Chasing a Croatian Girl: A Survivor's Tale

Croatian Saga #1

by Cody McClain Brown, Vladimir Cvetković Sever (Translator)

You probably came to Croatia because you saw an irresistible ad “Croatia is beautiful” or a trusted friend told you that it’s a place you can’t miss visiting this year. And they all were right, Croatia is all they say and more. However, if you only limit yourself to gazing over azure sea or visiting a bunch of old ruins, you will never find out how the real Croatians actually live amongst the bloody history of wars gone by and beauty of the land of sea and light.

However, Cody McClain Brown, not-so-average American guy who met a not-so-average Croatian girl and managed to woo her, (a lengthy affair that ended up in marriage) will tell you what life here is all about. There is the endless coffee-drinking, there are dangers of mysterious drafts that lurk behind every open window, there are mothers-in-law, ubiquitous pillars of society and the absolute importance of wearing slippers, but there is also the meaning of friendship and life being lived in a slower, more connected way. His insightful, humorous and open-minded anecdotes will make you feel as if you lived here, at least for a short while. And maybe make you wish to visit us again!

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Travel, Book Club, Memoir, Comedy, Contemporary

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Tonkica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evo od mene jedna petarda knjizi koja mi je baš trebala! Jednostavno je SIM-PI-CA!
Pronašla sam sebe, obitelj, prijatelje u ovim britkim viđenjima Hrvatske! Splićanima će biti i bliža.. No, mentalitet ručavanja, čini se.. Svuda je isti! :)
Napomena: preporuka za čitanje strancima, da se "upozore" u što su se uvalili! ;-)

[Ivana Sunjic · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOD. Where has this been all my life?

A little background: I am a member of the so-called 'Dijaspora', a former Yugoslavian who emigrated during the war in the 90s. I've lived with my family in Canada for over 20 years, and it is always hard to explain to friends here our unique idiosyncrasies. Why so many slippers by your door? They're papuce, for guests. Why can't we open the windows in the car? Because PROPUH. Why are you wearing an undershirt during summer? Otherwise I'll get kidney failure or I'll become infertile. How do you explain this to a North American?

I was in a local newsagent in Makarska with my mum when I came across this book. I think I read it in about a day, taking breaks between each chapter. I was laughing out loud, reading passages to my parents, and telling friends about this book. The author did SUCH a good job with this book, my only complaint is that it was too short! Afterwards, I followed his blog for more fun articles.

Mum went back about a month later and the book shop was sold out! We definitely need to order some in both English and Croatian to lend to our friends and family. Such a delightful read, well done Cody!

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the book when I went to sea. I would not burned in the sun, I found a nice shade and read it during breaks between swimming. Writer Cody McClain Brown described the people of Croatian just as we are. Although in some small things I would not agree with them, because I love to walk barefoot and in the evening dissolve all the windows in the house to catch a little draft after hellish hot day. I have to admit that in the book just brushed some things that Croatian people are doing. But definitely a writer we described what we are. Coffee is in our ritual worship, the draft is a big problem, and of the mother in law we do not want to talk to. Honestly I have not read the author's blog, but the book I really liked and well me laugh. It is good sometimes to see what others think about us Croats when they come to live with us. If you want to relax, laugh and enjoy reading, this is definitely the book for you.

[Marijan Šiško · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ova me knjiga podsjetila zašto mi je ikakva pomisao na selidbu odavde totalno mrska. U većini stvari totalno je pogodio-od darivanja, alkohola, plaćanja računa do papuča, i na žalost, propuha. generalizacije su, na žalost, u ovakvom štivu neizbježne, pa niti ne znam je li Cody svjestan da ima puno mladih ljudi koji znaju kuhati, ne žive na maminoj sisi, i ne boje se propuha. s druge strane, totalno ne razumijem amere da mogu u kući hodati u cipelama.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering this all happened in the early 2000s, I still find it pretty accurate and hilarious when comparing Croatian and American cultures.

I would recommend this to everyone, especially those with interests in Croatian culture or who know a Croat.

[Vedran Karlić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ako ste se ikada pitali kako stranci doživljavaju nas i našu kulturu – evo vam sjajne prilike. Autor je na sjajan način, uz vrlo naglašene stereotipe, iz vlastita iskustva, složio jednu duhovitu knjigu koja se vrlo brzo čita.

