What do you think?
Rate this book
The Magic of Belgrade
For over fifty years, Belgrade has provided a constant source of inspiration for the writer and painter Momo Kapor. In hisstories, essays and sketches, as well as in the highly refined strokes of his pen, he has been trying to discover wht it is that actually constitutes the magic of Belgrade. This book consists of stories and fragments, of anecdotes and of strange biographies of the inhabitants of this city which have beene selected from a few of the forty-plus books produced by this author of bestsellers translated into numerous languages. All these texts attempt to determine what it is that makes this city different from others - in a nutshell, what is that thing known as the spirit of Belgrade.
390 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
50 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Momo Kapor
123 books270 followersMomčilo "Momo" Kapor was a Serbian novelist, painter, and short story writer. Several successful films have been based upon his novels.
Born in Sarajevo in 1937. He graduated the painting in 1961 at the Belgrade Academy of Fine Arts under Professor Nedeljko Gvozdenovic. He has published many titles, novels and collections of stories. He has a large number of documentary films and television shows, all according to his screenplays, as well as several feature films (Almonds Beyond Death, Banquet (film), Walter Defends Sarajevo, Jolly DJ, End the Weekend). Una and The Book of Complaints were adapted as such. They have been translated into French, German, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Slovenian and Swedish.
Dobrica Cosic, in his book "Friends," on pages 276 and 277 describes the childhood and youth of Momo Kapor, based on the talks he had with him in November 2002. "On the 13 of April 1941, The Germans bombed Sarajevo and hit the building below Trebenica in which the Kapor's mother had hid with her 4-year old son. In the collapsed house, everybody was dead. Moma's mother saved her son with her own body. The boy somehow pulled out from the rubble, moaned and fell into scilence from the speechless horror of not knowing where to be. He was found by a Russian, an emigrant, a doctor, who took pity on him and took him to his apartment, adopting him, as he had no children. He nurtured him, loved him, filled him with toys to forget his mother and drove him around Sarajevo in a white Mercedes. The boy knew that his name was Momcilo, but not his surname. The good Russian gave him a good name, Momcilo Hercegovac. After a year of life with the good man, Momcilo Hercegovac fell ill with scarlet fever, so his savior took him to the Sarajevo hospital. There he was found by his maternal aunt for she had been looking for him the previous year all round Sarajevo, being informed by someone earlier on that there was "a child that got out of the destroyed house, where a man took him with him." When the boy recuperated from scarlet fever, his grandmother took him to her house and took care of him. Momcilo Hercegovac was cared for by the Russian as well, who joined vlasovcima-collaborators of the Germans, often visiting him with gifts. His father was, upon returning from captivity and being a banking expert, set up in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade. However, his patriotic conscience and responsibilities led to the passage of a whole year after the war before he came to Sarajevo to see his son. He treated his son in a strict patriarchal manner and was dissatisfied that his son dedicated himself to painting and literature, a life of social and material uncertainty "
He died in Belgrade on the 3. of March 2010. at the Military Medical Academy.
Born in Sarajevo in 1937. He graduated the painting in 1961 at the Belgrade Academy of Fine Arts under Professor Nedeljko Gvozdenovic. He has published many titles, novels and collections of stories. He has a large number of documentary films and television shows, all according to his screenplays, as well as several feature films (Almonds Beyond Death, Banquet (film), Walter Defends Sarajevo, Jolly DJ, End the Weekend). Una and The Book of Complaints were adapted as such. They have been translated into French, German, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Slovenian and Swedish.
Dobrica Cosic, in his book "Friends," on pages 276 and 277 describes the childhood and youth of Momo Kapor, based on the talks he had with him in November 2002. "On the 13 of April 1941, The Germans bombed Sarajevo and hit the building below Trebenica in which the Kapor's mother had hid with her 4-year old son. In the collapsed house, everybody was dead. Moma's mother saved her son with her own body. The boy somehow pulled out from the rubble, moaned and fell into scilence from the speechless horror of not knowing where to be. He was found by a Russian, an emigrant, a doctor, who took pity on him and took him to his apartment, adopting him, as he had no children. He nurtured him, loved him, filled him with toys to forget his mother and drove him around Sarajevo in a white Mercedes. The boy knew that his name was Momcilo, but not his surname. The good Russian gave him a good name, Momcilo Hercegovac. After a year of life with the good man, Momcilo Hercegovac fell ill with scarlet fever, so his savior took him to the Sarajevo hospital. There he was found by his maternal aunt for she had been looking for him the previous year all round Sarajevo, being informed by someone earlier on that there was "a child that got out of the destroyed house, where a man took him with him." When the boy recuperated from scarlet fever, his grandmother took him to her house and took care of him. Momcilo Hercegovac was cared for by the Russian as well, who joined vlasovcima-collaborators of the Germans, often visiting him with gifts. His father was, upon returning from captivity and being a banking expert, set up in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade. However, his patriotic conscience and responsibilities led to the passage of a whole year after the war before he came to Sarajevo to see his son. He treated his son in a strict patriarchal manner and was dissatisfied that his son dedicated himself to painting and literature, a life of social and material uncertainty "
He died in Belgrade on the 3. of March 2010. at the Military Medical Academy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 30, 2020
Не бях впечатлен, за съжаление. Сега, години след прочита на тази книга мога да изстискам от паметта си единствено голямата любов на автора към Белград.
