TIME SHELTER BY GEORGI GOSPODINOV (TRANSLATED FROM BULGARIAN BY ANGELA RODEL)

-

BOOK NAME: TIME SHELTER

AUTHOR NAME: GEORGI GOSPODINOV (TRANSLATED FROM BULGARIAN BY ANGELA RODEL)

GENRE: LITERARY FICTION

PUBLISHER: HACHETTE BOOKS

BOOK BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.in/Time-Shelter-Georgi-Gospodinov-ebook/dp/B093GZBVMK


BOOK COVER IMAGE




BOOK REVIEW

Let's end 2023 on a high note with a review of the book that deservingly won this year's International Booker Prize. I have been reading it in bits and pieces over a few weeks as it's highly informative and engaging (also a little too enigmatic) with its detailing and narration. As the self-explanatory title suggests, this book is based on the concept of time, place and memory. I would be lying if I said I completely understood the book. No, I did not. But I tried and may have been partly successful as well. I have tried to summarise the book from what I could grasp and hope it helps.


Dr. Gaustine starts a clinic for patients with Alzheimer's disease where they get to travel to their past. Each room is designed and designated to a particular time period in history, hence the title 'Time Shelter'. Once the clinic becomes famous for its work, people start rushing to it to relive their former lives, even though they are perfectly normal. 


A political agenda is formulated, and people must now vote on which period and where they would all want to return. Is it Germany during the Great War, Czechoslovakia during the Velvet Revolution, Spain during the Spanish flu or Rif War, Poland in the 1920s, or Switzerland, which was considered a haven at the risk of soon being overcrowded? Were they the perfect time and place to revisit without causing any temporal chaos in the present? The narrator takes us on a ride through history to reveal the secrets of time.


But why did Dr. Gaustine start the clinic in the first place? Did he do it for the patients or his own sake? As with the narrator, we don't get to learn much about him except that he assists Dr. Gaustine in running the clinic. But there are also moments in the book that made me doubt if the narrator actually existed or was just the doctor's second personality. 


This book is so nuanced that a lot of nonfiction gets passed off as fiction as it's entirely based on European history in the late 19th and 20th centuries, and the author has decided to make an elaborate commentary on it without boring the readers - genius-level writing. Fifty years from now, this book might share space with Gabriel Marquez, Murakami and Co, and people might come up with their own theories and interpretations of the text. 


I loved reading the book as I am a historical fiction enthusiast, but people who aren't would find it difficult. It needs attention to detail and patience to go through facts and fallacies to fall in love with this book. But once you get to the end, you sure will. 


MY REVIEW: 4/5 (-1 considering the sky-high expectations I had from this book, making it fall a little short). I sure did love it and was in awe of the writing, but did I also want a little bit more? What? Where? I have no idea. I can't put it precisely in words. Maybe tone down your expectations before diving in, and you will be able to enjoy it a little better.


This post is a part of Blogchatter’s #TBRchallenge

#penbooksandscalpel

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHAPTER 1 - ALIZA AND AHMED

-
Image
Their eyes met for the second time in the day. Every time this happens, Aliza feels a ticklish sensation in her stomach. It's not that they have not been closer than just eye contact, but the jitters won't leave her alone. Her mother-in-law was busy scooping out the last few morsels of chicken from the bowl with a creaking noise that numbed Aliza's ears. Her father-in-law was lost in thoughts enjoying his chicken malai korma and tempered ghee rice.   ‘Aliza, can you get me some warm water?’ Aliza comes running with a jar of water to fulfil her new wife's duties, and Ahmed finds his moment just when Aliza is filling his tumbler and his parents are busy eating. He pokes her in the hip, which is faintly visible between her saree fold and her blouse. Aliza winces and moves behind quickly. She turns around to ensure no one has witnessed it and promptly returns to work, flashing a smile. Ahmed had to steal moments like these between daily activities because the house was alwa
Read more

CHAPTER 4 - DISTANCE MATTERS

-
Image
'Congratulations on your promotion and transfer. We are looking forward to your full commitment to us. Do get back to this letter at the earliest with your answer.' Read the crafted piece of paper. Ahmed's parents were delighted and jumping with joy. They were chanting 'Alhamdulillah' fervently while Aliza stood confused. She could not make anything of this news because Ahmed's promotion meant everything to her. But his transfer would only mean that Aliza must stay back with her in-laws while he would visit only during weekends. She would happily do so, too, if not for her unsupportive mother-in-law. Aliza wanted to cry, and her eyes brimmed with tears that the world looked like a smudged canvas laying still in front of her. She looked at Ahmed pleadingly and waited until 10 to ask him if he really wanted to go. Asking in front of her in-laws would only mean the end of her good days. Ahmed did not look up because he knew what his transfer meant for both of them.
Read more

MY FAVOURITE BLOGCHATTER MOMENTS FROM 2023

-
Image
Contrary to every other year, in 2023, the writer in me had a great time compared to the reader me—all thanks to the team of Blogchatter. If you are new to the world of blogging or have been living under a rock, Blogchatter is an open community for bloggers and readers, and they organise writing and reading challenges for its members. Blogchatter keeps motivating its writers and readers with badges and credit points that can be encashed. My journey with Blogchatter started in mid-2022, and it's been so great so far. I have had meaningful conversations with fellow readers, bloggers and writers. I was also introduced to unique content through this community. Though I try to write most days of the year, there are also times when I feel I can't write anymore because I can't think of anything. I would either just blank out or be overwhelmed with my personal life and a full-time job. During moments like these, Blogchatter comes up with a timely rescue by introducing challenges a
Read more