Bilo mi je super čitati o tom misterioznom propuhu kojeg se ovdje, bez obzira na kraj države, pribojavaju kao da ga je vrag osobno smislio. Pogodio je i s poklonima, kafenisanjem (kada bi to bio nacionalni sport ne bi nam bilo ravnih), a i s papučama.

Neću ulaziti dublje – svakako vam preporučam izdvojiti vrijeme za ovu knjigu. U mom slučaju je, uz spavanje, prošlo manje od 24 sata od kada sam počeo pa do kada sam završio.

PS: Dio iz knjige koji me nasmijao do suza (usput isprika sjevernim susjedima): Odmah sjeverno od te zemlje leži Slovenija, koja im dođe kao svojevrsna balkanska Kanada: Čišća. Hladnija, jadnija.

PSS: Hvala doktore, da nije bilo tvoje recenzije na goodreadsu ne bih nikada ni pogledao ovu knjigu. Srećom, bilo je tvoje recenzije :).

[Krbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Konačno nešto lepršavo, smiješno i vrlo zabavno.

Ponekad mi usfali malo optimistične literature, a ovo je baš to.
Cody je dobar i vrlo duhovit pisac koji odlično zapaža neke sitnice.

"Znam" ga već dugo jer sam se više puta kesio na njegovom, sada legendarnom, blogu (potražite zablogreb na internetu, a i ovdje imate link samo nađite Codyja - GR pisac je).

Neka vas ne smeta što se čovjek zaljubio, oženio i došao u HR, rezultat bi bio gotovo isti od Istanbula (tamo i je kratko bio) do Zagreba uz samo nešto drukčije lokalizme tako da slobodno pročitajte pa baš provjerite ovu moju tvrdnju. Kafić je kafić, rakija rakija, a komšija komšija.

Nekoliko puta sam morao odložiti Kindle da mi ne ispadne od cerekanja, a cijela knjižica je nestala u samo 2 čitanja.

Peticu nije dobio samo zbog 2-3 meni dosadnjikava (kratka) poglavlja no jako naginje ka njoj.

Vrlo pozitivno štivo koje preporučujem.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A baš sam se fino nasmijala. I pronašla u svim stvarima. Mogu samo zamisliti kakav je kulturalni šok doživio kada se prvi put pojavio u Hrvatskoj. I to među temperamentnim Splićanima. Baš mi je drago da je zavolio naš kraj do te mjere da ga smatra većim domom od Amerike.

[Demoness Tenebrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Full of humor and unavoidable truth.


"...There is the endless coffee-drinking, there are dangers of mysterious drafts that lurk behind every open window, there are mothers-in-law, ubiquitous pillars of society and the absolute importance of wearing slippers, but there is also the meaning of friendship and life being lived in a slower, more connected way..."


The author, Cody McClain Brown is an American who fell in love with a Croatian girl called Silvana. He met her in Oklahoma while they were both studying at the same University. At first he thought she was Russian (a common mistake I hear :) ) but when she corrected him and told him she was from Croatia, the author had to admit the lack of knowledge of the aforementioned country.

You see, the author envisioned Croatia as a post-communist, socialist, poor country torn by war where the girls walk around looking like peasant girls with kerchiefs on their heads and the buildings are all grey and warned down by time and neglect.

Let's just say that this wrong perception created a little gap between him and his future wife. After some chasing and pleading and a lot of patience, he managed to woo her and they flew to Europe. They lived and worked in Istanbul for two years before they moved to Croatia.

The first visit to Croatia for the author had been more than enlightening. He visited the city called Split, one of the largest cities along the Croatian coast. Split is a city filled with history, music, homemade food, kind people, beautiful women and a view on one of the cleanest and most beautiful seas in the world called the Adriatic Sea. This is the city where his wife was born and where his in-laws lived.

The author learned just how wrong he was about Croatia. He learned of our culture and our origins that go back to the seventh century a.d. He learned of our customs that some still don't make any sense to him. He learned of our fears and strong bonds we share with our friends and neighbors. He learned just how much a mother-in-law (punica) means to our families. He learned how to be a good father in this foreign country. But most of all, he learned how easy it was to call it home.


I find this book a perfect guide for all the foreigners who wish to learn more about Croatia and/or want to visit it. It is easy to read and understand. It has helpful tips and advices. Through humorous anecdotes the author gives readers a feeling like they have lived here in Croatia at least through the length of the book.

