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Cafe Europa: Life After Communism

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 461 ratings · 57 reviews

Drakulic (How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed) notes that Eastern Europeans are so anxious to become like their Western counterparts that every city and town has a Cafe Europa that is a pale imitation of similar establishments in Paris and Rome. She presents here a collection of essays that explore life in various Eastern European countries since the fall of communi...more

Paperback, 224 pages

Published February 1st 1999 by Penguin Books (first published 1996)

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Apr 02, 2012 John David rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-or-autobiography, essays, modern-history, politics

This is a collection of political reportage written in the years immediately following the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. According to the inside cover of the book, Drakulic “contributes regularly” The Nation and the New Republic, which would fit with the quasi-journalistic, descriptive approach that she takes in these pieces. I use with the word “journalistic” as a slight pejorative here, as a way of denoting a style that is more inclined to be demonstrative and flat, as opposed to couchi...more This is a collection of political reportage written in the years immediately following the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. According to the inside cover of the book, Drakulic “contributes regularly” The Nation and the New Republic, which would fit with the quasi-journalistic, descriptive approach that she takes in these pieces. I use with the word “journalistic” as a slight pejorative here, as a way of denoting a style that is more inclined to be demonstrative and flat, as opposed to couching her opinions in a critical framework that would offer the reader insightful explanations. Most of her conclusions are fairly banal, though some of her observations are not devoid of interest.

For a book of barely two hundred pages, there are twenty-five essays, so they are short and accessible, almost made for picking up and putting down at leisure. In fact, the one major criticisms I have of the book is that the essays are a little too short, so much that it sometimes inhibits Drakulic’s ability to fully flesh out the ideas at hand. The essay topics are varied, but tend to revolve around a constellation of relatively abiding concerns: two of these are the consumerism of post-liberalized, post-communist Eastern Europe and its growing homogeneity, and shifting political attitudes.

Drakulic is deeply ambivalent about Europe being taken over by the cultural accoutrements – really only simulacra – of Western Europe, symbolized by the ubiquitous “Café Europa,” the iconic Viennese coffee shop, which has apparently cropped up all over the place. Even the name “Europe” has come to signify a kind of sybaritic luxury. A cinema in Drakulic’s home city of Zagreb changed its name from “The Balkan” to “Cinema Europa,” indicative of a willed escape from primitivism, war, and everything non-European. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is how Drakulic looks at Europe as a name “loaded with the complexity of positive values” (p. 11). Which begs the question: is Europe one thing any longer, or merely what we make of it for ourselves?

The highlights of the collection, not surprisingly, are the pieces in which Drakulic gives herself the appropriate space to think through an issue. Here are a few of my favorites, including a short description of each. “The Trouble with Sales” explores some patterns – ones that Drakulic herself admits are paradoxes – about shopping and consumerism in an age of the new economic logic of capitalism, especially her old habit of seeking out sales – a habit which she can’t seem to finally kick. “Invisible Walls Between Us” looks at the bizarre and discriminatory travel strictures imposed on Easterners, who are often looked down upon as suspicious foreigners while traveling in Western Europe. “A King for the Balkans” is an insightful look at the political psychology in Yugoslavia as Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic makes his first post-exilic visit to an unusually warm reception given the country’s history under previous monarchy.
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Sep 21, 2012 Orsodimondo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: croazia, reportage

SOLO I MORTI HANNO VISTO LA FINE DELLA GUERRA
Slavenka Drakulić fa storia vera attraverso gli aneddoti, l'osservazione personale, l'esperienza diretta, attraverso le conversazioni coi suoi amici o gli incontri fortuiti in autobus, attraverso i suoi tanti viaggi eupoei, all'ovest e sopratutto all'est, dove è nata, oppure in USA, Israele, altrove.
E' ironica, acuta, grande osservatrice, dotata di collegamenti rapidi, di una visione ampia, in grado di ricavare una lezione di storia dall'acquisto di...more

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Apr 13, 2010 Steve Kettmann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: slavenka-drakulic

This was the book that alerted me to Drakulic's exquisite gifts as a writer, and in that I think I was not alone: It enjoyed a brief boomlet of attention in the U.S. And well it should have. These essays are gems. I plan to read it again on another trip to the former ex-Yugoslavia at some point this year. She was writing presciently back when others were just standing there, dazed, trying to make sense of what had changed and why. For example, in the essay "Invisible Walls Between Us," she write...more

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Feb 19, 2010 Rebecca rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, historical, non-fiction, translated, travel

I was dissapointed with this book, I'm not sure if it's becuase I had high expectations or because it just wasn't that good.

I was originally recommended this author before our trip last year to Eastern Europe and the Balkans. While I did like identifying the places mentioned by the author as place we have been, I didn't like the authors whining tone, or her "Western European" husband - I can understand why she might not have experienced some things, but he just seemed like a prat, try getting in...more

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Jul 27, 2009 okyrhoe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookcrossing, yugoslavia

This book is still relevant today. I read the book twice. The last passage was particularly poignant for me. I don't think we (Europeans) have adequately answered the concluding sentence of the book - the question of "What is Europe after Bosnia?"

This is an issue that is particularly complex for Greece and the Greek people. Rather than being informed by the relatively recent events in our own national history (population exchanges, loss of homelands, loss of human life), we assummed a morally q...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arts-and-historical

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Nov 06, 2011 Catalina rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Eastern Europeans

Recommended to Catalina by: saw it in a bookstore in BiH

Shelves: balkan

I read some reviews of this author as one of the best european feminist essayists. While I agree with her takes on post-communist cultures and the post in post-communist not meaning eastern europeans having overcome the strong-rooted communist mentality, her portrayal of women in the last few stories/essays of this book struck me as not very feminist. Also, I totally disagree with her last essay, on Bosnia (and Herzegovina, as she fails to name the country fully), but that might be also because...more

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Jun 04, 2009 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

As an Eastern European myself (Hungarian/Slovak), I found Ms Drakulic an intuitive and penetrating commentator on the difference between East and West. Europe as a concept has always acted like a mirage for those who have spent decades under the mind-warping effects of Communism. Imagine the disappointment when the Golden West turned out to be a number of disunited countries who essentially didn't care about Eastern Europe in general or the Balkans in particular.

This book is required reading fo...more

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Dec 12, 2012 KOMET rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: travel-and-culture, europe-post-cold-war, zz-out-of-residence

Reading this collection of reportage, reflections, and commentaries of someone who had lived in a communist country which, after 1990, opted for democracy --- and war ---- put me on the road to Memory Lane.
The euphoria of 1989 which culminated in the fall of the Berlin Wall and celebrations from Prague, to Warsaw, and (belatedly) to Bucharest, Sofia, and Tirana as the Eastern Bloc collapsed. Yugoslavia (the author's former country) was a slightly different case. In 1990 and 1991, it more or less...more

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Jan 04, 2011 DubaiReader rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

A collection of essays.

I read this book while on holiday in modern day Croatia, chosen because the author is Croatian (although she now lives in Vienna with her Swedish husband).
It is basically a collection of essays which appear to be strangely frozen in time between the fall of Communism and the modern Croatia which I visited. It was this photograph of a country in turmoil that was its appeal.

Writing this review six months later, several things have stuck with me about the book.
Firstly, the fa...more

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Jun 25, 2009 Noel added it

Shelves: non-fiction

Cafe Europa is the non fiction account of what life is life in the old communist countries of Yugoslavia, The Czech Republic and others in the Balkin states. It's told as sheer commentary from the point of view of one lady, born in 1949 in Croatia, right after the war, married to an Swede, and living in Austria. Her point of view is naturally very subjective to her experience - and - this book was written in 1996 - which makes it very dated in the year 2009, as the explosion of internet technolo...more Cafe Europa is the non fiction account of what life is life in the old communist countries of Yugoslavia, The Czech Republic and others in the Balkin states. It's told as sheer commentary from the point of view of one lady, born in 1949 in Croatia, right after the war, married to an Swede, and living in Austria. Her point of view is naturally very subjective to her experience - and - this book was written in 1996 - which makes it very dated in the year 2009, as the explosion of internet technology has changed even the most remote parts of the world.

Having said that, and having lived through 3 years of communist government in South America - so much of what she wrote about rang true, poor dental health, the desire to be European or American, yet taking immense pride in one's own flawed country, trying to smuggle things like blue jeans and nail polish into the country, buying cheap things on sale even when you can afford better quality - so many of these idiosyncracies are shared with her experience, that the book was worth it for that reason.

On the negative side, I wish there had been a map included, I wish that there had been a brief refresher course on the recent history of that area, because as she dropped political names and countries and cities, they all rang familiar, but I couldn't quite place each one in context. I also felt that there was very little positive to be said of her part of the world - the fleecing of tourists, the unsmiling shopkeepers, the harsh customs agents, the unhappy people - the whole thing was a bit hopeless and seemed to be written in anger, as though after a particularly bad day she had come home to write an essay in her diary and therefore felt better about things. The coffee was bad, the pastries nothing like what was served in Austria, the items for sale were cheaply constructed and overpriced and on and on and on. Not even her father had redeeming features. In that sense her writing somewhat reflects the countries she is trying to describe.(less)

