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Grumpy in Belgrade
A collection of assorted strangeness as observed and undergone by one American living in Belgrade for many years. Grumpy in Belgrade (http://christenfarmer.wordpress.com/g...) contains original works as well as blogs, columns, and essays which have previously appeared on his B92 VIP blog, in Politika, on http://www.livinginbelgrade.com, and in the bi-weekly newspaper, Belgrade Insight, among others.
“This book,” says the author under the condition of anonymity, “is perfect for anyone with a wobbly table to prop up or too many old magazines in the bathroom.”
“This book,” says the author under the condition of anonymity, “is perfect for anyone with a wobbly table to prop up or too many old magazines in the bathroom.”
- GenresTravelNonfiction
214 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Chris Farmer
5 books21 followersCHRIS FARMER is an international author. His latest novel, Passing GO, was published in 2024 in Serbia and has sold all around the world.
He was born and brought up in Iowa (US) and has lived in Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, England, Germany, Serbia, and the Philippines. He has also worked in China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria. As well as being a writer, he is also a university professor, brand consultant, and life coach.
He has authored numerous blogs on communications and branding and is the author of five books including a collection of poetry, Water Music, published in 2012 (as TM Tamish).
Today, Chris Farmer has settled in the Philippines where he continues to write, teach, consult, and coach.
He was born and brought up in Iowa (US) and has lived in Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, England, Germany, Serbia, and the Philippines. He has also worked in China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria. As well as being a writer, he is also a university professor, brand consultant, and life coach.
He has authored numerous blogs on communications and branding and is the author of five books including a collection of poetry, Water Music, published in 2012 (as TM Tamish).
Today, Chris Farmer has settled in the Philippines where he continues to write, teach, consult, and coach.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 28, 2017
As a Belgrade native I find this book most interesting and amusing mostly because of the comparisons of the Anglo-Saxon to Slavic sensibilities. In order to fully appreciate this book one has to ether be a native or spend an extended period of time in Serbia. The author made sure to explain all of the situations he encountered in order to show the great comedy that is reality, but he was strangely silent when it came to politics (probably because he would need a second book to serve just as foot notes), so his chapter on politics unfortunately won't be much enjoyed by the uninitiated.
November 10, 2014
On a grumpiness scale of 1 to 10, this book is somewhere around 256.
This is a perfect read for those of us who consider ourselves open-minded, as, quite frankly, the book sheds light on some of the grumpiest corners of existing in Serbia. If you think there can be no surprises for the veterans of surviving in this country, think again: the truth shall not only set you free, but it will also make you blush and laugh.
Chris provides a versatile spectrum of greyness from a uniquely honest standpoint. If ever there was a book with so many shades of vivid grey, this is it. The most mundane and dreary of situations become hilariously entertaining, and the very next time you find yourselves in one, having read this book will make you laugh instead of curse, yell or violently destroy an innocent object.
In order to understand the stories properly, you might want to follow the example of professor Keating and read it standing on a desk. Or perhaps the more suitable approach would be to read it while hanging upside down from a tree, preferably while it’s raining, to achieve the appropriate level of grumpiness.
Simply put: set your presumptions aside and you’ll laugh yourself silly.
This is a perfect read for those of us who consider ourselves open-minded, as, quite frankly, the book sheds light on some of the grumpiest corners of existing in Serbia. If you think there can be no surprises for the veterans of surviving in this country, think again: the truth shall not only set you free, but it will also make you blush and laugh.
Chris provides a versatile spectrum of greyness from a uniquely honest standpoint. If ever there was a book with so many shades of vivid grey, this is it. The most mundane and dreary of situations become hilariously entertaining, and the very next time you find yourselves in one, having read this book will make you laugh instead of curse, yell or violently destroy an innocent object.
In order to understand the stories properly, you might want to follow the example of professor Keating and read it standing on a desk. Or perhaps the more suitable approach would be to read it while hanging upside down from a tree, preferably while it’s raining, to achieve the appropriate level of grumpiness.
Simply put: set your presumptions aside and you’ll laugh yourself silly.
March 18, 2016
I was fairly entertained by this collection of blog posts and essays. It's rather cynical and ironic and eloquent and those are all things I like about it. It's also quite true and observant and says something about daily life in Belgrade, that is, about Serbia in general. As such, it would probably not be so relatable to anyone who wasn't born here or at least lived here for a while.
December 28, 2021
Chris demonstrates his grumpiness in such a humorous and vivid manner that I felt like I was watching a play rather than reading a book! As a foreigner in Belgrade too myself, I can totally relate to almost all of the scenarios in his book, yet Chris has provided me another prospective of looking at things around me. Enjoyed reading so much of Grumpy in Belgrade that I went on bought another book of his - Living Brands! Happy reading everyone!
June 30, 2024
MUST READ BOOK 💯💯💯
March 24, 2019
I just love the book! The ironic writing is very catchy. The observations also apply for other nations (ex: romanians)
September 26, 2023
Just perfect! 🤍
August 15, 2017
Just finished reading "grumpy in Belgrade" book by Chris Farmer
The author is former blogger, who posts articles every now and then regarding his daily life. In this book he has gathered most of the articles that are related to his living in Belgrade and published them in a book.
The book has 5 sections, each has different articles, when reading them even if they're referred to Belgrade yet you feel you're facing the same. Specially the consumers chapter and the incidents with the sales clerks.
