Every Day, Every Hour

Jun 12, 2012 Lettersalad rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: auf-deutsch, tauschi-tauschi

Kennt ihr das? Wenn eure Eltern euch und eure Geschwister früher an einem verregneten Sonntagnachmittag ins Wohnzimmer geschleppt haben, den Dia Projektor schon aufgebaut und euch dann gefühlte 200 Kisten Dias aus „den guten alten Tagen“ zeigen wollen? Ja? Genauso erging es mir mit diesem Buch. Dora und Luka kennen sich von Kindesbeinen an und verlieren sich eines Tages aus den Augen, als Dora überraschend nach Frankreich zieht. Erst Jahre später sehen sie sich wieder und aus der Kinder Freundsc...more Kennt ihr das? Wenn eure Eltern euch und eure Geschwister früher an einem verregneten Sonntagnachmittag ins Wohnzimmer geschleppt haben, den Dia Projektor schon aufgebaut und euch dann gefühlte 200 Kisten Dias aus „den guten alten Tagen“ zeigen wollen? Ja? Genauso erging es mir mit diesem Buch. Dora und Luka kennen sich von Kindesbeinen an und verlieren sich eines Tages aus den Augen, als Dora überraschend nach Frankreich zieht. Erst Jahre später sehen sie sich wieder und aus der Kinder Freundschaft ist umgehend Liebe geworden. Wann genau das passiert ist, bekommt man nicht so richtig mit. Der Diaprojektor ist schon beim übernächsten Bild.

Jedes der Bilder wird nur mit kurzen, knappen Sätzen beschrieben, oftmals auch nur mit einem seitenlangen Dialog zwischen den beiden, die allesamt vor lauter Kitsch schon beginnen, rosarot glitzern. Natürlich steht dem Glück der beiden auch nach dem Wiedersehen so einiges im Weg und das Schicksal ist ihnen alles andere als gnädig. Was größtenteils aber auch ihre eigene, insbesondere Lukas Schuld ist! Selten habe ich einen männlichen Protagonisten erlebt, der so wenig Rückrat hat.

Das Buch und ich hatten von Anfang an kein gutes Verhältnis zueinander. Schon im Prolog war mir klar, dass dieser Schreibstil einfach nicht meinen Geschmack treffen wird. Man kommt sich in der Tat wie ein kleines Kind vor, dem die Geschichte von Dora und Luka in einer für Kinder verständlichen Sprache erzählt wird. Nur sehr wenige Lichtblicke in Form von einzelnen Sätzen haben mich überhaupt zu einem zweiten Stern überzeugen können. Dadurch, dass die Kapitel so wahnsinnig kurz sind und die Szenen dadurch enorm schnell vergehen, hat man gar keine Chance richtig in die Geschichte einzutauchen. Man darf nicht dabei sein. Man darf sie sich eben nur in Form von einzelnen Standbildern kurz aufzeigen lassen. Die Hintergrund Story ist auf ein Minimum beschränkt.

Dementsprechend blieben meine Empfindungen sowohl Dora als auch Luka gegenüber äußert kühl bis hin zu gleichgültig. Ein Buch, welches in Kroatien spielt liest man nicht alle Tage und wenn ich es dann mit einer mir so unbekannten Kultur zu tun bekomme, dann freue ich mich jedes Mal, wenn ich während des Lesens gleichzeitig auch ein bisschen über das Land und Sprache lernen kann. In Jeden Tag, jede Stunde aber gänzlich Fehlanzeige! Man merkt kaum, wo Dora und Luka herkommen, geschweige denn erfährt man etwas über ihren kulturellen Hintergrund.

Ich kann das Buch leider gar nicht empfehlen. Sowohl die Story, ihre Figuren als auch der Schreibstil konnten mich nicht überzeugen. Wobei letzteres wirklich den größten Stolperstein für mich darstellte. Der einzige Vorteil ist, dass das Buch sich durch die kurzen, knappen Kapitel sehr schnell lesen lässt. Nach dem Zuschlagen des Buches hat man leider nur das Gefühl, dass die Diashow endlich vorbei ist. Das man endlich von der Couch aufstehen darf.(less)

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May 19, 2013 Jennifer King rated it 2 of 5 stars

Someone whose recommendations I implicitly trust suggested this book and maybe that's why I found it so disappointing..expectations too high? It's not truly awful, not in the writing, which can be a bit overcooked, but was certainly atmospheric; nor in the characters, who I liked (well at least Dora) in spite of myself. No, it was the stupid ass plot that drove me bonkers. Two adults madly in love who can "hear" each others thoughts across miles but cannot somehow figure out a way to be together...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Rooserd rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Iedere dag, ieder uur van de Duits-Kroatische schrijfster Natasa Dragnic is een uniek verhaal over een tragische liefde van twee mensen. Iedere dag, ieder uur denken ze aan elkaar en toch kunnen ze niet bij elkaar zijn. Aan de liefde tussen hen ligt het niet. Het was liefde op het eerste gezicht toen Dora en Luka elkaar als kind ontmoetten op een kinderdagverblijf in Makarska, Kroätie. Samen beleven ze een paar prachtige jaren, voornamelijk doorgebracht op...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Nupur rated it 4 of 5 stars

It wasn't until the very end of the book that I actually read the cover page. I was stunned to find that this is a translation! I can just imagine how much more beautiful it must be its original form. But Liesl Schillinger has done a fabulous, fantastic job of it.

