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Desiderium
Set in a rich and complicated culture reflected in its cuisine, hospitality, and breathtaking landscapes, Desiderium weaves the stories of three generations of Albanian women reaching for their deepest desires amid heartbreak, the quest for revenge, and war.
Mira Zeka is a fighter seeking vengeance and national independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1911. A decision she makes for her family will change her heart more than she could have imagined.
Valentina Muskaj, nicknamed Val, trades her schoolteacher duties to become a partisan guerrilla during World War II. To return to the life she had, in a homeland rid of the Axis Powers, she will endure anything, including injury and unspeakable loss.
Dita Arbani, a history museum curator, is falling in love with the tales of Albania's past while the modern world rushes ahead. Her grandmother's vague hint about secret gold sends Dita on a mission, even while other parts of her life unravel.
Desiderium's prose is as lyrical as Albania's rivers and seas. The characters are as fierce as the mountains surrounding them. Through their eyes, we see that the struggles, passions, and triumphs of the past may not be as deeply buried as we think.
Mira Zeka is a fighter seeking vengeance and national independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1911. A decision she makes for her family will change her heart more than she could have imagined.
Valentina Muskaj, nicknamed Val, trades her schoolteacher duties to become a partisan guerrilla during World War II. To return to the life she had, in a homeland rid of the Axis Powers, she will endure anything, including injury and unspeakable loss.
Dita Arbani, a history museum curator, is falling in love with the tales of Albania's past while the modern world rushes ahead. Her grandmother's vague hint about secret gold sends Dita on a mission, even while other parts of her life unravel.
Desiderium's prose is as lyrical as Albania's rivers and seas. The characters are as fierce as the mountains surrounding them. Through their eyes, we see that the struggles, passions, and triumphs of the past may not be as deeply buried as we think.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 6, 2023
Desiderium is a beautifully written book! It tells the story of three generations of Albanian women. It begins with Mira, a young girl fighting for Albanian freedom in a time when it was taboo for women to fight. ( 1911) Then follows Val during WW2 when she is fighting the Nazi’s alongside her brothers. Finally Dita in 2000, who works as a museum curator/archeologist as she studies the history of her land and family. The three generations are told in alternating chapters and towards the end it is revealed how their lives are intertwined.
I absolutely loved the descriptions of the land, foliage and weather. It was nice to have maps and a family tree at the beginning of the book. At the end there is a glossary for the many Albanian words that are sprinkled throughout the text. I also enjoyed learning about the cultural rituals during Mira’s timeline. Her story was my favorite.
I did not realize there would be romance in the book but it was a pleasant surprise. I don’t like romance but I liked how Julie Furxhi added it softly to the story. It was like an added whisper but warmly blanketed the story in a way that added power to the fight for freedom. The love was born out of mutual ideals. I especially liked how Julie wrote the sex scenes. I hate sex scenes and these were written in a way that it snuck passed you without you realizing what was happening until it was over! It was focused on the emotional connection, tenderness and depth of the couples love for one another.
Before I began reading I never questioned the title Desiderium. I didn’t know what it meant but didn’t look it up. When I was done reading I finally looked it up and the title made complete sense! What a meaningful and thoughtfully chosen title!
At the end, in the acknowledgments Julie lists music that she listened to while writing and one of the songs was Glassworks 1 by Phillip Glass and performed by Signal. I immediately looked it up on Spotify and as I listened it brought a warm smile to my face. I thought about the story as I listened and I could see the land and it’s characters come alive!
There is also a list of books for further reading at the end. This is something I will be looking into because I don’t know anything about Albania or their fight for freedom through the centuries.
I highly recommend this book! Many thanks to Julie Furxhi and BookSirens for the advanced readers copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
I absolutely loved the descriptions of the land, foliage and weather. It was nice to have maps and a family tree at the beginning of the book. At the end there is a glossary for the many Albanian words that are sprinkled throughout the text. I also enjoyed learning about the cultural rituals during Mira’s timeline. Her story was my favorite.