Подарих моето копие на читалище "Светлина" в София.
Подарих моето копие на читалище "Светлина" в София.
March 15, 2019
I loved this book, and cannot recommend it highly enough. I received a copy as a gift from a Serbian Goodreads friend. I had not heard of the author before – but will now keep an eye open for more of his books in English translation.
This is not a book to rush – rather one to savour. I would start each day with a ration of 2 – 3 short chapters (each a couple of pages long) to get myself in the right mood for beginning work, and was rather upset when the book – and my ritual – came to an end. That was over a week ago now. Every time I sat down to write a review, I would pick up the book – and start reading it again! The review would have to wait.
The idea of the book is summed up in the chapter called “Belgrade is the World”: “Belgrade is in all those Belgraders who still cannot or dare not come back. … Belgrade is not in Belgrade, as Belgrade, actually, is not a city – it is a metaphor, a way of life, an angle of looking at things”.
Momo Kapor captures the spirit of Belgrade: its inhabitants and their unique characteristics (individuals and general types), the smells, the habits, the dichotomies – in short all the things that you might associate with Belgraders, if you lived there – but to which outsiders and tourists would likely be oblivious.
There is one chapter (“Belgrade in Half an Hour”) which might – at a stretch – be a short tourist guide, as the author takes a visitor along Kralja Petra street, from the Sava to the Danube, past buildings from different eras, and of different civilisations, all of which have left their mark on Belgrade: “I see this modest street as a true lesson in tolerance and friendship”. It is also a very short history of Belgrade in four and a half pages.
Throughout there is culinary thread with chapters on Cabbage, Roast Lamb, Winter Feasts, Pastries, Fish Chowder… It starts with the all-pervasive smell of pickled cabbage (“Cabbage is a must! Indispensable for sarma with spare ribs, for the sautéed sauerkraut called podvark, for pasta squares with sautéed cabbage …”) – onto tripe, pigs trotters (two dishes that I love, but find almost impossible to get in London), Srpska Salat, then the Turkish, French and Viennese pastry shops. There are several recipes. I fully intend to try making the vanilla cookies, but will probably give Isa the Unlucky’s fish chowder a miss.
There are chapters on the grumbling old men with their nagging wives, the bold and beautiful modern women who have thrown off the shackles of their mothers, the eccentrics, the Belgraders living elsewhere in the world, who come home to visit, the markets and the Kevas.
“Kevas are elderly and somewhat fat women of small stature … who carry on their shoulders not only the entire household, but also the family, life and the world…”. They seem like a cross between a Dobby house elf (“only very rarely are they given presents”) and a repository of traditional and wholesome Serbian cuisine, that is fast disappearing.
And there is so much more! As well as the excellent prose, the author has illustrated the book with his own line drawings. I particularly like the drawings of the old people, with their character stamped onto their faces.
The book pulls together five decades of Momo Kapor’s writings on Belgrade – a city that has undoubtably changed a lot over that period. Because there are no dates attached to each chapter, it is sometimes difficult for me – as a foreigner – to workout the timeline and background politics. Thus, the book appears timeless and all times at once.
I will never now get to go to Belgrade – and in some ways I am glad. It could never live up to the picture that I now have in my mind of the magical Belgrade, thanks to Momo Kapor.
Thank you so much George, for such a wonderful gem of a book.
This is not a book to rush – rather one to savour. I would start each day with a ration of 2 – 3 short chapters (each a couple of pages long) to get myself in the right mood for beginning work, and was rather upset when the book – and my ritual – came to an end. That was over a week ago now. Every time I sat down to write a review, I would pick up the book – and start reading it again! The review would have to wait.