The book itself is like watching poetry in motion, and a sometimes funny, but mostly tragic one at that. You can't help but believe that Dora and Luka were made for each other and that there was no way they would be together, no matter...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Jill rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was written in German by a native Croatian and translated into English by Liesl Schillinger. Reviewing a translated book makes me nervous because of all the meta-factors at play: there is the original story, to which I have no access, intellectually or otherwise; there is the issue of how well the translation captures the spirit as well as the letter of the original; and there are cultural questions – for example, if I find the dialogue strange, could it be that this is actually how co...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Anastasia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alphabet-challenge-2013, biblioteca-civica, contemporanei, croazia, pozzo-letterario, sfida-della-catena

Dora e Luka si conoscono da bambini, quando Luka svenendo viene soccorso da una curiosa bambina che stava osservando; e da lì subito decidono che sono il principino e la principessa e quindi si uniscono praticamente per la vita con qualche interruzione qua e là che varia da pochi mesi a sedici anni. Un amore che va oltre il tempo, intenso, travolgente, sia per i diretti interessati che per il lettore. Madosca.

Okay, basta con questa commedia.

Una certa pochezza dilaga per tutto il libro.

In primis...more Dora e Luka si conoscono da bambini, quando Luka svenendo viene soccorso da una curiosa bambina che stava osservando; e da lì subito decidono che sono il principino e la principessa e quindi si uniscono praticamente per la vita con qualche interruzione qua e là che varia da pochi mesi a sedici anni. Un amore che va oltre il tempo, intenso, travolgente, sia per i diretti interessati che per il lettore. Madosca.

Okay, basta con questa commedia.

Una certa pochezza dilaga per tutto il libro.

In primis nello stile: eccolo là, prevedibile, l'ansia da telegramma che pullula in tanti autori dei nostri giorni, frasi che a fatica superano una riga, o addirittura in casi estremi vengono mutilati persino del binomio soggetto-predicato, perché così sembra più incisivo, invece è solo snervante. Ha un che di zuccheroso che è la ciliegina sulla torta: "Non la puoi chiamare quiete e non la puoi chiamare tempesta. Sa di mandarini e di mandorle tostate e di mare e di biscotti appena sfornati e di primavera." Non è di per sé per forza negativo, ma io non sono proprio fatta per questo tipo di stile. E non sono fatta neanche per il tipo di narrazione che la Dragnic sceglie per il romanzo: la frammentarietà mi blocca, a me piace la narrazione fluida, con un filo continuo, non riesco proprio a farmi piacere episodi spezzettati in serie, mi sento sempre come se mi fosse stato tolto tutto per farmi vedere solo l'essenziale, così, anche formalmente. Inoltre l'autrice addotta la ripetizione di interi paragrafi o scene per tre o quattro volte che dovrebbero suonare come un'affascinante destino che unisce di continuo i due piccioncini, ma a me ha solo annoiato: non è che i paragrafi in sé fossero una bellezza.

E poi la caratterizzazione dei personaggi! Per definirli abbiamo giusto poche informazioni, le professioni che sembrano destinati ad intraprendere fin da bambini (lui pittore, lei attrice), le loro generalità (nome, maschio, tot anni, occhi così, bocca cosà, etc) e..e basta. Fondamentalmente: oddio, potremmo fare un'eccezione per Luka che a furia di fare idiozie in serie si conquista un suo carattere bene o male, ma ad esempio Dora rimane una sconosciuta, se presa fuori dal suo furore per Luka. Chi è? Non lo so. Sì, posso dire che è quella che insiste, che aspetta, che spera; ma se mi chiedessero di descriverla come persona presa nel quotidiano..e che ne so io! Tendenzialmente è colpa dell'autrice che nella foga di far vedere quanto i due sono innamorati si è dimenticata di caratterizzare i suoi Barbie e Ken. Perché la sensazione è un po' quella: diciamo che ci sono storie d'amore e storie d'amore. Le prime sono sentite, profonde, vere; le seconde sono strombazzate, caricate e caricate e irrimediabilmente "finte". La storia d'amore che la Dragnic tenta di calcare vorrebbe essere la prima, ma a detta di molti (e pure mia) si mantiene saldamente in seconda posizione. Sembra davvero che giochi un po' con le bamboline montando un presunto teatrino tragico, più che farsi portavoce di vibranti personaggi coinvolti in grandi storie d'amore (bacetti su bacetti e ti amo ti amo è fondamentalmente una grande fetta della loro storia d'amore, ma io dico, mandatevi almeno una volta a quel paese, dimostrate di essere normali). Una sensazione d'irrealtà infatti riempie tutto il libro: posso fare degli esempi, uno: quando i due bambini si separano per il trasferimento di lei uno ha nove anni, l'altra cinque; possibile che a distanza di sedici anni questi non solo si ricordino perfettamente della fidanzatina/o, ma che provino profondi risentimenti e rancori al riguardo? Sarò io fuori dagli innamoramenti (infantili e non), ma mi sembra poco plausibile che a vent'anni io mi rattrista e mi strugga al solo pensiero di una che ho conosciuto quando a stento mi sapevo allacciare le scarpe, ma io sinceramente mi dimentico di certe cose! La vita va avanti, si va oltre, si dimentica, specie se quelle persone appartenevano ad un'età del genere. E poi, dai, per uno che hai conosciuto a cinque anni tu dici: "Mi avrebbe fatto troppo male pensare a lui. Credevo che non sarei sopravvissuta. Così l'ho dimenticato". Seriously? Mi prendi in giro?
Forse sono una voce fuori dal coro, forse sono tonta, poco sensibile; ma io sostengo che non sia credibile.
Ma diciamo che i due presentano una sorta di inadattabilità genetica nei confronti della realtà: fino alla fine non mi sono sembrate persone che evolvono con l'età, che crescono con il tempo che hanno sulle spalle, ma piuttosto eterni bambini, e non è che la cosa mi abbia fatto chissà quale tenerezza. Il comportamento di Luka poi mi ha veramente irritata: ancora più di Dora è un'idiota patentato! Una volta che si è decisi di fare la cazzata - questa inerzia dei due personaggi a far valere quello che vogliono è stata resa meglio ne La solitudine dei numeri primi, il che è tutto dire - ci si prendere le proprie responsabilità: non è degno di una persona adulta presentarsi all'ultimo minuto al parto di tua moglie e andarsene tipo tre secondi dopo aver saputo che bom, hanno sbolognato la figlia e tutto va bene; io me ne posso tornare a gambe levate da Dora. Ma stai scherzando? Inoltre la scena dove finalmente si degna di vedere almeno il prodotto della crrreazione è irrealistica quanto altri punti del romanzo: le solite frasi di circostanza prese un po' dalla tv un po' da altri romanzi rosa, non si sente un'autenticità di sentimenti.
Dora che dovrebbe essere una donna matura non fa che sostenere questa presa di posizione idiota: no, ma noi siamo anime gemelle, non è giusto che lui debba stare con sua moglie, ma che si separino, guarda che lui ama me e non te e te ne devi annà, e cose del genere.
Ma vabbè, sono entrambi incredibilmente ottusi, non è ostinazione per amore, è che sono proprio ottusi. Nient'altro. Luka non può avercela a vita con Dora solo perché questa si è trasferita da piccola, mamma mia, è un fatto che una persona normale accetta, l'ostinazione nel darle quasi la colpevolezza è infantile e inadeguata ad una persona mediamente adulta. Ma forse ho lasciato abbastanza ad intendere che i due non sono dotati di chissà quale materia grigia nel cranio. Disgrazie che possono capitare, è necessaria una certa solidarietà e comprensione.

