The Museum of Unconditional Surrender by Dubravka Ugrešić

[Diane]

Rating: 4 Stars


This is a very clever book. The author relates the fragmented lives of those in exile from their home country. The book itself is told in bits, fragments, and random pieces. The book begins by discussing the random objects found inside of a walrus's stomach. The book is a lot like the random objects found here. So, basically, there is no cohesive plot or linear story line, just a series of vignettes and anecdotes.

Much of the book echoes the author's own experiences as an exile from her native country of Croatia, then part of Yugoslavia. She reflects upon her earlier life before exile as well as the challenges and disconnection she feels as a stranger in a new country. She also relates stories of exile from other people, mostly women. Most of these stories are told in small "snapshots" and random tidbits. Put together, these create an album or scrapbook of sorts. This quote from the book pretty much sums this up, "Life is nothing other than a photograph album. Only what is in the album exists. What is not in the album, never happened,"

Overall, a beautifully written and insightful book with a high level of originality. Not an easy read, but certainly a worthwhile one.