I learned a few things myself. Mostly about the American customs I wasn't aware of. About their too pushy so-called kindness while entering restaurants or their lack of good coffee shops. Through this book I also learned to appreciate my country more and see it from a different perspective.

I would recommend this book to everyone who is willing to learn more, laugh along the way and start to appreciate little things we take for granted. The author made a great success with his blog called Zablogreb which I read since it started where he made similar remarks as he did in this book. So, if you like this book I recommend going through his blog and vice versa. I'm sure you will enjoy every single word :)

[Učitaj se! | Martina Štivičić · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dok je studirao na koledžu u Tulsi, Oklahoma, SAD, Cody McClain Brown upoznao je Vanu, Hrvaticu koja je tamo bila jedna od studenata na razmjeni. Znajući da je Vana iz Hrvatske, ali ne baš sasvim točno i gdje se ta Hrvatska nalazi, te sastavivši u svojoj glavi pogrešnu sliku te zemlje, Cody je uvjeren da će Vanu lako osvojiti svojim američkim šarmom, ali to ne ispadne uopće tako. Srećom, Cody ne posustaje tako lako, pa za Vanom putuje u New York i Istambul, te na kraju i u Hrvatsku, u koju se također zaljubljuje, te na koncu postaje i hrvatski zet.

O svojim je doživljajima upoznavanja Vane i njezine zemlje, kao i o svojim kasnijim doživljajima kao hrvatskog zeta, Cody napisao ovu kratku autobiografsku knjižicu, koja na iznimno duhovit i zabavan način opisuje sve naše luckaste i još luckastije običaje na koji smo svi mi već odavno navikli, a koji, gledani iz perspektive jednog stranca, zaista djeluju onako kakvi zapravo i jesu - prilično šašavi.

O hrvatskim običajima ispijanja kave, nedjeljnog ručka, čuvanja od zloglasnog propuha, zaziranja od hodanja bosih nogu i još mnogo drugih pravila koja se kod nas podrazumijevaju u ovoj se knjižici nalaze vrlo duhovite priče, u kojima će se svatko od nas prepoznati ili se barem prisjetiti neke od rečenica koje smo svi čuli bar jednom u životu od svojih baka, roditelja ili koga drugoga - rečenice poput 'Ne idi van mokre kose', 'Ne hodaj bos po golome podu', 'Ne sjedi na propuhu', itd.

Zanimljivo je čitati o svim tim duhovitim prikazima procesa prilagodbe na drugačiji način življenja, i onaj u kojem se Cody polagano navikava na splitske običaje (ili kasnije, i zagrebačke), ali i onaj u kojem njegova hrvatska obitelj posjećuje SAD i susreće se s tamošnjim običajima.

Najviše mi se, ipak, svidjela priča o propuhu, kojeg zaista samo mi na našem području doživljavamo kao nešto opasno, dok ostatak svijeta propuh uopće ne zabrinjava. I u ove ljetne dane, dok i sama pokušavam stvoriti propuh u stanu, ne bi li malo osvježio ovu nesnosnu vrućinu, često se sjetim naslovnog propuha iz ove knjige, i svaki mi put on izmami smiješak na usne. A takvih je zabavnih priča, kojih ćete se uvijek rado prisjećati, ova knjiga puna!

Duža recenzija je na FB stranici.

[Vivone Os · Rating 4 out of 5]

KUMSKI BOOK CLUB 2018 - 4
Baš sam se nasmijala. Nikad nisam razmišljala da drugima naše sjedenje na kavi izgleda čudno. Ili recimo propuh, propuh uzimam zdravo za gotovo. Kad je propuh, zatvaraju se vrata, prozori…. a Cody sad kaže da propuh ne postoji. Hahahaha wtf?!?! A papuče mi je nekako normalno nositi. Kad gledamo američke filmove ili serije, oni svi po kući hodaju u cipelama, a sad on priča da vole hodati bosi. Ispada da smo mi Hrvati ono ultra ekstra uber ajme zimogrozni. Što se tiče ručka, mogu shvatiti da Amerima zajednički obroci nisu toliko bitni, ali mislim da je malo preuveličao Vidinu brigu. Na kraju knjige i navodi da je u nekim opisima malo i pretjerao.
Također su me neke stvari rastužile. Recimo, svjesna sam dugačkih redova i čekanja gdje god da odeš. I to me frustrira. Ali kad je on opisao kako se to rješava u Americi, da nema redova, a kad se i stvore, onda svi djelatnici dolaze u pomoć da se red raščisti. Pitam se je li tamo zaista tako. Ne mogu si to zamisliti. Utopija. Također me rastužila i činjenica da je i jedan stranac morao doživjeti hrvatski fenomen zapošljavanja preko veze. I da taj fenomen uopće postoji.
Ali skice!!! Čovjek je radio skice da dočara ono što piše! Urnebesno! Pogotovo skice koje objašnjavaju propuh!!!!
Knjiga je zabavna, iako sam kako su je reklamirali očekivala da bude još zabavnija. Potaknula me je da se zamislim nad našim običajima i bilo mi je zanimljivo pročitati kako ih vidi netko sa strane.