In compenso ho un complimento da fare, e lo faccio alla copertina dell'edizione italiana: molto bella, davvero; e forse anche per questo affabulatrice.
C'è da dire che non è che il libro sia proprio illeggibile o terribile, solo che si mantiene nella media delle "finte storie d'amore appartenenti alla seconda categoria" che non si sono mai esulate dall'invadere le librerie.
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Aug 19, 2012 Katharina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Okay, so first of all: I read this book in German. Second: that was one of the biggest dissapointments in my life ever!

The story is easy. Dora and Luka are small children living in a small town in Croatia. They are best friends and it is all very cute and well written. I would have given four stars for that part of the book. But then Dora has to move together with her family.

Many, many years later they meet by accident and fall in love with each other. Surprise, surprise. At this point the sto...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Camille Turner rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was excited to read this book after seeing a review. Then I read it and was no longer excited. The main characters meet in kindergarten when Luka faints after he catches sight of Dora. She awakens him with a kiss and they are inseparable. That is until Dora's parents move to Paris and she forgets him. Fast forward a decade, and they meet again. Luka faints again and Dora awakens him with another kiss. They are inseparable, until Luka goes back to Croatia & finds a pregnant ex-girlfriend wh...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Anka rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, favorites

As you already read above, the story takes place in Croatia. And not just anywhere, but in an amazingly beautiful town called Makarska, along the coast of Croatia. The story is about Luka and Dora, two kids who spend all of their time together. At first they are just best friends and can’t be separated, but as they grow older they begin to feel more than just friendship. The story is written in such a beautiful way, you’d almost think that it’s you eating ice cream with your best friend, enjoyin...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Anica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

"Jeden Tag, jede Stunde" ist eines dieser Bücher, das man entweder mag - oder nicht. Ich gehöre eindeutig zu den Liebhabern diesers Buches, obwohl auch ich während des Lesens mir manchmal gerne die Haare gerauft hätte.

Denn seien wir ehrlich, insgesamt gesehen, ist die Story um Luka und Dora nicht wirklich neu. Das hat man schon öfters so gelesen. Trotzdem entfaltet dieses Buch einen Sog, dem ich mich schwer entziehen konnte. Das liegt am Schreibstil, der so wunderbar poetisch, luftig und einfach...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

A lovely piece of writing by a Croatian author but written originally in German, I believe, and then translated into English. Every Day, Every Hour is an unconventional love story...two star-crossed lovers who meet in early childhood, fall immediately in love, although they wouldn't put that name to it, are separated before reaching puberty and then are periodically, and temporarily, reunited from time to time over the years. Dora, an actress, lives in Paris, and Luka, an artist of considerable...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Ana Luisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Neste exacto momento terminei a leitura deste livro e não queria ir dormir sem antes expressar a minha opinião sobre ele. Ainda por mim fluem uma enormidade de emoções e por isso espero conseguir dar uma opinião recta acerca deste livro.

A autora trouxe até nós um livro incrível, escrito de uma forma simples mas tão intensa que a certa altura nos perguntamos nos porquês da vida, nos rumos incertos que esta por vezes toma. É uma história de amor que nos faz sonhar e acreditar no destino, num amor...more Neste exacto momento terminei a leitura deste livro e não queria ir dormir sem antes expressar a minha opinião sobre ele. Ainda por mim fluem uma enormidade de emoções e por isso espero conseguir dar uma opinião recta acerca deste livro.