The idea of the book is summed up in the chapter called “Belgrade is the World”: “Belgrade is in all those Belgraders who still cannot or dare not come back. … Belgrade is not in Belgrade, as Belgrade, actually, is not a city – it is a metaphor, a way of life, an angle of looking at things”.
Momo Kapor captures the spirit of Belgrade: its inhabitants and their unique characteristics (individuals and general types), the smells, the habits, the dichotomies – in short all the things that you might associate with Belgraders, if you lived there – but to which outsiders and tourists would likely be oblivious.
There is one chapter (“Belgrade in Half an Hour”) which might – at a stretch – be a short tourist guide, as the author takes a visitor along Kralja Petra street, from the Sava to the Danube, past buildings from different eras, and of different civilisations, all of which have left their mark on Belgrade: “I see this modest street as a true lesson in tolerance and friendship”. It is also a very short history of Belgrade in four and a half pages.
Throughout there is culinary thread with chapters on Cabbage, Roast Lamb, Winter Feasts, Pastries, Fish Chowder… It starts with the all-pervasive smell of pickled cabbage (“Cabbage is a must! Indispensable for sarma with spare ribs, for the sautéed sauerkraut called podvark, for pasta squares with sautéed cabbage …”) – onto tripe, pigs trotters (two dishes that I love, but find almost impossible to get in London), Srpska Salat, then the Turkish, French and Viennese pastry shops. There are several recipes. I fully intend to try making the vanilla cookies, but will probably give Isa the Unlucky’s fish chowder a miss.
There are chapters on the grumbling old men with their nagging wives, the bold and beautiful modern women who have thrown off the shackles of their mothers, the eccentrics, the Belgraders living elsewhere in the world, who come home to visit, the markets and the Kevas.
“Kevas are elderly and somewhat fat women of small stature … who carry on their shoulders not only the entire household, but also the family, life and the world…”. They seem like a cross between a Dobby house elf (“only very rarely are they given presents”) and a repository of traditional and wholesome Serbian cuisine, that is fast disappearing.
And there is so much more! As well as the excellent prose, the author has illustrated the book with his own line drawings. I particularly like the drawings of the old people, with their character stamped onto their faces.
The book pulls together five decades of Momo Kapor’s writings on Belgrade – a city that has undoubtably changed a lot over that period. Because there are no dates attached to each chapter, it is sometimes difficult for me – as a foreigner – to workout the timeline and background politics. Thus, the book appears timeless and all times at once.
I will never now get to go to Belgrade – and in some ways I am glad. It could never live up to the picture that I now have in my mind of the magical Belgrade, thanks to Momo Kapor.
Thank you so much George, for such a wonderful gem of a book.
July 26, 2016
Голям автор, чудна книга, топла и бавна, с хубава корица, с отговорен редактор, още един редактор, технически редактор и коректор. И точно поради това "посланник" (22 пъти в един разказ), "полюлей" и "почтенност" лъщят като въшки на чело.
July 18, 2018
Brilliant, a must-read for any Belgrade lover.
December 29, 2019
Veoma loš utisak ostavlja ova zbirka...
Očigledno je da je dotični pisac bio opterećen seksom.Za njega postoje samo dobre ribe sa kratkim suknjama i bez brushaltera. I bez mozga. Pa da se u njih bleji iz prve kafančuge u stilu perverzne ispušene muštikle.
Drago mi je što me, kao pripadnicu punije grupacije gradskih riba nikada ne bi ni pogledao.
Pun je prezira i podsmeha prema onima koji su odlučili da odu iz ovog grada.
I to samo zato što se on "preko grane" nije snašao.
Ovu knjigu sam dobila na poklon, inače je nikada ne bih kupila.
Dve zvezdice dajem zbog nekih delova koji su me nasmejali i koji su, nažalost, istiniti.
Očigledno je da je dotični pisac bio opterećen seksom.Za njega postoje samo dobre ribe sa kratkim suknjama i bez brushaltera. I bez mozga. Pa da se u njih bleji iz prve kafančuge u stilu perverzne ispušene muštikle.
Drago mi je što me, kao pripadnicu punije grupacije gradskih riba nikada ne bi ni pogledao.
Pun je prezira i podsmeha prema onima koji su odlučili da odu iz ovog grada.
I to samo zato što se on "preko grane" nije snašao.
Ovu knjigu sam dobila na poklon, inače je nikada ne bih kupila.
Dve zvezdice dajem zbog nekih delova koji su me nasmejali i koji su, nažalost, istiniti.
