Author Georgi Gospodinov and Translator Angela Rodel celebrate as Time Shelter wins the International Booker Prize in 2023
What if you could turn back time to a decade that seems more appealing? That was the premise of April's Tyneside Book Choice Time Shelter.
The Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov won the International Booker with the novel, and club members agreed there was plenty to ponder in its premise.
In the novel, wallowing in the past is initially a potential positive with dementia patients benefiting from being surrounded by the atmosphere and objects from a past era. This was something some members were familiar with from treatment techniques used in this country too.
What starts as therapeutic though takes a darker turn when the whole society decides to turn back the clock. There were clearly points being made about recent political trends - including Brexit.
Members though were divided on how well the idea worked as a full novel, with some wondering whether it was an idea better suited to a short story. Some though thought it a smart, fleet-footed and perceptive analysis of the factors behind much of recent European history.
Some members thought the book genuinely funny and appreciated it as a novel of ideas. Others though found its unconventional structure became a barrier. For them, character development seemed limited and the fractured narrative an irritant.
Some also felt the book got rather far-fetched, and people's eventual choice of a decade a tad predictable. Members wondered whether there was a Fight Club-style twist lurking within.
There was though agreement that this was a book with universal themes that applied well beyond Bulgaria. Some members found Time Shelter's roots in Eastern Europe did though also offer specific personal resonance.
Despite division on how successful Time Shelter finally was, members did think it was a good choice that sparked a great discussion.
The Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov won the International Booker with the novel, and club members agreed there was plenty to ponder in its premise.
In the novel, wallowing in the past is initially a potential positive with dementia patients benefiting from being surrounded by the atmosphere and objects from a past era. This was something some members were familiar with from treatment techniques used in this country too.
What starts as therapeutic though takes a darker turn when the whole society decides to turn back the clock. There were clearly points being made about recent political trends - including Brexit.
Members though were divided on how well the idea worked as a full novel, with some wondering whether it was an idea better suited to a short story. Some though thought it a smart, fleet-footed and perceptive analysis of the factors behind much of recent European history.
Some members thought the book genuinely funny and appreciated it as a novel of ideas. Others though found its unconventional structure became a barrier. For them, character development seemed limited and the fractured narrative an irritant.
Some also felt the book got rather far-fetched, and people's eventual choice of a decade a tad predictable. Members wondered whether there was a Fight Club-style twist lurking within.
There was though agreement that this was a book with universal themes that applied well beyond Bulgaria. Some members found Time Shelter's roots in Eastern Europe did though also offer specific personal resonance.
Despite division on how successful Time Shelter finally was, members did think it was a good choice that sparked a great discussion.
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