A autora trouxe até nós um livro incrível, escrito de uma forma simples mas tão intensa que a certa altura nos perguntamos nos porquês da vida, nos rumos incertos que esta por vezes toma. É uma história de amor que nos faz sonhar e acreditar no destino, num amor tão grande que pode durar uma vida inteira, mas que também nos pode ser arrebatado por terceiros de forma cruel.

Luka e Dora personificam um sem fim de casais apaixonados, que por várias razões se vêm afastados. A autora consegue, com alguma facilidade entranhar no leitor do seu livro uma história que pode muito bem ser a nossa. Talvez esse seja o grande trunfo deste livro, ao tornar este amor tão simples, mas ao mesmo tempo tão complicado, este passa a não ser só o amor entre Luka e Dora, mas também começamos a vive-lo como se fosse nosso. Não chorei, mas muitas foram as vezes que dei por mim com sentimentos próximos aos das personagens e por isso, apesar de não ter chegado a vias de facto, cheguei ao ponto de sentir os olhos a arder e também senti por algumas vezes o coração “pesado”. Queria que conseguissem ser felizes, queria que ultrapassassem os obstáculos, que deixassem tudo e todos para viverem aquele amor, mas havia sempre algo que os fazia recuar. A autora conseguiu até ao fim mostrar-se correcta e lutar contra a vontade de escrever o “final feliz” para as suas personagens, na minha opinião tudo isso torna tudo muito mais especial, afinal devemos passar por certas dificuldades para darmos o respectivo valor áquilo que no final iremos ter nas nossas mãos. As coisas não devem ser-nos dadas de mão beijada, devemos lutar para ter aquilo que mais desejamos e o amor não é excepção.

Claro que com estas palavras, só quero dizer que adorei o livro e adorei principalmente as passagens de Pablo Neruda e em como os seus poemas tornam toda a história tão especial. Apesar de fora do vulgar, este é um livro que nos faz pensar na vida e fez-me pensar que vale a pena lutar pela felicidade. Que cada dia, cada hora deve ser repleta de alegria e amor.

http://viv-omundoencantadodoslivros.b...(less)

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Jun 19, 2012 Doreen rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Kate, Laura, maybe Diane

Recommended to Doreen by: saw it on Goodreads

The story is beautiful. It begins with a boy and a girl, three years apart in age, who are meant to be together forever. They are each half of a whole. That's just how strongly connected they are throughout their whole lives. Circumstances arise that separate them while they're still children. They reconnect when they're just beginning their adulthood. They are both artists, she's an actress and he's a painter. The connection remains between them, just as powerful as ever.

A sister, a manipulativ...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Andrea (Cozy Up With A Good Read) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read

Before I started blogging I was all about the chick lit and cute romance stories, and just because I haven't read as many doesn't mean I won't if I find them, this book was right back to my roots. I love books with this kind of idea to them, the whole story of soulmates that just have a hard time keeping their lives picture perfect. I was really excited when I saw this one, especially because it was a translation book. I was a little...more This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read

Before I started blogging I was all about the chick lit and cute romance stories, and just because I haven't read as many doesn't mean I won't if I find them, this book was right back to my roots. I love books with this kind of idea to them, the whole story of soulmates that just have a hard time keeping their lives picture perfect. I was really excited when I saw this one, especially because it was a translation book. I was a little hesitant going in because it can be hard to keep the voice in translation, but I can tell you this is not a disappointing book whatsoever.

When I started reading this book I was instantly in love with Dragnic's writing style. Her writing is like poetry and she really brings out the emotions of the characters in her words. I'm not usually a fan of poetry (and I'm not saying this is poetry) but it has that poetic feel to it that really works for this novel.

The characters in this book is really what kept me glued to the page, mainly the character of Dora. Both of these characters have their hardships they go through and they still try to come together and beat the odds. Dora was the strong character, who against everything kept fighting for what she believes in, no matter what it is. She hates to give in, and has a stubborn streak when she doesn't get what she wants. Though Luka was not a character that I enjoyed reading, I kept going back to see if he would change (like the synopsis says this is a book about both heartache and hope). Luka was weak and could never face anything that went wrong. He is more of the type that runs away, I mean he faints when he meets Dora for the first time after so many years.

Despite my issues with Luka's character this was one book that I could not get enough of and is now in my top books that I will re-read time and time again (along with The Time Traveler's Wife). There was so much to this book that I was not expecting and Natasa does a great job writing this love story to keep the hope alive amidst all the heartache. This book was absolutely beautiful.(less)

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Apr 21, 2013 Kristiana Ivanova rated it 4 of 5 stars

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If someone tells me to describe this book with just a single world, it will be TENDERNESS!

Everyone who knows me will agree that I am a hopeless romantic. I really enjoy reading stories in which love wins everybody and everything. And because of that reason my dearest boyfriend gave this book to me as a gift. And the gift was just the perfect one!

If love existed in a liquid state, it would be poured in the pen of this novel...more Please visit the original post at:
http://flower-from-the-moon.blogspot....

If someone tells me to describe this book with just a single world, it will be TENDERNESS!

Everyone who knows me will agree that I am a hopeless romantic. I really enjoy reading stories in which love wins everybody and everything. And because of that reason my dearest boyfriend gave this book to me as a gift. And the gift was just the perfect one!

If love existed in a liquid state, it would be poured in the pen of this novel's author, the newfound talent Natasa Dragnic from our favourite Croatia. And apart from that, the author expresses all the emotions that are growing stronger and stronger after every page read up to a point that the reader forgets himself and dives into the story, starts to feel it, not to read it.

