Ismail Kadare: Broken April

[abecedarian]

I started Broken April this afternoon and thought I'd see if anyone else has read it and wants to talk about it.
Right away I discovered I know know next to nothing about Albania, but the blood feud business looked awfully familiar. Must be universal, the urge for revenge, and then to justify it by appealing to honor. I notice the author is comparing the Kanun to Greek mythology, so maybe that's what he's getting at.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

http://forums.thebookforum.com/showthread.php?t=8148&highlight=kadare

It's been a couple of years since I read Broken April, so i'll not remember every detail, but I'm happy to share my thoughts if you want. I seem to remember I recommended this book to you in your 'Olympic Bid' thread.

K-S

 

[abecedarian]

http://forums.thebookforum.com/showthread.php?t=8148&highlight=kadare

It's been a couple of years since I read Broken April, so i'll not remember every detail, but I'm happy to share my thoughts if you want. I seem to remember I recommended this book to you in your 'Olympic Bid' thread.

K-S

You sure did recommend Broken April. Thanks! I'm enjoying it, even though the death and blood theme is a little unnerving. It's not exactly a light holiday read, but if I'd wanted a fluffy read, I could have found that easily enough at the grocery store

 

[Kenny Shovel]

Ok, here are a few more links to sites about the Kanun and one about Kadare himself:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1964397.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/correspondent/europe/1247526.stm
http://www.wfp.org/newsroom/in_depth/Europe/albania030828.asp?section=2&sub_section=2

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1498411,00.html?gusrc=rss

btw, it's worth checking if the volume you have has been directly translated from Albanian, as some of his books have been translated via the French version. My version of 'Broken April' is a direct translation, I think it's Vintage press.

 

[abecedarian]

Mine is also a translation from the Albanian, from New Amsterdam Books and Saqi Books. Thanks for mentioning that, I'll be watchful when doing interlibrary loans. Of course, sometimes it won't matter, I'll be doing well to find the author at all. But when I checked your list and the ones the others sent, I think they were all available here. My friend at the library who handles ILLs reminded me that they can order from out of state too, so I'm sure I can get just about anything. Now if I could just read as fast as I find new titles..

 

[abecedarian]

I finished Broken April last night, after my favorite hubby stole it from me and took it to work once or twice, then told me the outcome. He didn't like it at all, but I decided to finish it for myself just the same. I'm glad I did, although I see why he didn't care for it.
I've often wondered why governments would go to the trouble of banning an author's work, after reading this, I think I see. Not that the book is vulgar at all, but Kadare does blow the whistle on the Blood Industry that is still active in Alabania.

 

[Kenny Shovel]

I finished Broken April last night, after my favorite hubby stole it from me and took it to work once or twice, then told me the outcome. He didn't like it at all, but I decided to finish it for myself just the same. I'm glad I did, although I see why he didn't care for it.

I think you need to have a word with your other half about that. Nicking your unfinished book, reading it all the way through and then telling you the ending is pretty bad form.

I've often wondered why governments would go to the trouble of banning an author's work, after reading this, I think I see. Not that the book is vulgar at all, but Kadare does blow the whistle on the Blood Industry that is still active in Alabania.

I think I'm right in saying that Kadare's problems were more for works like 'The Palace of Dreams' and 'The Pyramid' which contained implied criticisms of Communism; as the Albania government at the time was a very hard-line almost Stalinist regime.

Anyway, you've ticked Albania off your list now.

Regards,

K-S