I did not realize there would be romance in the book but it was a pleasant surprise. I don’t like romance but I liked how Julie Furxhi added it softly to the story. It was like an added whisper but warmly blanketed the story in a way that added power to the fight for freedom. The love was born out of mutual ideals. I especially liked how Julie wrote the sex scenes. I hate sex scenes and these were written in a way that it snuck passed you without you realizing what was happening until it was over! It was focused on the emotional connection, tenderness and depth of the couples love for one another.
Before I began reading I never questioned the title Desiderium. I didn’t know what it meant but didn’t look it up. When I was done reading I finally looked it up and the title made complete sense! What a meaningful and thoughtfully chosen title!
At the end, in the acknowledgments Julie lists music that she listened to while writing and one of the songs was Glassworks 1 by Phillip Glass and performed by Signal. I immediately looked it up on Spotify and as I listened it brought a warm smile to my face. I thought about the story as I listened and I could see the land and it’s characters come alive!
There is also a list of books for further reading at the end. This is something I will be looking into because I don’t know anything about Albania or their fight for freedom through the centuries.
I highly recommend this book! Many thanks to Julie Furxhi and BookSirens for the advanced readers copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
November 29, 2023
This debut novel is beautifully written about three women going down from generation to generation. They live in Albania. The author brings the region to life. I loved feeling immersed in a different culture from my own. These are beautiful women that have to deal with tragedy, hope, love and the determination to provide a better life for those whom they love. I love books of strong women that overcome odds to triumph. I recommend this book to those want to experience a rich and challenging culture.
I want to thank BookSirens and the author for an electronic copy of this book. This review is my own opinion and freely given.
I want to thank BookSirens and the author for an electronic copy of this book. This review is my own opinion and freely given.
January 31, 2024
A lyrical novel about warrior woman, freedom and feeling of longing for someone. Made me know more of albanian culture and their people fight to stop the Ottomans occupy their territory. I especialy love Mira story that becames a true leader and Dita that made her family story alive.
November 14, 2023
What a beautiful debut novel from Julie Furxhi! I truly could not put it down! The lyrical writing built such a wonderful tapestry of culture and womanhood, and gave such a thoughtful perspective to some of the most heartbreaking points in Albanian history. I have to say, I realized how little I knew about Albanian history after reading this book, and I’ve since been taking the time to learn much much more.
Our story begins in 1911 with Mira who steps up to protect her family and becomes part of the movement of an independent Albania, free from the constraints of the Ottoman Empire. The next thread of our story belongs to Valentina, a school teacher turned partisan guerrilla fighter resisting Nazism and fighting for her opportunity to return to a free and full life. The last of our three central characters was Dita, a modern day museum curator who helps to tie all of the pieces of the story together through an enduring love for her family and country.
This was a book of resistance, of love and of the endurance of womanhood in the worst of conditions. The women depicted in this book were more brave than I could ever hope to be and so unwavering in their love for their country and their right to be their own people. The Albanian people have persevered despite the multiple attempts to dissolve them, assimilate them or to fully remove them from existence. I found this book to be incredibly moving in that respect, and I deeply felt the love the author felt for this work. Truly this book was inspiring on so many levels, and I would highly recommend to any historical fiction lovers.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Julie Furxhi for an advance copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Our story begins in 1911 with Mira who steps up to protect her family and becomes part of the movement of an independent Albania, free from the constraints of the Ottoman Empire. The next thread of our story belongs to Valentina, a school teacher turned partisan guerrilla fighter resisting Nazism and fighting for her opportunity to return to a free and full life. The last of our three central characters was Dita, a modern day museum curator who helps to tie all of the pieces of the story together through an enduring love for her family and country.