The story itself can be described with two sentences. Luka and Dora are soulmates and they understand that from the first sight. However, their relationship is interrupted by the immigration of Dora's family abroad. After some years they meet each other again ... and get separated ... and get together again ... The book doesn't follow their story, it feels it! The author skillfully uses perfect adjectives with which she narrates the incredible relationship between the two main charecters. The book is poetic and makes you think about the value of true love. The same kind of love that links Dora and Luka. But their destiny is not easy and they have to face all sorts of obstacles. It would be so wonderful all the things to be simple, but life is everything but not simple.

The charecters are realistic but not ideal - the strong one now is weak after a while. The effect of the book increases by the fact that Dora and Luka are art people. And also by the fact that the story is narrated from the point of view of both of them.

This is a story about a pure and true love between two people and about a thing that is constantly taken away from them. Because that is what life looks. I would reccomend 'Every day, every hour' to every girl around me bacause the subject of the book is clearly romantic. Don't hesitate and go to buy it! You won't regret it!
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Jul 09, 2012 Zara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, review-list

Every Day, Every Hour by Natasa Dragnic is a hyperbolic romance in a small town called Makarska in Croatia that begins from childhood between a shy boy named Luka whose own anxiety causes him to have fainting spells and an extroverted, exuberant girl named Dora whose beauty and demands cause both drama and awe.

The narrative begins in a juvenile tone most probably because the voices speak as young children. But, even as the story progresses and the children grow into young men and women, the lang...more Every Day, Every Hour by Natasa Dragnic is a hyperbolic romance in a small town called Makarska in Croatia that begins from childhood between a shy boy named Luka whose own anxiety causes him to have fainting spells and an extroverted, exuberant girl named Dora whose beauty and demands cause both drama and awe.

The narrative begins in a juvenile tone most probably because the voices speak as young children. But, even as the story progresses and the children grow into young men and women, the language remains for the most part, juvenile. It is difficult to decipher whether this is a hindrance on behalf of the author’s inability to write better, if omissions were made in context by its translation, or if it was indeed intentional in order to emphasize the over-sweeping indulgences of romance?

While the story is centred around the two characters, Luka and Dora, they are surrounded by a cast of characters who are mildly amused, if not curious or adamantly vehement and bewildered by their passion and connection to one another.

Zoran, Luka’s father understands the weight of love and the burden of responsibility. Ana, Luka’s sister, whose impatience with the fluttering of romance far outweighs the need to support it due to her firm belief in responsibility and obligation. And Klara, whose blinding love and desperation moves her to succumb to a cold and lifeless marriage.

While the premise of the story is an admirable one—an overpowering love that surpasses other forms of passion, even time itself—the writing fails itself in its over-simplification and cliché, which, rather than fully evoke the empathy of its readers towards the passion of the characters’ romance, may indeed deter them from it due to the tone of its exaggerated melodrama.

The characters themselves are deeply flawed, Luka, more than Dora, in his inability to fester courage to speak, stand for, and affirm his professions of love through a simple act that would undoubtedly free him to do so.

As for Dora, though a much braver spirit than Luka in her ability to go after what she wants with a voracity and fervour, does not, in her desire to claim the love that rightfully belongs to her, ever directly face the obstacle that hinders her freedom from being with her lover.

To read the rest of this review, please visit my blog, The Bibliotaphe's Closet: http://zaraalexis.wordpress.com/2012/...

