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Nostalgia

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( 4,838 ratings, 606 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Nostalgia by Mircea Cartarescu is a richly imaginative work exploring the intertwining lives of several characters in Bucharest, weaving themes of memory, dreams, and the passage of time. The book delves into the surreal and fantastical elements of human experience, blending reality with the ethereal to paint a vivid picture of desire and the quest for meaning. Each story within this collection unfolds with a unique and enchanting allure, capturing the complexities of existence and the magic lurking in everyday life.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate deeply imaginative narratives that blend reality with surreal dreams, offering a profound exploration of memory and the past. The intricate and lyrical storytelling invites contemplation and reflection, making it an enticing choice for readers who enjoy diving into richly textured fictional worlds.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A mesmerizing novel about the magical and gritty world of Bucharest in the 1980s by a celebrated Eastern European writer.

'Gripping, impassioned, unexpected' - Los Angeles Times

A dreamlike novel of memory and magic, Nostalgia turns the dark world of Communist Bucharest into a place of strange enchantments. Here, a man plays increasingly death-defying games of Russian Roulette, a child messiah works his magic in the tenements, a young man explores gender boundaries, a woman relives her youth, and an architect becomes obsessed with the sound of his new car horn β€” with unexpected consequences. Blending reality and symbolism, time and myth, this is a cult masterwork from Romania's most celebrated writer.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mircea Cartarescu is celebrated as a major literary voice from Central Europe, crafting a universe that blends fantasy with reality, much like a phantasmagorical dreamscape. His novel is lauded for its imaginative storytelling, merging historical, autobiographical, and magical realism elements. Critics highlight its sophisticated narrative, likening it to a Danubian Narnia full of vibrant imagery and profound insights, with translations praised for capturing the brilliance of Cartarescu's prose.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241448915

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 May 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Julian Semilian

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Mircea Cartarescu (Author) Mircea Cartarescu was born in Bucharest in 1956. His novels and poetry are widely considered to be the best writing to emerge from post-communist Romania. His books have been translated into fourteen languages and he has received many awards, including most recently the Thomas Mann Prize and the Prix Formentor. Julian Semilian (Translator) Julian Semilian is a translator, poet and filmmaker. He currently teaches at the North Carolina School of the Arts, after a twenty-four-year career as a film editor in Hollywood.

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