August 14, 2019
Setila sam se koliko mnogo volim Beograd dok sam čitala. Setila sam se i koliko mi nedostaje.
Na nekoliko mesta u knjizi slične rečenice se ponavljaju, što nije čudno s obzirom da je nastala kao spoj odlomaka i priča iz drugih Kaporovih knjiga. Ipak, zasmetalo mi je. Možda mi samo nije legla u ovom trenutku. Preporučila bih je kao (pre)laku plažnu literaturu.
Na nekoliko mesta u knjizi slične rečenice se ponavljaju, što nije čudno s obzirom da je nastala kao spoj odlomaka i priča iz drugih Kaporovih knjiga. Ipak, zasmetalo mi je. Možda mi samo nije legla u ovom trenutku. Preporučila bih je kao (pre)laku plažnu literaturu.
October 31, 2019
Jedna od retkih knjiga koje želim da imam i u svojoj biblioteci, jer bih mogla da je čitam iznova i iznova i pronalazim ljubav prema Beogradu i prema Srbiji, kada mi je manjka.
April 15, 2019
Svojstveno Kaporu, "Magija Beograda" kroz zbirku kratkih priča na slikovit način opisuje šta je ono što Beograd i ljude koji žive u njemu čini specifičnim i drugačijim. Ko god da je odredjeni dio života proveo u ovom gradu, izvjesno je da će pronaći dubinu i smisao u nekoj od ovih priča, koje je Kapor ispisao na veoma jednostavan način. Lično bih izdvojio "Sreću" , "Dobra stara vremena" , "Inflaciju" i "Nekad i sad" kao moje omiljene priče iz ove zbirke.
March 17, 2020
Ipak, jednoga dana, vratiće se devojčice, iscrpljene životnim bitkama, pomalo umorne, pomalo utučene, sa očima u kojima je Zapad uspeo da ugasi onu skrivenu iskricu, naivnost i nadu; čudno štedljive (a bile su oduvek male raspikuće), sigurne u sebe, pune nepoverenja prema svima, s blagim stranim akcentom.
December 29, 2021
I received a copy as a gift from a Serbian friend, I had not heard of the author @momokapor before, but will keep an eye open for more of his books in English translation.
This is not a book to rush – rather one to savour. I would start each day with a ration of 2 – 3 short chapters (each a couple of pages long) to get myself in the right mood for beginning work, and was rather upset when the book – and my ritual – came to an end.
The idea of the book is summed up in the chapter called “Belgrade is the World”: “Belgrade is in all those Belgraders who still cannot or dare not come back. … Belgrade is not in Belgrade, as Belgrade, actually, is not a city – it is a metaphor, a way of life, an angle of looking at things”. Momo Kapor captures the spirit of Belgrade: its inhabitants and their unique characteristics (individuals and general types), the smells, the habits, the dichotomies – in short all the things that you might associate with Belgraders. “I see this modest street as a true lesson in tolerance and friendship”. It is also a very short history of Belgrade in four and a half pages.
The author has illustrated the book with his own line drawings. I particularly like the drawings of the old people, with their character stamped onto their faces.
The book pulls together five decades of Momo Kapor’s writings on Belgrade – a city that has undoubtably changed a lot over that period.
It could never live up to the picture that I now have in my mind of the magical Belgrade, thanks to @MomoKapor. Must read!
This is not a book to rush – rather one to savour. I would start each day with a ration of 2 – 3 short chapters (each a couple of pages long) to get myself in the right mood for beginning work, and was rather upset when the book – and my ritual – came to an end.
The idea of the book is summed up in the chapter called “Belgrade is the World”: “Belgrade is in all those Belgraders who still cannot or dare not come back. … Belgrade is not in Belgrade, as Belgrade, actually, is not a city – it is a metaphor, a way of life, an angle of looking at things”. Momo Kapor captures the spirit of Belgrade: its inhabitants and their unique characteristics (individuals and general types), the smells, the habits, the dichotomies – in short all the things that you might associate with Belgraders. “I see this modest street as a true lesson in tolerance and friendship”. It is also a very short history of Belgrade in four and a half pages.
The author has illustrated the book with his own line drawings. I particularly like the drawings of the old people, with their character stamped onto their faces.
The book pulls together five decades of Momo Kapor’s writings on Belgrade – a city that has undoubtably changed a lot over that period.
It could never live up to the picture that I now have in my mind of the magical Belgrade, thanks to @MomoKapor. Must read!