[Megha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, what a delightfully funny book! Why don't they make more of these? Or have I been reading the wrong ones? *sigh*

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Šaljivi prikaz razlika između Hrvatske i SAD, veoma zabavno, smiješno i perceptivno, najviše se govori o Hrvatskoj i moram se složiti s gotovo svim njevim zapažanjima. Preporučam.

[Pages of Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Anthony Stancomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for anyone wanting to get to the heart of Croatia, and a guide to the problems of living and working there.
It is certainly the only book about the subject that has managed to encapsulate the country and the people. And the great bonus is that it’s very funny. It has it’s serious side, but most of it is extremely entertain tales about the author’s experiences.
It’s rare for a book by an outsider who has not made an exhaustive study of a nation to do this, but just as Bill Bryson wrote the best book ever to be written about the English, so Cody Brown has done the same with Croatia.
At times he writes a commentary in the first person, but for much of the time he portrays the people by describing events that happen in his own family of in-laws and to others around him.
There seems to be an Anglo-Saxon tradition of humorous travel writing – Bill Bryson, Eric Newby, Gerald Durrell, and this is a book in that tradition.
With a lightness of touch of an experienced writer, Brown is able to covey the upsides and the downsides of Croatian life – their aspirations, their fierce loyalty, their fatalism, and above all their stubbornness. And to give things their perspective, he contrasts life there with life in America.
The book is written with a clearness and self-deprecating charm, and surprisingly, he manages to wrap everything in an unfolding story of his meeting his wife in the US, their courtship and their eventual moving to Croatia, giving it a narrative arch that keeps one wanting to know what happens next.
I think the book will be not only a perennial handbook for visitors to Croatia but certainly a handbook for those marrying into a Croatian family.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Čula sam odlične kritike za ovu knjigu i slažem se, knjiga je živi smijeh.
Do 40. str. tražila sam maramicu, do kraja knjige muž se ozbiljno zabrinuo za mene, pitajući se koji je to vrag ušao u mene da se toliko smijem. :)
Dakle, Amer u Hrvatskoj. Mislim da je dovoljno smiješan pojam Hrvat u Hrvatskoj, ali Amer...hilarious! Na spomen ispijanja kave, punice i propuha doslovno lom. :)

[Original Doll (Lea Martinuš) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sve što ću reći za sada jest da je ova knjiga genijalna, lik je car i knjiga ide na moju policu favorita (što se ne događa često). Bravo, svaka čast! Recenzija uskoro.... ;)
***********************************************************************

Ovo je moje otkriće godine, najbolja knjiga ljetos za opuštanje i najveće iznenađenje ikad!

Iako duboko skeptična prema knjigama koje opisuju hrvatsku svakodnevicu i društvo, nije trebalo dugo da popustim nagovorima te nabavim ovu knjigu. Uz obećanja da je zabavna i da mi ne će biti krivo, pronašla je mjesto na mojoj polici gdje će, kako sam isprva mislila, čekati neka bolja vremena i priliku za čitanje. Već sljedeće noći me tokom čitanja jedne teške i opsežne knjige uhvatio umor pa sam odlučila prolistati “Propuh, papuče i punicu” u potrazi za kakvim smiješnim ulomkom prije spavanja. To i nije bila najbolja ideja jer sam provela ostatak noći čitajući ovu knjigu i urlajući od smijeha.

“Propuh, papuče i punica” knjiga je koja opisuje život jednog Amerikanca u Hrvatskoj a kroz svako poglavlje na urnebesno smiješan način ističe velike kulturološke razlike između tih zemalja, s naglaskom da mu se život u Hrvatskoj ipak više sviđa. Uz pojmove navedene u naslovu, komentira i ostale stvari koje se uvelike razlikuju ovdje i u njegovoj rodnoj zemlji, poput kave, susjeda, doktora, kupanja u moru, uslužnosti konobara, vitrina za darove koji se poklanjaju dalje, redova u banci i slično.

Cody je svoju ženu, rođenu Splićanku (za koji je bio uvjeren da je Ruskinja, jer to je njima sve isto), upoznao za vrijeme studija u Oklahomi. Po završetku studija sele se u Split, a pošto on dugo nije mogao pronaći posao, živjeli su zajedno s punicom. Upravo ga punica naučila da propuh ubija, da papuče mora nositi uvijek, pa i ljeti (a jedina obuća koju bi Cody ljeti nosio su sandale za more, radi ježeva, ali to su mu izričito zabranili, što mu nikada nije bilo jasno) i mnoge druge stvari. Kava se ne prodaje negdje usput u litraži, nego je pojam za druženje, susjedi ne samo da se poznaju i pozdravljaju nego i pomažu jedno drugom, kada netko ide ulicom prema tebi, ne znači da će te opljačkati…

Cody je život u Americi i Hrvatskoj opisao relano, a usporedbe su fantastične – jako je duhovit pa knjigu jednostavno ne možete ispustiti iz ruku. Prava uživancija za ljeto i duge vikende. Ja sam je danima nosila sa sobom u torbici i ljudima čitala najdraže ulomke, a moj potpisani primjerak je prošao kroz mnogo ruku. Već dugo me neko štivo nije toliko razveselilo i nasmijalo, pogotovo ilustracije koje je autor napravio kako bi čim bolje opisao o čemu priča.

Jedna od onih knjiga koju će rado čitati cijela obitelj, iz koje možete čitati ulomke naglas ili jednostavno zaviriti u knjigu po malo smijeha, ali i da se podsjetite kako život u Hrvatskoj i nije tako loš, a Amerika koja slovi kao obećana zemlja vrlo je hladna, svatko se brine za sebe i gleda svoja posla.

Kako nam je i Cody sam istaknuo za vrijeme našeg susreta, htio je napisati knjigu o Hrvatskoj koja nije turistički vodič ili priča o ratu te približiti stranicama blagodati življenja u našoj zemlji. Uz ovu knjigu prepunu zabavnih usporedbi i primjera, u potpunosti je uspio u svom naumu – preporučila sam svima da je pročitaju, čak je i prijateljima van lijepe naše dostupna engleska verzija ove knjige pod nazivom “Chasing a Croatian Girl”. Svakako nabavite ovu knjigu i želim vam puno zabave i smijeha.

[Zuzana Kuczyński · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wore [the slippers I was pushed into] out of politeness for about five minutes before kicking them off and strolling around in my socks. Then my feet seemed to pick up an echo. With each step I heard a voice say: “Ti si bos” (you are barefoot). “Ti si bos”, in the living room. “Ti si bos”, in the kitchen. “TI SI BOS! BOŽE MOJ!” on the balcony.

Quite a funny memoir about an American starting to live in Croatia. I bought the book in Dubrovnik to get to know Croatian ways of life a little more, and so now I know many things are very similar to Czech quirks.

I’m also always pushed into wearing slippers, drafts and sitting on cold surfaces also cause our ovaries to freeze (or so I was told in my childhood), outside of Prague there’s also often the need for having connections to get jobs and prestige is shown in what cars you drive. But then of course a lot of things are so very different and now I can see that what annoyed me during my stay in Croatia annoys or surprises others too. In the end inevitably it was also a broader comparison between the US and Europe.

