Europe through literature discussion

Our second classic read of 2023 is Days in the Caucasus by Banine.

Apart from grace g, Yeti, bobbie, Manzoor, Armin, Jax and me, who voted for this title, everybody else is of course invited to also share their thoughts!

What made you vote for this novel? What are your thoughts about this memoir / novel? The presentation of the character(s)? Would you recommend this title and if yes to what kind of reader and why? If not, why not?

Happy reading!

I am well into our classic read from Azerbaijan and I quite like the ironic tone in which she describes her family - the description of the different family members is in parts very funny. I am not sure, though, if this tone contributes to a certain shallowness and am looking forward to hearing what others think.

This will be on the list for later this month or early April.

Carolien wrote: "This will be on the list for later this month or early April."

Great!

Orgeluse wrote: "I am well into our classic read from Azerbaijan and I quite like the ironic tone in which she describes her family - the description of the different family members is in parts very funny. I am not..."

It is her tone that appeals to me at this point I like reading about women (the adult recollections) who are unapologetic about who they are. I am at 25% so have a way to go, but so far I’m bonding with her as a child who talks to trees and sneaks to church with Anna.

I've started and her tone is definitely a good start. Like the way she has few illusions about her family.

Carolien wrote: "I've started and her tone is definitely a good start. Like the way she has few illusions about her family."

I was diverted on the read but will get back to it in a day or so. I’m really enjoying reading it.

Jax wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I've started and her tone is definitely a good start. Like the way she has few illusions about her family."

I was diverted on the read but will get back to it in a day or so. I’m ..."

I am nearly finished, but so far did not want to comment before you would be more pages into the book. I have a lot to comment on which means it is an unusual read, at least to me :-)

Orgeluse wrote: "Jax wrote: "Carolien wrote: "I've started and her tone is definitely a good start. Like the way she has few illusions about her family."

I was diverted on the read but will get back to it in a day..."

I’m working on it today and should be finished by tomorrow.

Please feel free comment freely. I am happy to interact on the points I have read.

Orgeluse, I’m looking forward to your comments. I must say, I preferred the period when Natasha was a child as it is the most endearing. Her love for nature and the special places, rocks, and trees at their summer home. The pranks the children played were awful but I imagine how delighted a child is doing something like locking the women in the hammam while innocent of an understanding that it is a really awful thing! The time in the summer home gave the most interesting and enjoyable insight into the extended family. The grandmother is a favorite. The things she would say like— “‘What are you doing, children of dogs?’ Grandmother shouted, sensing trouble.” The commode chair…. Really? 🫢🫣

Here is another one. I might be the only one, but I would love to be a fly on the wall listening to this woman’s chatter!

“The stubborn fool! Perhaps he wants to imitate the Russians (may leprosy eat away their flesh).”

I really enjoyed this overall, I wasn't sure what to expect. She describes the clash between the old and new very well and I suppose her own arranged marriage is the epitome thereof. She is a very well educated girl yet finds herself in an arranged marriage at 15.

The death of her mother may be the origin of her need for love as she seems to have craved maternal affection which never materialised. And so she transferred the need to her fantasies of marriage with various men.

In the end she marries Jamil to save her father, but I wonder if her Russian prince may not have been able to do more for them if she had told him her position. Jamil in any case sounds straight out of Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Gambler.

I've read various books and articles set around that part of the world (northern Iran, Georgia) and it sounds absolutely beautiful. I would love to see it at some point.

I found a copy of Ali and Nino in a second hand bookshop over the weekend which is set in the same period although fiction, and I'm interested in reading it to see how it describes the same era.

I should make my youngest read this to expand her repertoire of insults as she limits herself to calling people psychopaths if they annoy her at the moment. These ladies are so much more imaginative!

Carolien wrote: "I really enjoyed this overall, I wasn't sure what to expect. She describes the clash between the old and new very well and I suppose her own arranged marriage is the epitome thereof. She is a very ..."

I am so glad you mentioned the mother, Carolien. Now, it totally makes sense. I must admit that her obsession with falling in love was the only negative mental note I made. Since I thought perhaps this is a young girl’s “thing”, I even examined my own past and wondered if I ever did that. I had no interest in my older sisters’ boyfriends, and can only remember having a crush on Ringo Starr and a few other music legends. 🤭

I agree completely that the Russian prince likely could have solved their problems sooner. Perhaps she would have had a challenge convincing her family to accept him, but I wondered about that because her father seemed open minded. And on that not, Gulnar is one piece of work. What an awful person!

If you want, I’ll buddy read Ali and Nino with you. I had looked into it and thought I would be interested. I read the beginning of Stone Dreams, and am looking forward to it. This book has made me fall in love with the region. I also want to read more of Banine’s work. Please pass along suggestions you mentioned for that area. I would love to visit it and wish the world was more settled.

You are so well read! I haven’t read The Gambler, but will put it on my to-read list. Banine/Natasha/Umm El-Banu’s opinion of Jamil colored mine, but it does seem he married her for the family connection, and his bragging was offputting.

I love the idea of your youngest reading this. I was thinking of finding more of grandmother’s insults to use as a joke (my family has a strange sense of humor!!). She is my favorite character. A feisty, opinionated, no-apologies woman who adores her grandchildren and—now, here’s a south Texas expression for you Carolien—curses up a storm!

Great book. Great discussion. I’m very happy for this group!

My favourite insult is by the neighbour when Banine and Gulnar go with the communists to take an inventory of her household: May Allah increase their misfortunes and prolong their lives! It sounds very much like the ancient Chinese curse of: May you live in interesting times.

I'd love a buddy read of Ali and Nino! How does the start of May sound for you? Let's read Stone Dreams which I would also like to get to and then we can get to Ali and Nino.

Something else that you may like is Jamilia which is a really short read, set in Kyrgyzstan.

For Georgia I have The Knight in the Panther's Skin and A Man Was Going Down the Road on a list. I didn't know it, but modern Georgia is where the Golden Fleece was kept in ancient Greek mythology and thus it is closely linked to Medea.

I fell over the description of northern Iran in Disoriental where the family stays in summer. It sounds beautiful.

Carolien wrote: "My favourite insult is by the neighbour when Banine and Gulnar go with the communists to take an inventory of her household: May Allah increase their misfortunes and prolong their lives! It sounds ..."

Thanks for the recommendations! They sound great. Start of May is perfect for Ali and Nino. Love the quote! Such a great character!