January 4, 2023
Ovu knjigu čitala sam nakon što sam se vratila sa tri meseca arheoloških iskopavanja po Srbiji, pa mi je Beograd bio naročito prelep i inspirativan. Ono što mi je bilo baš drago je to što su neke priče bukvalno ostale relevantne i danas, što mi daje nadu da možda nije skroz prava čar Beograda izgubljena nedavnim dešavanjima. Ipak, knjiga mi se dosta odužila i realno bih je ocenila sa tri zvezdice, ne krivicom samog kvaliteta knjige ili Mominim pisanjem (koje inače baš baš baaaš volim), već zato što sam ispala iz vajba. U jednom momentu mi je ležalo da čitam tako random kratke priče jedna za drugom, ali nekako brzo mi je falila neka konkretna radnja ili bar neki prividan tok duže priče (kao što je na primer bilo u "Beleške jedne Ane"). Ono što mi je isto bio bedak je što su se neke priče ponovile iz drugih izdanja, ali razumem da je to prosto posledica teme koja je usmerena u Beogradu, i da sam ja u jednom momentu tražila nešto drugo. Svakako, posle ove knjige mi sledi da pročitam minimum jedan roman Mome Kapora i uslišim sebi želju.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
Druga knjiga Mome Kapora u mojim rukama i drugi put kada prevrnem posljednju stranicu sa oduševljenjem a onda naidjem na gomilu loših utisaka o istoj. Mislim da je to jedan od razloga zašto neki autori postanu poznati a neki ostanu u sjenci. Baš zato što ne ostave nikoga ravnodušnim.
Jedan od njih je za meine Momo Kapor. To, kako ovaj čovjek piše, se teško moze naučiti. Čitaš knjigu kod kuće na kauču a isto kao da se nalaziš kraj M.K., posmatrajući Beogradjane i obilazeci grad.
Pročitala sam „Magiju Beograda“ šest mjeseci nakon što sam doselila u Srpsku prestonicu. U najzgodniji tren, kada sam već upoznala grad. Vjerovatno mi je to i bio razlog zašto sam uzivala čitajući. Obilazila sam sva ta mjesta o kojima piše i imala osjećaj da sam i ja jedan od likova mnogobrojnih priča.
Predivna zbirka koju ću sigurno uzimati u ruke svaki put kada mi bude nedostajao Beograd… ako ga ikada napustim zauvijek… :)
Jedan od njih je za meine Momo Kapor. To, kako ovaj čovjek piše, se teško moze naučiti. Čitaš knjigu kod kuće na kauču a isto kao da se nalaziš kraj M.K., posmatrajući Beogradjane i obilazeci grad.
Pročitala sam „Magiju Beograda“ šest mjeseci nakon što sam doselila u Srpsku prestonicu. U najzgodniji tren, kada sam već upoznala grad. Vjerovatno mi je to i bio razlog zašto sam uzivala čitajući. Obilazila sam sva ta mjesta o kojima piše i imala osjećaj da sam i ja jedan od likova mnogobrojnih priča.
Predivna zbirka koju ću sigurno uzimati u ruke svaki put kada mi bude nedostajao Beograd… ako ga ikada napustim zauvijek… :)
September 6, 2024
Iako rodjeni Sarajlija, Kapor se sa 9 godina preselio u Beograd i slobodno se može reći da je prosečnog Beograđanina i sve njegove svakodnevne navike poznavao u dušu. Ostalo mi je nepoznato kada je Kapor počeo sa radom na ovoj zbirki kratkih priča i ispovesti ali činjenica da je knjiga izašla 2008. godine, ostavila je dovoljno prostora da se autor dotakne i danas akutnih tema u srpskom društvu, na jedan šeretski i aforistički način prepun humora.
Svaka priča drži pažnju i poentira veoma efikasno ali bih izdvojio sledeće: Keva, Selo, Svakodnevne besmislice, Genetski liz, Portret, Kikiriki i još mnoge druge...
Svaka priča drži pažnju i poentira veoma efikasno ali bih izdvojio sledeće: Keva, Selo, Svakodnevne besmislice, Genetski liz, Portret, Kikiriki i još mnoge druge...
February 18, 2023
Interesting style of writing but I did not enjoy it. If I had not already visited and loved Belgrade, this book would cause me to avoid it, which is a real shame. Some might find it endearing, however.
Not sure if I will try another work by Momo Kapoor.
Not sure if I will try another work by Momo Kapoor.
May 21, 2017
Kaporova moć pripovedanja je fantazija.
May 31, 2019
Едно произведение, което си служи прекрасно с иронията, и ми напомни колко всъщност близки сме си всичко балканци. Колко са близки културата ни, бита ни и дори градовете.
March 27, 2020
Amazing book that should be read by all the people who live in Belgrade!
August 5, 2020
The narrative is easy to follow and writing is also easy written. I liked it. Little bit of everything. Good for relaxing and for understanding mind of a Serb (or better, Belgrade citizen)
August 12, 2024
I can't give it more because I need to be in Belgrade to fully enjoy it, and sadly I'm not there
January 25, 2021
Tople, divne i divno smiješne priče o Beogradu koje se lako čitaju. Priče u kojima ima istina, dijaloga, zapleta i predrasuda primjenjivih i na druge exYu gradove, njihove stanovnike i njihove stalne i nagle promjene. Bilo je dosta pamtljivih opisa, anegdota i utisaka o Beograđanima i Beograđankama koji napuštaju centar svog malog svemira i odlaze vani, odlaze zauvijek, ili odlaze da bi se stalno vraćali u svoj magični grad.
Od svih tih opisa ovaj je, nekako, ostao: "Ipak, jednoga dana, vratiće se devojčice, iscrpljene životnim bitkama, pomalo umorne, pomalo utučene, sa očima u kojima je Zapad uspeo da ugasi onu skrivenu iskricu, naivnost i nadu; čudno štedljive (a bile su oduvek male raspikuće), sigurne u sebe, pune nepoverenja prema svima, s blagim stranim akcentom."
Od svih tih opisa ovaj je, nekako, ostao: "Ipak, jednoga dana, vratiće se devojčice, iscrpljene životnim bitkama, pomalo umorne, pomalo utučene, sa očima u kojima je Zapad uspeo da ugasi onu skrivenu iskricu, naivnost i nadu; čudno štedljive (a bile su oduvek male raspikuće), sigurne u sebe, pune nepoverenja prema svima, s blagim stranim akcentom."
November 3, 2014
Обичам градовете в малките им детайли, в събуждането на живота рано сутрин, в рутината на местните хора по тесните улички встрани от големите шумни булеварди, в локалния мирис на непознати комбинации от подправки, в погледа на чужди очи, в улици със странни имена, които трудно можеш да произнесеш и всички дребни случки, които те впечатляват. Обичам да поставям и себе си в тази обстановка, да сравнявам и да си обяснявам защо тези неща у нас, в България са различни. Ей така, мисли на самотния странстващ в непознатия град.
Докато четях “Магията на Белград” на Момо Капор имах чувството, че съм отново на път и отново се влюбвам в един вълшебен град, в който никога не съм оставала, а съм виждала единствено от прозореца на автобуса на път за някъде другаде. Влюбвах се именно в тези малки детайли, които винаги търся като „Пролетта”, “Битакът”, “Кафето”, “Нощта”, “Сладкото одумване”, “Духът”, та дори и “Агнешкото”, което никога не съм обичала. Опознавах града от думите, написани от художник, нарисувал места, хора и мисли, които вероятно само ние на Балканите можем да усетим толкова силно, близко и емоционално.
Защото това е и второто нещо, което те поглъща в тези кратки разкази-картини – общото умиление по неща, които “миришат на вкъщи”, общата мъка по загубата на всичко, погубено от алчност и простотия, общата сляпа надежда, че в “белия свят” ще ти е по-добре, знаейки, че никога няма да го усетиш като истински свой свят. Защото колкото тези разкази да са писани дълбоко, силно и изцяло за Белград, до голяма степен те описват и ситуацията в София и България. Какво да се прави… тук единственото нещо, което ни разделя, са войните – другите неща са общи, балкански.
Цялото ревю е в "Аз чета"
Докато четях “Магията на Белград” на Момо Капор имах чувството, че съм отново на път и отново се влюбвам в един вълшебен град, в който никога не съм оставала, а съм виждала единствено от прозореца на автобуса на път за някъде другаде. Влюбвах се именно в тези малки детайли, които винаги търся като „Пролетта”, “Битакът”, “Кафето”, “Нощта”, “Сладкото одумване”, “Духът”, та дори и “Агнешкото”, което никога не съм обичала. Опознавах града от думите, написани от художник, нарисувал места, хора и мисли, които вероятно само ние на Балканите можем да усетим толкова силно, близко и емоционално.