This was a book of resistance, of love and of the endurance of womanhood in the worst of conditions. The women depicted in this book were more brave than I could ever hope to be and so unwavering in their love for their country and their right to be their own people. The Albanian people have persevered despite the multiple attempts to dissolve them, assimilate them or to fully remove them from existence. I found this book to be incredibly moving in that respect, and I deeply felt the love the author felt for this work. Truly this book was inspiring on so many levels, and I would highly recommend to any historical fiction lovers.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Julie Furxhi for an advance copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
March 16, 2024
This is beautifully written for a debut book. Took me long to finish it however, because I found it hard to connect to the character of the book at first.
I love how this is about three generations of empowered women. The search for something in the castle really got me to turn the pages. While this book felt mostly sad, I like how the glimpses of hope were incorporated towards the end.
I find it lacking in terms of the hook of being engrossed into it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I love how this is about three generations of empowered women. The search for something in the castle really got me to turn the pages. While this book felt mostly sad, I like how the glimpses of hope were incorporated towards the end.
I find it lacking in terms of the hook of being engrossed into it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
November 4, 2023
This debut novel by Julie Furxhi tells a multigenerational story of three Albanian women who, each in turn, fight for their country, their family, and the respect they yearn for in a male dominated society. The story begins with Mira, in 1911, as the Ottoman Empire seeks to strengthen its standing amongst its colonies and against the empires of the Western world. Strong-willed and seemingly fearless, she marries the rebel leader, Rezart, who treats her as an equal. Despite their community’s disapproval, they fight the Turkish enemy together in the Great War. Rezart tries to ease her sense of foreboding by gifting Mira an ancient gold bracelet gifted to his ancestors 500 centuries earlier for having supported a pirate queen. With its duplicate, it had lain hidden in a cave in the Rodoni mountains overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
It is this bracelet that forms the common thread between the generations. Shot in the hip just as the conflict is ending, Mira’s last act of hope is to send the children Reznard had persuaded her to adopt back to her village with the bracelet to sustain them.
The next of the warrior women is Valentina, an outspoken, headstrong former teacher whose school was shut down by the Italian Fascists when they annexed Albania in 1935. She inherited both her love of country and clan and her fearlessness from her aunt Mira, and was close to her adopted children, especially the toddler Sofia. Val joins the resistance, like countless other women in Axis occupied nations. Her job is to infiltrate, sabotage, and otherwise undermine the enemy. The fighters are constantly hungry, on the move, and engaged in perilous activities. Her younger sister, Ana, is captured by the Nazis and disappears. Val survives but is seriously wounded and entirely deafened. Like Mira, she returns to her home village, to find it razed to the ground. Battling despair, she decides, as had Mira, that love is the only antidote. The sudden arrival of Zamir, a comrade with whom she had exchanged intelligence through a carrier pigeon named Shpreza (Hope), gives her just that. He had sworn to find her after the war. Together they rebuild the village and their lives.
The third generation is exemplified by Dita, an early 21st century archaeologist and the granddaughter of Sofia, Mira’s adopted daughter. Very attached to her Nana, who lives with the family, Dita is unsatisfied with her boyfriend, her career, and above all, herself. By pursuing the origins of a mysterious bracelet, forgotten in a ‘drawer of lost things’ at work, she uncovers many of the lost details of the heroism of her family’s women during the two worst conflicts of the 20th century. In doing so,she finds her own strength, hope, and love.
Furxhi, an American of Albanian descent, writes in a manner that suggests how each generation of women through the twentieth century-the story concludes in 2003–adapts to the abrupt changes that resulted from war, the loosening of tribal bonds, the shattering of a village life attuned to the rhythms of the land, the pressures of modernity. Their voices, and their stories, ring true. She also sheds necessary light on the colonization and oppression of the Albanian people, and on their furious resistance, a story not as well known as that of the European resistance. This is especially true regarding women’s active involvement, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Dita’s story doesn’t work quite as well as those of her predecessors, probably because she is fighting the state bureaucracy rather than foreign oppressors, but she has her own figurative battle, and she wins it. I would have loved to know more about Sofia, who embodies the plight of so many children of war, effectively twice orphaned in early childhood. That aside, this is an intriguing and well researched debut that will appeal to historical fiction lovers.
