BOTM Jan 2024 - The Apology and the Last Days

[GailW]

Only 4 of us voted for the January nominations and of course, the split was 2-1-1. This book received the 2.

The Apology and the Last Days: A Novel is a translated work first published in 1975, written by Borislav Pekić, "considered to be one of the former Yugoslavia's most important postwar writers. The narrator tells his story from prison, where he is serving time for the murder of a former Nazi official. As the novel unfolds, we learn that the victim was the same person whom the narrator, while a lifeguard during the war, saved from drowning, thus making him vulnerable to charges of collaboration. In this tragicomic tale, Pekić explores eternal questions of fate and individual responsibility."

Sounded intriguing, looking forward to comments.

[GailW]

Have the book. I'll definitely be participating in this one!

[GailW]

I've started this, enjoying it but the print in the book is so small I'm having a hard time reading it. (Ugh). Anyone else reading?

[Celia]

I am not since I steer away from books not on Kindle. I am planning (someday) to read Hidden Camera for Serbia.

[Amanda]

I found it on open library and will be reading it too!

[GailW]

I've finished. I have not rated it yet. I'm torn as to how to rate it. I'll wait.

[GailW]

I was torn between a 3 and a 4 star rating until I realized that I was only thinking a 3 because I didn't like the main character and forgot the writing! My notes here, which contain spoilers: (view spoiler)[I disliked the main character. He feels no one likes him but all he does is whine about no one liking him. It is unfair that he is labeled a "collaborator" for saving the life of a Nazi soldier. It was his job to save a life! (Even though he would have anyway thinking he could get his job back.) His obsession with not getting the medal from saving the man's life actually sickened me. He was risking his family's life for this! He so desperately needed some validation in his life and he was getting none. He, again, sets himself up by claiming that he murdered this same soldier years later, when in fact, it was an accident with which he had no involvement. HIs life at this point was so devoid of anything that he believed this was the right thing to do. It's a sad book. (hide spoiler)]

[Gail]

Although a slight book, it left me with a residue of irritation in that the author portrays the main character as very simple and naive but nevertheless not a trusting man. I believe the author was building a case study of sorts for the power of history outside an individual's control balanced against the decisions that one person makes in his/her life and how the two impact each other to determine outcomes. However, by making the character so unable to perceive what was in his best interest, or his family's best interest, even to the point of lying rather than telling the truth, the case study seems biased. This was not an "everyman" trapped in history but an egotistical simpleton who was caught by fate. I did think that the plot lines were well built and the writing (in translation) crisp and clean. I also thought that the humor, which was mostly at the expense of Serbian character traits, amusing. I would like to read additional work by Perić as according to other reviewers some of his other work is stronger. On the other hand many people rated this work as a 5 star read but I am rating it 3 stars.

[Amanda]

Finally read, and also gave it 3 stars. I thought highly of the writing quality, and the idea of how in times of political turmoil seemingly neutral acts of kindness can become deeply politicized was interesting. But, I do agree that this tried to pull off having the protagonist be both a simple everyman and a schemer at the same time to somewhat confused and underwhelming results.