Защото това е и второто нещо, което те поглъща в тези кратки разкази-картини – общото умиление по неща, които “миришат на вкъщи”, общата мъка по загубата на всичко, погубено от алчност и простотия, общата сляпа надежда, че в “белия свят” ще ти е по-добре, знаейки, че никога няма да го усетиш като истински свой свят. Защото колкото тези разкази да са писани дълбоко, силно и изцяло за Белград, до голяма степен те описват и ситуацията в София и България. Какво да се прави… тук единственото нещо, което ни разделя, са войните – другите неща са общи, балкански.
Цялото ревю е в "Аз чета"
January 16, 2022
Prica o identitetu koji je zaboravljen. Izgubljen možda?
Posle knjige samo pitanje. Gde je taj Beograd?
Kafa: ,,[...]Tu su nam, najpre, dve osnovne vrste - maksuzija (koja se kuva s ljubavlju i dobrodošlicom, znači maksuz!) i sikteruša, kojom se diskretno daje do znanja gostima, da je poseta završena."
Genetski liz: ,,[...]I objašnjavam svom poznaniku Zapadnjaku, mi smo jedini grad na svetu koji je spojio dve nespojive stvari, pagansko žito i srednjoevropski šlag! A tu su i druge stvari koje nas krase. Na primer mi Srbi više ljubimo ruke starim popovima nego damama. Ali najčudnije od svega je što uvek liznemo cigaretu pre nego što zapalimo. Zašto? Zato što su nam preci pušili cigare zavijane od domaćeg duvana a ne kupovnog. E to je genetski liz!"
Na pijaci: ,,[...]Onaj ko ne odlazi na pijacu nikada neće upoznati srpski narod. Jeste da taj narod voli da zakine na kantaru, da ukrade, da se cenjka ali kad završi s tim i kad uspe u svojoj sitnoj igri kada čovek raširi zembilj da mu saspu luk, tačno kad je prevara gotova a s lukavstvom završeno, seljak će vas pogledati, iskosa, onako ispod oka i setiće se na trenutak Boga (Srbi ga uvek zamišljaju sa šubarom!) i jednim pokretom, kao da blagosilja, dometnuće luk viška da se iskupi i kazaće ,,Ajde! Nećemo ni ti ni ja da propadnemo zbog ovoga!" Na Zapadu toga nema, sve je elektronsko. I vage i duše."
Posle knjige samo pitanje. Gde je taj Beograd?
Kafa: ,,[...]Tu su nam, najpre, dve osnovne vrste - maksuzija (koja se kuva s ljubavlju i dobrodošlicom, znači maksuz!) i sikteruša, kojom se diskretno daje do znanja gostima, da je poseta završena."
Genetski liz: ,,[...]I objašnjavam svom poznaniku Zapadnjaku, mi smo jedini grad na svetu koji je spojio dve nespojive stvari, pagansko žito i srednjoevropski šlag! A tu su i druge stvari koje nas krase. Na primer mi Srbi više ljubimo ruke starim popovima nego damama. Ali najčudnije od svega je što uvek liznemo cigaretu pre nego što zapalimo. Zašto? Zato što su nam preci pušili cigare zavijane od domaćeg duvana a ne kupovnog. E to je genetski liz!"
Na pijaci: ,,[...]Onaj ko ne odlazi na pijacu nikada neće upoznati srpski narod. Jeste da taj narod voli da zakine na kantaru, da ukrade, da se cenjka ali kad završi s tim i kad uspe u svojoj sitnoj igri kada čovek raširi zembilj da mu saspu luk, tačno kad je prevara gotova a s lukavstvom završeno, seljak će vas pogledati, iskosa, onako ispod oka i setiće se na trenutak Boga (Srbi ga uvek zamišljaju sa šubarom!) i jednim pokretom, kao da blagosilja, dometnuće luk viška da se iskupi i kazaće ,,Ajde! Nećemo ni ti ni ja da propadnemo zbog ovoga!" Na Zapadu toga nema, sve je elektronsko. I vage i duše."
May 29, 2016
Книгата на Момо Капор ме завари броени дни преди да посетя Белгард и по този начин се превърна в чуден пътеводител из атмосферата на града. Именно от такива гидове се нуждае всеки един голям град - смесица от историята, нравите, градските легенди, физическата и историческа география, подплътена с нефизичния фон на литературната история и народната митология.