It is this bracelet that forms the common thread between the generations. Shot in the hip just as the conflict is ending, Mira’s last act of hope is to send the children Reznard had persuaded her to adopt back to her village with the bracelet to sustain them.
The next of the warrior women is Valentina, an outspoken, headstrong former teacher whose school was shut down by the Italian Fascists when they annexed Albania in 1935. She inherited both her love of country and clan and her fearlessness from her aunt Mira, and was close to her adopted children, especially the toddler Sofia. Val joins the resistance, like countless other women in Axis occupied nations. Her job is to infiltrate, sabotage, and otherwise undermine the enemy. The fighters are constantly hungry, on the move, and engaged in perilous activities. Her younger sister, Ana, is captured by the Nazis and disappears. Val survives but is seriously wounded and entirely deafened. Like Mira, she returns to her home village, to find it razed to the ground. Battling despair, she decides, as had Mira, that love is the only antidote. The sudden arrival of Zamir, a comrade with whom she had exchanged intelligence through a carrier pigeon named Shpreza (Hope), gives her just that. He had sworn to find her after the war. Together they rebuild the village and their lives.
The third generation is exemplified by Dita, an early 21st century archaeologist and the granddaughter of Sofia, Mira’s adopted daughter. Very attached to her Nana, who lives with the family, Dita is unsatisfied with her boyfriend, her career, and above all, herself. By pursuing the origins of a mysterious bracelet, forgotten in a ‘drawer of lost things’ at work, she uncovers many of the lost details of the heroism of her family’s women during the two worst conflicts of the 20th century. In doing so,she finds her own strength, hope, and love.
Furxhi, an American of Albanian descent, writes in a manner that suggests how each generation of women through the twentieth century-the story concludes in 2003–adapts to the abrupt changes that resulted from war, the loosening of tribal bonds, the shattering of a village life attuned to the rhythms of the land, the pressures of modernity. Their voices, and their stories, ring true. She also sheds necessary light on the colonization and oppression of the Albanian people, and on their furious resistance, a story not as well known as that of the European resistance. This is especially true regarding women’s active involvement, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Dita’s story doesn’t work quite as well as those of her predecessors, probably because she is fighting the state bureaucracy rather than foreign oppressors, but she has her own figurative battle, and she wins it. I would have loved to know more about Sofia, who embodies the plight of so many children of war, effectively twice orphaned in early childhood. That aside, this is an intriguing and well researched debut that will appeal to historical fiction lovers.
February 5, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this soon to be (and impressively) self-published book, Desiderium. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could, but I cannot give it 5 stars because I was somewhat confused by the constant switching between three different time periods and had a bit of difficulty piecing together how each period fit with the others. Other than my slight struggle with the different time frames’ cohesiveness
, I loved each of the three different stories told, each in their own times.
The writing by first time author Julie Furxhi is superb, easily evoking the deep emotions felt by all of the main characters and even many of the minor ones. I learned a lot about the region in question, Albania, during the entirety of the twentieth century and received an education regarding the hardships the people there faced, first by invading Ottoman hordes and later by the invading Nazis of Germany. I also came to understand and appreciate the courage and grit it took the Albanian people to stand up and fight for their autonomy, their land, and their way of life. Reading Desiderium very much reminded me of reading James Michener’s epic The Source, (which I read (embarrassingly) about 50 years ago!) In it Michener traces the struggles and repeated subjugations of the Jewish people in their Holy Land from pre-monotheistic days to the birth of the modern State of Israel.
Like Michener’s The Source , Desiderium is a wonderful, albeit much shorter, book from an extremely talented writer that I hope will continue to write so that I may enjoy more of her stories. I was curious as to the meaning of the book’s title and learned from the Webster’s online Dictionary that desiderium means “an ardent desire or longing,” especially “a feeling of loss or grief for something lost.” I think this sums up the book’s premise superbly. I received an advance review copy of the novel for free, and I am leaving this review VOLUNTARILY.