Thanks,
Zara(less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Croatia, Luka is being born. He comes into this world a small, fragile boy. Unlike, Dora, who comes out screaming to the world that she has arrived. Luka grows up a quiet boy. He likes to paint. Dora was born to mark and leave her makr in the world. The first day of school is the day that she first saw Luka. He was watching her. Suddenly, he fainted. Dora knew just what to do. She marched over to Luka, kissed him and whispher, "You are my sleeping beauty, only mine, wake up, my prince, you ar...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Heather Panella rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't know in what universe I ever think that it's a good idea to read a tragic love story, but I did and I cried through the whole thing. I only picked it up because the author is Croatian and I felt that my heritage and I owed her a read! This book was beautiful and made me want to visit Paris then hop on a plane to Croatia and most of all find a man who will quote Pablo Neruda to me! Readers beware, though, this is not an easy read or a book that's quietly heartbreaking, it's one that rages...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Amanda rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My boyfriend has been telling me that all I read are depressing books, so I decided to pick this one up and find the happy outlook on life. Oh was I wrong.
I thought this would be the classic story of boy meets girl, they spend every moment with each other but they are still too young to know the connection they share and then tragically due to life circumstances they are separated. This might be sad but wait, in a weird twist of fate they are reunited and realize that they have always loved eac...more My boyfriend has been telling me that all I read are depressing books, so I decided to pick this one up and find the happy outlook on life. Oh was I wrong.
I thought this would be the classic story of boy meets girl, they spend every moment with each other but they are still too young to know the connection they share and then tragically due to life circumstances they are separated. This might be sad but wait, in a weird twist of fate they are reunited and realize that they have always loved each other and aren’t they happy to be in the others glowing embrace once again. [Yuck,this is where my gag reflex takes over.]
So, yes the lovers are once again united, but if this is an epic romance you know that fate cannot and never is so kind. There is always a jealous woman in the shadows who wants to be the epic lover of the male lothario herself. So she plots and wheedles her way into the picture so that once again the lovers are separated and completely tragic in their shared misery of being apart.
The story reads exactly like this until we get to what should be the happy ever after. Dora, the main character, in her last effort to grasp happiness from her true love Luka has a plan. In my point of view what happens next could be one of two things: first, undoubtedly crazy to concoct such a plan or secondly, incredible bravery to carry on that spirit of true love. This is what she does: Dora goes to Luka and times it perfectly so that she will conceive his child. When she has to return home she doesn’t tell him about the baby, but continues to live her life and raise their child.
Meanwhile Luka is inconsolable that Dora has once again left him, this was supposed to be their big reunification they weren’t supposed to be separated again. Klara, the “evil wife”, takes advantage of the situation and basically Luka and once again ends up pregnant with his baby. The years are passing by, the children are getting older and the adults are starting to grey. Luka’s eldest daughter needs a kidney and Luka steps up to do what he can for her. Surprise of all surprises, he finds out that she isn’t really his daughter.
Now, finally he can go to Dora and be reunited with her and the crazy Klara can be seen for what she truly is a manipulative, desperate person who ruined the lives of others. Considering this story takes place in modern day I couldn’t escape the nagging question of why didn’t Luka just leave her if he was so unhappy? I understand that children were involved, but couldn’t he still be a good father and be happy with his own life?
And then this happens. Dora returns to see Luka and I guess to inform him that he has a teenage son. He doesn’t seem to be upset that he has a son that he missed the experience of raising and being a father to. Yet, he gets mad over the news that Dora has married. This is the part that gets me ticked. Luka has been a coward for not leaving his manipulative wife but when he finds out that Dora has a husband he rails and gets upset. He is mad that they cannot be together in their old age, forget about the fact that they could have reached that old age together if Luka had just said, “good-bye Klara.” He doesn’t get mad about not being involved in his son’s life just that he can’t be with Dora. To me this seems a little unrealistic. After such a long time he should have expected and been happy that Dora was able to find a little happiness, but to keep a child from him should have made him rail. Well I guess one has to pick and choose their battles.
So my quest for a happy book was not fruitful if anything I found another sad one. Maybe, this story was more of a cautionary tale of how love can sometimes go epically and tragically wrong. It makes for a good story sometimes but in this case I have my doubts.
(less)

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Feb 06, 2013 Jeanette rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-books

Such a beautiful book.

Dora and Luka are children together, best friends, soul mates. And then, Dora's family moves away. Years later, after they have both forgotten each other, but not forgotten the connection they shared, they meet again and everything is beautiful and perfect and the world is right.

But, of course, it doesn't stay that way.

For me, this book was about choices. Luka and Dora are pulled apart by choices they have no control over, but their own choices keep them apart and affect...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fiction

When Dora is two years old she is sent to nursery school because her mother has to go back to work; there she meets five year old Luka, a boy prone to fainting fits, and the two children become the best of friends. It's a friendship that has something otherworldly about it - the townsfolk of Makarska, on the coast of Croatia, watch and wonder at it. But when Dora is six, her family moves to Paris, and they seem to forget about each other.

Years later, Luka is promising a young artist visiting Par...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Mgipple rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pretty sappy, but pretty good.

I haven't read a book like this one in a while. It's written in a very direct, stream of consciousness-type prose. I liked it, some people probably think it's juvenile and easy. Ok. One thing I really enjoyed was how Dragnic would repeat certain phrases or even paragraphs or whole pages. You would read it, think "wait, did I start again too early, didn't I already read this?" be confused for a minute, check back, and realize that you were reading the same thing agai...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Elif rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tauschliste

Meine Meinung

Ich hatte wirklich große Erwartungen an dieses Buch, da die Inhaltsangabe so vielversprechend klang. Leider konnte „Jeden Tag, jede Stunde“ meine Erwartungen nicht erfüllen.
Anfangs hat mir die Geschichte noch ganz gut gefallen, doch schon da haben mich die Charaktere gestört. Ich konnte mit ihnen einfach nicht warm werden.
Dora ist mir viel zu sehr von sich selbst überzeugt gewesen und viel zu sehr davon überzeugt, dass Luka sie liebte. Natürlich tat er das, aber nie kamen ihr Zwei...more Meine Meinung

Ich hatte wirklich große Erwartungen an dieses Buch, da die Inhaltsangabe so vielversprechend klang. Leider konnte „Jeden Tag, jede Stunde“ meine Erwartungen nicht erfüllen.
Anfangs hat mir die Geschichte noch ganz gut gefallen, doch schon da haben mich die Charaktere gestört. Ich konnte mit ihnen einfach nicht warm werden.
Dora ist mir viel zu sehr von sich selbst überzeugt gewesen und viel zu sehr davon überzeugt, dass Luka sie liebte. Natürlich tat er das, aber nie kamen ihr Zweifel auf, egal, was passierte, was mir wiederum unrealistisch erschien.
Auch Luka hat mir nicht gefallen, wenn auch anfangs besser als Dora. Doch im Verlauf des Buches sagt und tut er so viele Dinge, oder eher gesagt, er tut sie nicht, sodass ich am liebsten ins Buch gesprungen wäre, um ihn einmal richtig durchzuschütteln. Sein Handeln war mir an keiner Stelle verständlich. Zwar wird eine kleine Begründung genannt, doch ist diese in meinen Augen bei Weitem nicht einleuchtend genug gewesen. Ich war einfach unzufrieden. Und blieb es. Denn die Charaktere bleiben so, sie verändern sich nicht, sie entwickeln sich nicht. Sie nehmen es hin, dass sie nicht zusammen sein können und leben einfach weiter. Dabei werden ihre Gefühle füreinander in den Szenen, die sie zusammen verbringen, so stark beschrieben, so entschlossen. Ich hatte keine Zweifel daran, dass die beiden füreinander bestimmt waren. Aber warum so wenig Kampfgeist? Es wollte mir einfach nicht in den Kopf. Natürlich gibt es auch im wirklichen Leben Personen, die feige sind, die resignieren, die sich fügen und alles so hinnehmen, wie es ist. Aber diese verpassten Chancen kann und konnte ich auch im Roman nicht nachempfinden. Außerdem behandelten die Protagonisten ihr Umfeld teilweise sehr unfair, ob aus Liebe oder Egoismus oder beidem, das ist mir nicht ganz klar geworden, aber nachvollziehbar war es jedenfalls nicht.
Die Charaktere und die Handlung waren demnach schonmal nicht nach meinem Geschmack.
Der Schreibstil hingegen hat mir eigentlich gut gefallen, an ein paar Stellen fand ich ihn aber übertrieben. Wenn Beschreibungen in Sätzen verpackt sind, die teilweise fast eine halbe Seite füllen, so finde ich das nicht schlimm. Das ist der Stil des Autors, die künstlerische Freiheit. Wenn ein Charakter so redet, dann finde ich das auch okay, weil ich mir vorstellen kann, dass ein Charakter mal so redet. Aber wenn wirklich alle Charaktere in der wörtlichen Rede so lange Sätze sprechen, dann finde ich das unrealistisch. Aber das klingt schlimmer als es ist, denn diese Kleinigkeit ist mir nur an wenigen Stellen aufgefallen. Abgesehen davon war der Schreibstil schön, wenn auch nicht umhauend.
Insgesamt habe ich das Buch aber als unzufriedenstellend empfunden. Die Charaktere machen Fehler, verpassen Chancen, aber sie ändern nichts, sie machen einfach so weiter, bis zum Schluss. Mag sein, dass die Autorin die Realität darstellen wollte, die „bittere Wahrheit“, aber diese ist, wie man sieht, nichts für mich.

Fazit
Wer dieses Buch lesen möchte, sollte darauf gefasst sein, Gedanken und Handlungsweisen der Charaktere nicht nachvollziehen zu können. Es handelt zwar von einer großen und schönen Liebe, aber auch von Fehlern, Egoismus, Resignation und leeren Versprechungen. Lesen lässt sich das Buch zwar schnell und auch gut, aber es hinterlässt einen unzufrieden und verärgert. Selbst der Gedanke, dass das die unverblümte Realität in Romanform sein könnte, konnte mich nicht milder stimmen.
Von mir gibt es leider von 2 von 5 Sternen, da ich mir wirklich mehr erhofft hatte und die Autorin meiner Meinung nach auch viel mehr aus der Idee hätte rausholen können. (less)

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Dec 20, 2011 Sonia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Un libro piccolino, solo 220 pagine, eppure già sta facendo parlare di sé provocando aperti dissensi, o totali consensi.
Non pensavo che una storia del genere, che si legge in poche ore (un paio basteranno) e che racconta l'amore tra un ragazzo e una ragazza, iniziata nell'infanzia e durata un'intera vita, potesse provocare commenti così accalorati.
Luka e Dora vivono in un paese di mare, in Croazia e trascorrono la loro infanzia insieme, diventando in poco tempo inseparabili. come se fin da picco...more Un libro piccolino, solo 220 pagine, eppure già sta facendo parlare di sé provocando aperti dissensi, o totali consensi.
Non pensavo che una storia del genere, che si legge in poche ore (un paio basteranno) e che racconta l'amore tra un ragazzo e una ragazza, iniziata nell'infanzia e durata un'intera vita, potesse provocare commenti così accalorati.
Luka e Dora vivono in un paese di mare, in Croazia e trascorrono la loro infanzia insieme, diventando in poco tempo inseparabili. come se fin da piccoli già sentissero di appartenersi, di essere destinati l'uno all'altra. I loro giorni trascorrono in riva al mare, guardando le nuvole, parlando. Quando Dora e la famiglia dovranno trasferirsi in Francia, tutto sembra aver fine. Perdono qualsiasi contatto fin quasi a dimenticarsi della recirpoca esistenza. Ma, come in una bella favola, l'arrivo di Luka a Parigi darà loro una seconda occasione e da questo nuovo incontro l'amore non nascerà ma ritornerà, più vero e forte di prima. Da quel momento in poi, insieme all'amore inizieranno mille altre difficoltà, fatte di amori passati, di figli non voluti, di responsabilità gravose.
Riusciranno Luka e Dora a vivere il loro amore, assecondando il destino che li vuole uniti, lottando contro quegli ostacoli che si presentano puntualmente sul loro percorso?
Ogni lettore potrà dare la risposta che più si addice al proprio animo: romantico, cinico, sognatore, concreto.
Cosa c'è di tanto detestabile e di altrettanto amabile in una storia come questa?
L'autrice è stata criticata per lo stile, per le sue frasi brevi e spezzate, per la punteggiatura ricorrente dopo due sole parole... c'è chi in questo modo narrativo ci ha visto della poesia, chi invece l'ha trovato irritante e superficiale. I due protagonisti si amano, sanno che si ameranno per sempre, eppure fanno spesso delle scelte incoerenti coi loro sentimenti: c'è chi ha smontato passo passo tutta la storia, soprattutto il personaggio maschile e le sue scelte infelici, e gli stessi eventi che si susseguono, e chi ha vissuto il tormento di quell'amore difficile apprezzandone l'intensità e la portata.
Dov'è la mia opinione tra le due correnti opposte?

il commento continua qui:
http://cuoredinchiostro.blogspot.com/...(less)

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Jan 13, 2012 Stefanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

Dora und Luka waren schon als Kinder unzertrennlich, seit Dora das erste mal in den Kindergarten kam. Es folgte eine Freundschaft, wie das kleine Fischerdorf an der kroatischen Küste sie noch nie gesehen hat. Doch dann zog Dora mit ihren Eltern nach Paris. Erst Jahre später sehen die beiden sich wieder.