В този смисъл книгата е увлекателна и лично аз я прочетох на няколко големи глътки. Понеже, макар и завличаща, е и уморителна. Относително повтарящите се мотиви и вплетената световъзприемаща парадигма, близка до нашата (всъщност това е едно от най-интересните неща в книгата) се оказват близки до определени културни слоеве, които са ми чужди. Сякаш затова и ме отегчаваха са предвидимостта си - носталгията, емиграцията и вечното-по-хубаво-вкъщи отначало бяха приятни и сладки с меланхоличната си историчност; на места, обаче, ставаха чак сладникави. Не бива да се забравя, все пак, че книгата представлява сбор от отделни публикации на автора, така че повторенията в такъв случай се разбират.
Въпреки всичко не-толкова-прекрасно, което споменах, щом в Белград попаднах на томче антология на Момо Капор, не се поколебах (добре де, изчаках една нощ) да си я купя.
В този смисъл книгата е увлекателна и лично аз я прочетох на няколко големи глътки. Понеже, макар и завличаща, е и уморителна. Относително повтарящите се мотиви и вплетената световъзприемаща парадигма, близка до нашата (всъщност това е едно от най-интересните неща в книгата) се оказват близки до определени културни слоеве, които са ми чужди. Сякаш затова и ме отегчаваха са предвидимостта си - носталгията, емиграцията и вечното-по-хубаво-вкъщи отначало бяха приятни и сладки с меланхоличната си историчност; на места, обаче, ставаха чак сладникави. Не бива да се забравя, все пак, че книгата представлява сбор от отделни публикации на автора, така че повторенията в такъв случай се разбират.
Въпреки всичко не-толкова-прекрасно, което споменах, щом в Белград попаднах на томче антология на Момо Капор, не се поколебах (добре де, изчаках една нощ) да си я купя.
October 20, 2023
В този цитат от симпатичната иронично-патриотична книга на Момо Капор "Магията на Белград", която поглъщам на малки сладко-горчиви хапки (както е и написана), се съдържа нужната доза живителна самоирония, която така често ни липсва на нас, балканците:
"- Господи - питат, - защо си засипал Сърбия с толкова изобилие? Дал си ù приятен климат, богати житници, гъсти гори; дал си ù бързи реки, високи планини; дал си ù плодородна година, дал си ù всичко...
- Така е! - отговаря Господ Бог - Но съм ù дал и сърбите!"
Въобще, цялата книга спокойно би могла да се казва и "Магията на София", толкова сме еднакви, дори в различията си. Капор постоянно използва изречения, които започват с "Едва ли има друг народ, който..." или направо "Няма на света друг народ, който...", имайки предвид сърбите, а аз не спирам да разпознавам българите в тях. Различията в еднаквостите ни само правят преживяването по опознаването на един близък народ двойно по-интересно. И ти помагат да опознаеш малко по-добре и самия себе си.
Хубава книга. Чете се бавно, на малки вкусни части.
"- Господи - питат, - защо си засипал Сърбия с толкова изобилие? Дал си ù приятен климат, богати житници, гъсти гори; дал си ù бързи реки, високи планини; дал си ù плодородна година, дал си ù всичко...
- Така е! - отговаря Господ Бог - Но съм ù дал и сърбите!"
Въобще, цялата книга спокойно би могла да се казва и "Магията на София", толкова сме еднакви, дори в различията си. Капор постоянно използва изречения, които започват с "Едва ли има друг народ, който..." или направо "Няма на света друг народ, който...", имайки предвид сърбите, а аз не спирам да разпознавам българите в тях. Различията в еднаквостите ни само правят преживяването по опознаването на един близък народ двойно по-интересно. И ти помагат да опознаеш малко по-добре и самия себе си.
Хубава книга. Чете се бавно, на малки вкусни части.
Read
December 24, 2012"The Magic of Belgrade" presents to us not only the charming little aspects that make Belgrade the wonderful city that charms everyone, but give the reader a thorough insight into any of the cities in the Blakans. Although some of the articles by Momo Kopor are specific to Belgrade, many of the people who grew up in a city in SE Europe and even Eastern Europe can relate to the characteristics of a booming town during communism, the rivalries between the old money and the nouveau riche, the isolated oasis of magic that only a connoisseur can find, the legends of the old places in town, etc.
January 11, 2015
Sorry to have the book end. A series of perspectives about living in Belgrade. It's changes over the years-the people. With his own illustrations it was an enjoyable read. Made his characters come to life. A great souvenir from my trip this Spring.
December 25, 2014
Много хубави кратки разкази,изпълнени с мек добродушен хумор ,топлина и лека носталгия.Книгата е илюстрирана от автора и това допълнително я украсява и й придава завършеност.
February 24, 2015
Прекрасна!!!
August 15, 2015
С љубављу писано за све нас, тако се и чита.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews