romanian history is a must for this, I really think Adameșteanu captures an evocative feel of confusion, nostalgia, and, ultimately, the sense of having no home to return to.
I truly was impacted by this read, and the emotional value of it makes it a no-brainer 5 stars from me.
I got my copy through the library :)
The Encounter is a disorientating haze of memory and nostalgia associated with leaving home. Written in many different POVs, completely different styles, and hopping between reports and prose, the novel is purposely confusing.
The English summary does a poor job of selling the book, but in its essence, it is about a professor—Traian Manu—who had defected from the Romanian communist regime and is invited back to his country of birth. Although I think a bare understanding of Romanian history is a must for this, I really think Adameșteanu captures an evocative feel of confusion, nostalgia, and, ultimately, the sense of having no home to return to.
I truly was impacted by this read, and the emotional value of it makes it a no-brainer 5 stars from me.
I got my copy through the library :)