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Oct 21, 2007 Nicholas Whyte added it · review of another edition

http://nhw.livejournal.com/685280.html[return][return]Collection of short pieces (presumably newspaper columns) by this Croatian writer, who I have not previously read. To be honest, after the first third of it, I was ready to put the book down: too much whining about the state of the world, very much reminding me of why I didn't much like living in Zagreb in 1998: Croatia then seemed both smug and fragile, a curious combination. Things have improved, however, and every time I return to the coun...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Ahmed Alaa El-din rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

الكتاب ينصح بقرائته لكل الشعوب التي هي حديثة العهد بالثورات... كثير من الأحداث والمشاعر التي نعيشها في مصر الآن بعد الثورة حدثت في أوروبا الشرقية .. بعد أن تقرأ هذا الكتاب تكتشف أنك لست وحدك من تفعل أشياء تظن أن شعبك وحده يفعلها .. المصريون ليسوا كائنات فضائية مختلفة عن باقي البشر.. كلنا واحد وكلنا ممرنا بمعظم التجارب المتشابهة.. ولكننا لا نقرأ للأسف

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May 04, 2011 GregCarey10 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Slovenka Drakulic's examination of European identity through her collection of anecdotal essays is fantastic. She paints a remarkable picture of what it was like to be an Eastern European after the fall of communism. Everything from buying a vacuum, to the state of toilets, to travelling to israel, Drakulic examines what it means to be a Croat, an Eastern European, and if there is a possibility of ever reuniting the east and west. Great read, especially for those interested in european history!

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Jan 13, 2013 Kirsten rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: balkans, 2013-books, history, worldviews

This book was published in 1996, not too long after the fall of Communism. My one major issue with it is that most of the essays didn't include the date when the place was visited -- perhaps there was a big difference between a visit made in 1991 and one in 1995. That being said, I'd love to see an updated version of this book, to know how it is Eastern Europeans are feeling about being part of the "Europe" that is so often mentioned by Drakulić.

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Apr 09, 2012 Ivana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 02, 2009 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will be going to Croatia in October. I am trying to read books and view movies about the country. This book of esays written in 1996, was of interest to me....but, I dont think it would interest my friends. Well written. Paints a sad picture of the Balkan countries. Ater I read about an area or an event, I searched for more info on the internet. For me it was a good introduction to a country about which I have little knowledge.

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Mar 19, 2013 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a child, I lived in Europe during the early to mid-1990s. We used to visit parts of the former eastern bloc (most frequently the Czech or Slovak Republics) for sightseeing or shopping. At the time, I was too young to fully comprehend the significance of what was happening in those places socially, politically, and economically. As an adult, though I now have an understanding of the political and economic impact of the Societ Union's fall, I found this collection of essays provided a much-need...more

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Jul 19, 2009 Neale Rigg rated it 2 of 5 stars

Two main gripes: was written and published too soon after the collapse of Communism for it to be anything other than a knee-jerk account of life in "unified" Europe. Also, her relatively privileged background (university educated, married to affluent Swede) undermines her attempts to relay the horrors of the destitution and the oppression that were rife in Eastern Europe.

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Jan 04, 2008 Jennine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cafe Europa is more than 10 years old but Drakulic's reflections on the division between Eastern and Western Europe do not feel out of date. She is a deft hand at drawing the borders of her own essays so that they encompass individual history (often Drakulic's personal history) as well as international history. What she sees between Eastern and Western Europe is a history of misunderstanding, characterized largely by yearning in the East, indifference in the West, and misunderstandings on both s...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Dawn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, non-fiction-eastern-europe

After a trip to Eastern Europe I wanted to learn more about the effect that communism had on that part of the world and this book seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

This is a series of articles written from 1992 to 1996. Mostly centering on the former Yugoslavia, as that is where the author grew up, but encompassing the outlook and feelings of the entire area.
I didn’t visit Eastern Europe until 2012 but much of what she wrote still holds true today and I found it enlightened my North American mind...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Tabitha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Drakulic always writes thought-provoking essays, and makes for interesting reading. While I think "How We Survived Communism..." is the better book, I did also find the essays in this book to be incredibly insightful about life in Eastern Europe after the fall of Communism.

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Apr 27, 2013 Mimi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013

I read two of Drakulic's books of essays in college, and really enjoyed them. This collection is set right after Communism fell, and is not as captivating as I remember her other collections being. However, the last essay of the book is fantastic.

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Jun 28, 2009 carrietracy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Written over 10 years ago, this book gives a look into life in the countries that had been under communist rule. The two or three chapters were hard for me to follow. Drakulic uses only city names, without following them with the name of their country which was hard for me as I free admit both my history and geography for that part of the world is sorely lacking. The book is a series of relatively unrelated observations, there's no real flow from chapter to chapter, but nonetheless gives readers...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Jenny marked it as abandoned

This ended up being too personal and too broad to be as insightful as I was hoping. Also the pub date of 1996 captures a moment in time but isn't probably as indicative of the current experience 16 years later.

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Jul 28, 2011 Sjonni added it · review of another edition

A series of 24 essays published in 1996 that explores the first six years of democratic transition in the former "Eastern-Bloc" and the then unpredictable future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Jun 20, 2012 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars

If it weren't for the few articles that offered genuine insights, I would have tossed this book. The chapter about the vacuum cleaner was nothing short of bewildering.

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Jan 08, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: soviet-post-soviet, 2011, essays

A collection of essays that consider different aspects on the post-Soviet experience. I was disappointed for the most part, wanting reflections that went a little deeper than these vignettes that often felt more quirky than meaningful. In chapters where she drew on specific stories, I was much more satisfied. Her last essays in the book, 'An Unforgettable Meeting,' and 'Bosnia, or What Europe Means to Us' were the best. I'll still give her memoir ('How We Survived Communism, and Even Laughed') a...more

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Feb 17, 2010 Allison rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the comparison between Eastern/Western European cultures after the Iron Curtain. Her description of these national demeanors are right on in my experience.

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Jul 10, 2012 Reem rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

الكتاب ككل يصف عقلية ما بعد الشيويعية في شرق اوروبا و التغيير الذي لم يحدث في عقلية الشرق اوروبيين و كيف أن التغيير الحادث بعد انفراط عقد الاتحاد السوفيتي هو الترنح القوي للدول الفقيرة التي كانت به

يمكن حاسه بعض الوصف في الكتاب ده بينطبق بشكل كبير أوي على المجتمع المصري و حالته بعد مروره بالملكية و الجمهورية و يمكن العقلية اللي كان و مازال يتم التفكير بها

في رأي ترتيب المقالات كان سيء إلى حد ما يمكن لو كان الترتيب مختلف و منظم عن كده كان ساعد في الكتاب شويه
كمان آخد عليها نقطة ضعف النقل ما بين ا...more

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About Slavenka Drakulić

Slavenka Drakulić (1949) is a noted Croatian writer and publicist, whose books have been translated into many languages. Her main interests include the political and ideological situation in post-communist countries, war crimes, nationalism, feminist issues, illness, female body and old age.

In her fiction Drakulić has touched on a variety of topics, such as dealing with illness and fear of death...more Slavenka Drakulić (1949) is a noted Croatian writer and publicist, whose books have been translated into many languages. Her main interests include the political and ideological situation in post-communist countries, war crimes, nationalism, feminist issues, illness, female body and old age.

In her fiction Drakulić has touched on a variety of topics, such as dealing with illness and fear of death in Holograms of fear; the destructive power of sexual desire in Marble skin; an unconventional relationship in The taste of a man; cruelty of war and rape victims in S. A Novel About the Balkans (made into a feature film As If I Am Not There, directed by Juanita Wilson); a fictionalized life of Frida Kahlo in Frida's bed. In her last novel Optužena (English translation forthcoming), Drakulić writes about the not often addressed topic of child abuse by her own mother.

Drakulić has also published five non-fiction books. In How We Survived Communism; Balkan Express; Café Europa she deals with everyday life in communist and post-communist countries. Drakulic wrote the history of communism through the perspective of animals in A Guided Tour Through the Museum of Communism. She explores evil in ordinary people and choices they make in They Would Never Hurt a Fly War Criminals On Trial In The Hague, about the people who committed crimes during the Croatian Homeland war. On the other side, in Flesh of her flesh (available in English only as an e-book) Drakulić writes about the ultimate good – people who decide to donate their own kidney to a person they have never met. Her first book, Deadly sins of feminism (1984) is available in Croatian only.

Drakulić is a contributing editor in The Nation (USA) and a freelance author whose essays have appeared in The New Republic, The New York Times Magazine and The New York Review Of Books. She contributes to Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Internazionale (Italy), Dagens Nyheter (Sweden), The Guardian (UK), Eurozine and other newspapers and magazines.

Slavenka Drakulić is the recipient of the 2004 Leipzig Book-fair ”Award for European Understanding.” At the Gathering of International Writers in Prague in 2010 she was proclaimed as one of the most influential European writers of our time.(less)

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How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed

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“Europe has another meaning for me. Every time I mention that word, I see the Bosnian family in front of me, living far away from whatever they call home and eating their own wonderful food because that's all that is left for them. The fact remains that after fifty years, it was possible to have another war in Europe; that it was possible to change borders; that genocide is still possible even today.” — 2 people liked it

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