, I loved each of the three different stories told, each in their own times.
The writing by first time author Julie Furxhi is superb, easily evoking the deep emotions felt by all of the main characters and even many of the minor ones. I learned a lot about the region in question, Albania, during the entirety of the twentieth century and received an education regarding the hardships the people there faced, first by invading Ottoman hordes and later by the invading Nazis of Germany. I also came to understand and appreciate the courage and grit it took the Albanian people to stand up and fight for their autonomy, their land, and their way of life. Reading Desiderium very much reminded me of reading James Michener’s epic The Source, (which I read (embarrassingly) about 50 years ago!) In it Michener traces the struggles and repeated subjugations of the Jewish people in their Holy Land from pre-monotheistic days to the birth of the modern State of Israel.
Like Michener’s The Source , Desiderium is a wonderful, albeit much shorter, book from an extremely talented writer that I hope will continue to write so that I may enjoy more of her stories. I was curious as to the meaning of the book’s title and learned from the Webster’s online Dictionary that desiderium means “an ardent desire or longing,” especially “a feeling of loss or grief for something lost.” I think this sums up the book’s premise superbly. I received an advance review copy of the novel for free, and I am leaving this review VOLUNTARILY.
June 14, 2024
In her debut novel, Furxhi has created a poignant and beautiful love letter to the people, landscape, and culture of Albania. The sweeping hillsides, surrounding seas, the ever present espresso and rake combine to paint a picture of a county ravaged by war but mended by community. Her description of Albania across the years reflects a keen sense of observation, not only of place but of nuanced culture. Through this setting she effortlessly weaves three distinct characters, connected by place but separated by time. In these three women are threaded challenges of love, family, courage, and desire.
Furxhi’s eloquent prose uncovers the exotic in the mundane of daily life. Her nuanced descriptions remind us that every laugh of a lover, every windswept hillside, every quiet conversation with a family member is a moment of exquisite beauty to be cherished, if we only can see it. Indeed, the sentences that crystalize the human experience in a few words are the golden treasures tucked in the clefts of each chapter.
Wrapped in action, romance, and drama, Furxhi’s first book reminds us of the kinship found in the human condition and shows us that our ties to our past may not be buried as deeply as we think.
Furxhi’s eloquent prose uncovers the exotic in the mundane of daily life. Her nuanced descriptions remind us that every laugh of a lover, every windswept hillside, every quiet conversation with a family member is a moment of exquisite beauty to be cherished, if we only can see it. Indeed, the sentences that crystalize the human experience in a few words are the golden treasures tucked in the clefts of each chapter.
Wrapped in action, romance, and drama, Furxhi’s first book reminds us of the kinship found in the human condition and shows us that our ties to our past may not be buried as deeply as we think.
January 15, 2024
Desiderium: an intense desire or longing, especially a feeling of loss or grief for something lost.
The idea of Desiderium is emphasized in the descriptions of Albania: the natural landscape, the food, even the loud, dirty city is painted with vivid and luscious descriptions that make the idea of leaving seem hard, the yearning to stay in a time and a place and with the people you love, understandable. The descriptions give the characters, specifically three female protagonists who live and love in 1911, 1944, and 2001, purpose and resolve. A beautifully written foray into history.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The idea of Desiderium is emphasized in the descriptions of Albania: the natural landscape, the food, even the loud, dirty city is painted with vivid and luscious descriptions that make the idea of leaving seem hard, the yearning to stay in a time and a place and with the people you love, understandable. The descriptions give the characters, specifically three female protagonists who live and love in 1911, 1944, and 2001, purpose and resolve. A beautifully written foray into history.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 28, 2023
I really loved this book! Desiderium is the first book I've read that took place in Albania. The author transported me instantly and magically to not just one moment in time and place but three! And did so quite skillfully. Characters, both main and secondary, were well written - I found myself feeling what they felt, experiencing situations with them. I cried when they cried and rejoiced when they rejoiced. What a wonderful read! I highly and gladly recommend this book.
I received an advance revirw copy for free and I am lraving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance revirw copy for free and I am lraving this review voluntarily.
December 24, 2023
This was a beautifully written book about three strong women in Albania. Mira, in 1911, fought to free her country from the Ottoman rule. Val was a partisan guerrilla during WWII who worked alongside her brothers to fight the Nazis. Dita, in more recent times, was a museum curator with information passed down from her grandmother. The stories are engrossing and filled with rich historic detail and a wonderful sense of place. This was a fascinating read, and I look forward to hearing more from this author in the future.
March 18, 2025
I was lucky enough to meet the author in person at a local bookstore. Spanning about a hundred years, DESIDERIUM unveils the lives of three women bound by blood and divided by time who each fight for freedom in their own way. Rich in historical detail and cultural depth, this book brings to vivid life the many layers of Albanian society and contributes substantively to any understanding of how Europe clawed its way out of tyranny. Furxhi's characters are deftly drawn, her prose haunted along its edges by poetry, and her tendencies satisfyingly romantic.
March 27, 2024
Good historical fiction about three generations of women living in Albania.
As a United States citizen, I’d never given much thought to how our world history affected the people of Albania. The beautiful descriptions of this mountainous country put me right there with these three women — and gave me new historical perspectives to consider.
I enjoyed & appreciated this book!
As a United States citizen, I’d never given much thought to how our world history affected the people of Albania. The beautiful descriptions of this mountainous country put me right there with these three women — and gave me new historical perspectives to consider.
I enjoyed & appreciated this book!
May 16, 2024
This was a great read. We don’t hear about Albania and it’s history much not so we read of strong female characters in the region who fought for their country. This book has both. And the Author is so very good for her first book. Can’t wait for the next one!
February 4, 2024
While beautifully written, the jumping of different timeliness had me confused. This may have been my lack of concentration lately. Sometimes it's just not the right time to read certain books.
May 16, 2024
Beautifully written! I enjoyed the story and the attention to detail of the characters. Interesting read of Albanian history as well. Very impressive the book was self published by author.
November 8, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book set out to describe several periods in the recent history of Albania: the fight for freedom from the Ottoman Empire, the fight against the German occupation and life under the communist regime. There are loose connections between the three first person narrators but early on I found them all rather of a piece and not easy to distinguish.
Rather light and unconvincing. More thought could be given to the development of the characters.
This book set out to describe several periods in the recent history of Albania: the fight for freedom from the Ottoman Empire, the fight against the German occupation and life under the communist regime. There are loose connections between the three first person narrators but early on I found them all rather of a piece and not easy to distinguish.
Rather light and unconvincing. More thought could be given to the development of the characters.
February 5, 2024
This book was hard to follow at first as it kept bouncing between three different characters during three different time lines. Also there were a lot of Armenian words used that did not have translation without constantly looking in the back of the book. Towards the middle of the book, the characters started tying together, making it easier to follow and enjoy. It was an interesting Armenian historical fiction novel. If you like Armenian history or want to learn something that is different than what you’re used to, give this book a try.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 27, 2024
Desiderium tells the interwoven stories of 3 generations of Albanian women as each of their lives face upheaval.
Mira fights for an independent Albania from the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th Century, Vale fights as a guerilla in WW2 against the Axis powers and Dita (great, great and great neice respectively) meshes the past with her current as an archeologist in the early 21st Century to preserve Albanian treasures.
Chapters told in sequence by each woman we see first hand their loves, passions, despair and anguish.
This is a beautifully written novel, a highly recommended read. The only let down for me was that the ending felt abrupt.
Thanks to Book Sirens and the author Julie Furxhi for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews