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The Wooden Tongue Speaks: Romanians: Contradictions And Realities
In "The Wooden Tongue Speaks" exiled Romanian author Bogdan Tiganov takes us on a journey to the interior of his home town of Braila in a collection of short stories and poetry. In this post cold-war collection, we discover the social, religious and political issues facing a people just now emerging into a world of contradictions and realities.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 25, 2017
The themes explored by Tiganov is home, emigration, loss, lack of employment and belonging.
I felt the collection made a perfect start with "A Personal History of a City called Braila". This is a descriptive story about home and the meaning of home.
"An interview" is about a person going to a job interview for au pair. The thoughts is about leaving home in search for work as there is no work at home. This is a recurring theme for Tiganov which considering the introudction is understandable (Tiganov wrote this when unemployed). The interviewers are also coaching the people for the embassy interview would have to go through.
Further along in the book, we have the story "The Killers" about 3 school friends who have varying lives after school. one becomes a doctor, one was a manager of a manufacturing company and the third a photographer. with the manager of the manufacturing company has to turn to taxi driving after the company goes out of business. (taxi driver comes up again in the story "Goodnight work" in which an engineer after his plant closes became a taxi driver like other engineering friends". "The killers" is a sad story and deals with how due to economic turmoil, the qualifications that the youth of today have earned throughout hard work (in the case of Gheorghe in the story. he had started at the bottom of the company) and education (Daniel in the story who was a photographer but now makes his living as a shop assistant while in the aforementioned "Goodnight work" this can also be said). This story or at least parts of it would resonate with young adults now in the economic troubles (thankfully, not me as of yet but i do have friends and family who have)
Personally, I really enjoyed most of the short stories. They do show Tiganov as having potential. He has an endearing voice, descriptive style and good at dialogue.
The Poetry is in free-form style. Poetry isn't something i am fond of but they are good. Probably would work better as songs rather than poems. "A Song about Survival" to a hard rock or a metal beat would work well i think.
Overall, a good collection of short stories and poems.
I felt the collection made a perfect start with "A Personal History of a City called Braila". This is a descriptive story about home and the meaning of home.
"An interview" is about a person going to a job interview for au pair. The thoughts is about leaving home in search for work as there is no work at home. This is a recurring theme for Tiganov which considering the introudction is understandable (Tiganov wrote this when unemployed). The interviewers are also coaching the people for the embassy interview would have to go through.
Further along in the book, we have the story "The Killers" about 3 school friends who have varying lives after school. one becomes a doctor, one was a manager of a manufacturing company and the third a photographer. with the manager of the manufacturing company has to turn to taxi driving after the company goes out of business. (taxi driver comes up again in the story "Goodnight work" in which an engineer after his plant closes became a taxi driver like other engineering friends". "The killers" is a sad story and deals with how due to economic turmoil, the qualifications that the youth of today have earned throughout hard work (in the case of Gheorghe in the story. he had started at the bottom of the company) and education (Daniel in the story who was a photographer but now makes his living as a shop assistant while in the aforementioned "Goodnight work" this can also be said). This story or at least parts of it would resonate with young adults now in the economic troubles (thankfully, not me as of yet but i do have friends and family who have)
Personally, I really enjoyed most of the short stories. They do show Tiganov as having potential. He has an endearing voice, descriptive style and good at dialogue.
The Poetry is in free-form style. Poetry isn't something i am fond of but they are good. Probably would work better as songs rather than poems. "A Song about Survival" to a hard rock or a metal beat would work well i think.
Overall, a good collection of short stories and poems.
May 11, 2009
This volume of short stories and poems deserves its place in any library. Bogdan Tiganov distills emotion and offers frank descriptions to illuminate our vision. His composites of people, joys, scars, and of the ordinary are almost too lovely, too painful, and too eternal in their pure timelessness. With tranquil urgency Tiganov allows us to be with him in two places simultaneously as he captures images processed with blunt reality, composed of simple truths. We are shown glimpses into a heartless time that should not have been but was. These intriguing, profound, and significant portrayals are offered like a cool cup of water, they are not forced upon us. Be thirsty, swallow without gulping, and do not allow the sound of a car backfiring or a neighbor's barking dog to distract you.
Tiganov reminds us to remember what should not be forgotten in our own lives. His pen is specifically aimed at the hearts of readers who are still brave and still awake enough to feel. His vibrant hope contrasts the bleakness of life, his, mine, and yours. We all have stumbled in darkness. We all need a bridge across the senselessly raging river of lost freedom.
These pages weave remnants of the past into the fabric of today. The glitter of sun and stars of tomorrow are threaded in as well. This young talented, exiled Romanian writer is committed to exposing injustices, and he does so with stories and poems drenched in light. Do not pass the opportunity to own this book. It is more than a book. You will want to drink every word.
Tiganov reminds us to remember what should not be forgotten in our own lives. His pen is specifically aimed at the hearts of readers who are still brave and still awake enough to feel. His vibrant hope contrasts the bleakness of life, his, mine, and yours. We all have stumbled in darkness. We all need a bridge across the senselessly raging river of lost freedom.
These pages weave remnants of the past into the fabric of today. The glitter of sun and stars of tomorrow are threaded in as well. This young talented, exiled Romanian writer is committed to exposing injustices, and he does so with stories and poems drenched in light. Do not pass the opportunity to own this book. It is more than a book. You will want to drink every word.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews