Title: Your Ad Could Go Here: Stories
Author: Oksana Zabuzhko
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Amazon Crossing
Publish Date: 2014 (original, now in translation)
Source: PR
What's the Story?:
From Goodreads.com: "Oksana Zabuzhko,
Ukraine’s leading public intellectual, is called upon to make sense of
the unthinkable reality of our times. In this breathtaking short story
collection, she turns the concept of truth over in her hands like a
beautifully crafted pair of gloves. From the triumph of the Orange
Revolution, which marked the start of the twenty-first century, to
domestic victories in matchmaking, sibling rivalry, and even tennis,
Zabuzhko manages to shock the reader by juxtaposing things as they
are—inarguable, visible to the naked eye—with how things could be,
weaving myth and fairy tale into pivotal moments just as we weave a
satisfying narrative arc into our own personal mythologies."
My Two Cents:
"Your Ad Could Go Here" is a collection of short stories by Ukrainian author, Oksana Zabuzhko. In this book, she explores everything from siblings, to what it means to be a woman, to the political turmoil of her home country. I had a chance to visit Ukraine in 2011 and it holds a special place in my heart so I am always looking for ways to get back to Ukraine, at least through reading if I can't visit. This book was a great taste of Ukrainian life.
The subject matter of these stories explored so many different areas and some of the stories could be quite difficult for sensitive readers to get through. I, on the other hand, really appreciated the rawness of the stories. The author doesn't flinch from the difficult and sometimes runs head first into some dark territory. It did take me a bit to get into some of the stories but there were others that were rather gripping. My favorite of the book was the story that the book is name for - it was very good!
One interesting thing about this book is that each of the stories seemed to have a different translator. It made me wonder about that choice: was it a conscious choice or just a coincidence? Would any of the various translators translate the story differently. This had absolutely no bearing on my feelings about the book but it is interesting to think about!
This would be a great pick for someone who wants to explore parts unknown with an author that forces you to keep your eyes open!
The subject matter of these stories explored so many different areas and some of the stories could be quite difficult for sensitive readers to get through. I, on the other hand, really appreciated the rawness of the stories. The author doesn't flinch from the difficult and sometimes runs head first into some dark territory. It did take me a bit to get into some of the stories but there were others that were rather gripping. My favorite of the book was the story that the book is name for - it was very good!
One interesting thing about this book is that each of the stories seemed to have a different translator. It made me wonder about that choice: was it a conscious choice or just a coincidence? Would any of the various translators translate the story differently. This had absolutely no bearing on my feelings about the book but it is interesting to think about!
This would be a great pick for someone who wants to explore parts unknown with an author that forces you to keep your eyes open!
sounds interesting. thanks for sharing
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