There are several articles which weren't interesting at all specially the politics ones, whoever reading them in the funny way of the author made them less boring.
An interesting book to read overall.
15.08.2017
The author is former blogger, who posts articles every now and then regarding his daily life. In this book he has gathered most of the articles that are related to his living in Belgrade and published them in a book.
The book has 5 sections, each has different articles, when reading them even if they're referred to Belgrade yet you feel you're facing the same. Specially the consumers chapter and the incidents with the sales clerks.
There are several articles which weren't interesting at all specially the politics ones, whoever reading them in the funny way of the author made them less boring.
An interesting book to read overall.
15.08.2017
August 4, 2019
Belgrade holds a special place in my heart, so I enjoy reading about this wonderful city - in particular from a foreigner's perspective. I mention this because if you are of a similar view then you will likely enjoy and laugh while reading this book. If you have never visited Serbia and Belgrade specifically, you may well end up feel like you are over-hearing someone else's joke when you don't get the context. If you know this city, read this book, if not I'd suggest booking your next holiday in Serbia instead. This isn't a long read - it's a series of posts, and as such I suggest reading it in snippets (handy to keep in the WC ...).
March 4, 2017
A book that attempts to be both funny (really, CAPS LOCK funny) while giving you an inkling about life in Belgrade.
Two admirable goals, two admirable failures.
The humour is brazen&bludgeoning to the point where it is tasteless in places.
Some parts of the book aren't particularly relevant to Belgrade, and of the others that are, I judge about ten percent give an accurate idea of whatever is being described (as much as is possible in this kind of book).
The Foreword is poorly edited. The entries used to be part of a blog series, which perhaps explains the quality of the writing.
If you still end up in possession of this book, I would recommend the following chapters. Skipping the rest will save you time that's better spent reading about Belgrade, Serbia, and Serbs elsewhere. Indeed, to understand Serbian politics, follow President Trump's travails in office and you'll get a fairly accurate idea. The book has about 200 pages; most chapters are a page or two long.
Recommended chapters in order of appearance:
"This is Serbia"
Honestly Speaking
Mind your Manners, Please
Of Women and Men's Rooms
Extending and Distending
Oh Yeah. Thanks.
Fighting Words
The Guns of Midnight
Welcome to Here!
Tales of Retail Retold
Loan Gunman
No Change
Sever Putting Watch
Low Stakes Game
Getting Around
Reasons Not to Speak Serbian: An Annotated List
Novak the Magnificent?
How Things Should Be
Two admirable goals, two admirable failures.
The humour is brazen&bludgeoning to the point where it is tasteless in places.
Some parts of the book aren't particularly relevant to Belgrade, and of the others that are, I judge about ten percent give an accurate idea of whatever is being described (as much as is possible in this kind of book).
The Foreword is poorly edited. The entries used to be part of a blog series, which perhaps explains the quality of the writing.
If you still end up in possession of this book, I would recommend the following chapters. Skipping the rest will save you time that's better spent reading about Belgrade, Serbia, and Serbs elsewhere. Indeed, to understand Serbian politics, follow President Trump's travails in office and you'll get a fairly accurate idea. The book has about 200 pages; most chapters are a page or two long.
Recommended chapters in order of appearance:
"This is Serbia"
Honestly Speaking
Mind your Manners, Please
Of Women and Men's Rooms
Extending and Distending
Oh Yeah. Thanks.
Fighting Words
The Guns of Midnight
Welcome to Here!
Tales of Retail Retold
Loan Gunman
No Change
Sever Putting Watch
Low Stakes Game
Getting Around
Reasons Not to Speak Serbian: An Annotated List
Novak the Magnificent?
How Things Should Be
April 4, 2025
Ostin tän kirjan Belgradista ja näin jo alle 10 vuoden päästä luinkin sen. Odotin kirjalta enemmän kiinnostavia nostoja paikallisesta elämästä. Nyt sitä oli vain jonkin verran. Osa teksteistä ei tuntunut liittyvän Serbiaan mitenkään, vaan olivat yleisiä ajatuksia asioista tai ilmiöistä. Valitettavan pitkästyttävä luettavaksi, vaikka tekstit olivatkin lyhyitä.
April 2, 2016
I liked this book a lot.
It had the exact amount of humor I needed it to have and it was both informing and described the truth.
I spent two days in Belgrade and I related so much to most of the content of this book.
I didn't like though the references to politics (this "chapter" was about 35 to 40) and was so bored during and could not understand all of it because it made references to Serbian politics which I of-course did not know.
I give this book 3,5/5 stars because of the humorous descriptions the writer made and the irony he used to tell his experiences and stories.
It had the exact amount of humor I needed it to have and it was both informing and described the truth.
I spent two days in Belgrade and I related so much to most of the content of this book.
I didn't like though the references to politics (this "chapter" was about 35 to 40) and was so bored during and could not understand all of it because it made references to Serbian politics which I of-course did not know.
I give this book 3,5/5 stars because of the humorous descriptions the writer made and the irony he used to tell his experiences and stories.
November 27, 2015
It's a great book for those who've spent some time in Belgrade -- but for anyone that's just spent a couple days, or who doesn't know the country's history, or simply can't get the references, this one probably won't keep your interest.
November 7, 2017
Self recommending, for me at least. Lots to identify with and chuckle about. But it made me appreciate Momo Kapor all the more.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews