From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

Chronicle in Stone

Ismail Kadare

Start date: June 15, 2018

Finish date: July 15, 2018

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

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Group Reads Discussions

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last updated Jan 18, 2013 07:12PM

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What Members Thought

Dec 06, 2007 Elizabeth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: balkans

Largely anecdotal and written in blistering prose, this book is a brilliant tale of a young boy growing up in occupied Gjirokaster, Albania. We learn about bomb shelters beneath the town citadel, heavily perfumed Italian soldiers, the fleeting appearances of the Greeks, and a boy's love for an aerodrome. This book was beautifully written and I loved it.

Oh, one other thing. I think it reminded me a little bit of the movie Empire of the Sun--a young boy's unflagging optimism held against the larg ...more

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Feb 27, 2015 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: travel-the-world

World War II in Albania, seen through the eyes of a child. I really liked this story, because it has some beautiful descriptions of family life, and the city during one (of the many) of the hard times in Albania.

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Jan 16, 2023 Kent Winward rated it really liked it

The start of WWII through the eyes of a child in Albania and you can see why it has generated comparisons to Ballard's Empire of the Sun. The two narrators half a world apart have the same conflicted narrative about the construction of aircraft fields near where they live. With all these excellent war narratives, you think at some point humanity would figure out what a bad idea the violence is, but no. ...more

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