Overall I’d recommend this little book, especially if you want to learn a few cultural details. Now I’m just grateful I don’t have to deal with a Croatian punica (mother-in-law). 😜

[Marija K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

hahaha...this was highly amusing, very accurate and a great read if you want to get familiar with most of the the croatian lifestyle. I was pretty much reading everything I was taught to as a kid growing up. Good insight on how foreigners perceive us Croatians. I can't even point out the best part, maybe with propuh the murderous wind!! hahha that was a good one... anyway will definitely recommend it as a funny yet very educative guide on what to expect when being thrown into our colorful customs, beliefs and everyday life :D
with all that being said idemo na kavu :)

[Meteori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ova knjiga je pročitana zahvaljujući recenziji prijatelja Krbe. Bilo je uživanje i hvala ti na tome. :)

Opušteno, lagano štivo i na momente zaista smiješno. A cijelo vrijeme je zabavno čak i za one koji ne žive u Hrvatskoj jer priznaćete da propuh, papuče i punicu možete poistovjetiti sa cijelom ex-Yu.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Have to say, hate this cover on Goodreads, the version I have is so much nicer.]

Considering this all happened in the early 2000s, I still find it pretty accurate and hilarious when comparing Croatian and American cultures.

I would recommend this to everyone, especially those with interests in Croatian culture or who know a Croat.

[Emina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baš mi je prijalo. Duhovito, toplo, podsjetilo me zašto nisam ostala tamo negdje...gdje sam boravila par godina, nego sam odlučila da se vratim kući.
check lista:
- papuče +
- komšije kod kojih odem po šolju šećera kad mi je mrsko skoknuti do prodavnice +
- strah od propuha +
- ispijanje kafe, (iz male šoljice) uz višesatno šupljiranje sa prijateljicama +
- ručak kao centralni događaj dana i svojevrsni ritual +
- gotovo nerazumna povezanost sa rodnim gradom +
-dobronamjerni savjeti rodbine, prijatelja, komšija, poznanika, prolaznika itd.. po gotovo svim privatnim i ličnim pitanjima +
- prijateljstvo ++
............
- nezaposlenst +
- loš standard +
- birokratija ++
- strah od crnih BMW i Audija +
Ima naravno tih + i - stvarčica, jedna poduža lista, ali kad stavim na vagu ipak znam gdje mi je dom i gdje je meni najljepše. E ova knjiga me podsjetila na sve te sitnice i zato vrijedi čitanja.
Mislim da je mogu u potpunosti razumjeti samo ljudi sa naših prostora, jer zamišljam nekog Danca, Nijemaca, Amerikanca kako čita i pita se o čemu ovaj čovjek priča :D

[Deniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Od srca preporučam ljudima koji žele pročitat nešto pozitivno i nasmijat se :)

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a charming gem this random pick by me turned out to be.
hysterical!
engaging writing w/tons of laugh out loud observations.
the book vaguely touches on how the writer & his wife met & their relationship. it is more about the cultural differences b/w American & Croatians he noticed once he became a Croatian by marriage.
Great points. Good observations.
Very sweet love story of his family & the country that became his new home.

While that country & area was on my list of places i want to see, i have now moved it up the list.
and once all this madness has ended, i really hope i will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful places he describes.

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo Cody, sjajna knjiga! Jednostavna, ali zanimljiva i urnebesno duhovita. Bas mi je drago da si postao splitski zet :)

[Ivka_daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps I would not have rated this book five stars, had I not emigrated Croatia. This book gave me pinches of noatalgia, but mostly of Croatia that no longer exists, one where people were not so impoverished and bitter.

The book overflowed me with longing when it described warm coffee coffee shops filled with conversation during the cold, dark, winter nights - that's perhaps one thing I miss the most. It managed to evoke the memory of Zagreb during my childhood - one filled with kids' laughter and play, not trash and rats.

Perhaps the author didn't want to dwell deeper into some darker stuff about Croatian mentality, because whether he felt it wouldn't be appropiate that he as American did (yes, you can, you are completely Croatinised lol) or wanted to keep the light tone. However, not speaking of Croatian entitlement, envy, backwardness, false sense of superiroriry (which is bit supported among Croatians by things like this book lol), destroyed Croatian economy and terrible social atmosphere, that is mostly due to poverty and nepotism. Perhaps all this themes could be contained and explored in the dark-humuored sequel to this book that represents 2000's and early 2010's of Croatian mentality.

Until then, I will sometimes think of the place I used to call home, but dread ever coming back.

[Sanja_Sanjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, funny and entertaining..if you want to know some crazy, but so charming things about Croatia and the everyday life, read this.

[saša · Rating 5 out of 5]

chasing a croatian girl: 4.5/5

ovo je bilo jako, jako zabavno.

[Jena Koskinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the perfect book before leaving to live in Croatia for a year

[Valentina Markasović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hits the nail right on the head.