Jeden Tag, jede Stunde ist kein kitschiger Liebesroman, bei dem man mit den Protagonisten hofft, dass sie am Ende zusammen sein können. Die Autorin hat hier Kapitel 40 ganz an den Anfang des Buche...more
Dora und Luka waren schon als Kinder unzertrennlich, seit Dora das erste mal in den Kindergarten kam. Es folgte eine Freundschaft, wie das kleine Fischerdorf an der kroatischen Küste sie noch nie gesehen hat. Doch dann zog Dora mit ihren Eltern nach Paris. Erst Jahre später sehen die beiden sich wieder.

Jeden Tag, jede Stunde ist kein kitschiger Liebesroman, bei dem man mit den Protagonisten hofft, dass sie am Ende zusammen sein können. Die Autorin hat hier Kapitel 40 ganz an den Anfang des Buches gestellt, so dass man eigentlich schon weiß, was passieren wird. Der Weg dort hin ist das eigentliche Ziel. Und so verfolgt man Dora und Luka auf ihrem Lebensweg, in Liebe, Verzweiflung, Trauer, aber auch in diesen ganz besonderen Momenten, in denen sie einfach Dora und Luka sein können und die ganze Welt um sich vergessen. Mehr als einmal hatte ich beim Lesen Tränen in den Augen.

Sehr faszinierend fand ich auch, wie Nataša Dragnić mit Sprache spielt und sie in ihre Geschichte mit einbezieht. Das komplette Buch ist im Präsens geschrieben, was ich eigentlich nicht so gerne mag und meistens auch etwas befremdlich finde. Hier passt es aber einfach gut und nach einigen Kapiteln fällt es gar nicht mehr auf.

Es gibt Absätze, die durchgehend klein geschrieben sind und in denen kein Punkt und kein Komma zu finden ist. Da dies nicht übermäßig oft auftaucht und nicht übermäßig viele Passagen betrifft, konnte ich das auch als interessantes Stilmittel akzeptieren und empfand es nicht als störend. Ich fühlte mich teilweise sogar an einen Bewusstseinsstrom à la James Joyce erinnert.

Einige Passagen wiederholen sich dann auch manchmal, was auf mich aber nicht wie billiges Kopieren wirkte. Es macht mir als Leser bewusst, dass die Situation, in der die Protagonisten sich gerade befinden, die gleiche ist, wie schon zuvor einmal.Das regt dazu an, nochmal über das Gelesene nachzudenken und vielleicht sogar nochmal zurückzublättern.

Jeden Tag, jede Stunde ist ein faszinierendes Buch, bei dem Inhalt und sprachliche Gestaltung sich perfekt ergänzen. Ich werde Dora, Luka und ihre schicksalshafte Liebe jedenfalls nicht so schnell vergessen.(less)

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Aug 18, 2012 Päivi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

I've got mixed feelings about this book. It's a beautiful story. One of those "bigger than life" love stories that begins when 5 years old Luka and 2 years old Dora meet at the kindergarten. Life droves them apart few years later until they meet again after being apart 16 years. There were just so many situations that got me thinking how differently I would've wrote this story.. And that doesn't happen to me often. But if you like to give it a chance it's a fast book to read ;)

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Jun 30, 2012 Natalia rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I saw this book listed in the Goodreads newsletter, I was intrigued mainly due to my personal connection with that part of the world. The book is written in German by a Croatian author, so there is always that question if what you are reading is what the author envisioned. The prose itself was a bit simplistic, but it could be because of the translation.
Nevertheless, the story itself was a little sad, other times irritating, but otherwise good with little surprises intertwined for both ma...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Martha Bryce rated it 3 of 5 stars

I just wanted more than this book delivered. The first part - the childhood of the lovers, Luka and Dora is exquisite, beautifully written, evocative of the time, the place, the innocence and beauty of childhood. Unfortunately, the rest of the book simply does not live up to the opening. The interludes are stilted, the choices, mundane. The ending is lovely, though.

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Jun 19, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a very quick read! I STARTED it and finished it in one sitting. It is a sad romantic love story between two people who are soul mates.. Love at first sight and yet their lives lead them in different directions.. Lucka makes me crazy!!

This is a first novel for this author and I LOVE reading firsts!

It's a good summer read!

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May 04, 2013 World Literature Today added it

Shelves: reviewed

"Though it promises a haunting romance, the novel more resembles Nicholas Sparks than Shakespeare." - Michele Levy, North Carolina A&T University

This book was reviewed in the May 2013 issue of World Literature Today. Read the full review by visiting our site: http://bit.ly/126IvNP

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title link	preview: Every Day, Every Hour
avg rating	preview: Every Day, Every Hour Goodreads rating: 3.15 (254 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13091294-every-day-every-hour?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333588993l/13091294.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13091294-every-day-every-hour?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Every Day, Every Hour by Natasa Dragnic[/url]

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