Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I so looked forward to reading this book, even pre-ordered it. And am not able to finish. Obrecht has little emotional connection to her characters and even less to the Balkans. The book traffics in stereotypes and invents bizarre dark details about local customs and folklore that are simply not true (do a Google search). Her knowledge of the region's past seems superficial, as does her grip on the local languages (her repertoire of "local" names and places, for example, is linguistically odd and quite limited). Once I started reading, I hoped that the quality of the writing would compensate for these shortcomings. It's fiction, after all, and I suppose Obrecht is free to invent anything, even if it's offensive or historically/ culturally inaccurate. But the book did not transport me with its writing style. Quite the contrary. The writing is flat, grating, and could have used more editing in places. Some reviewers describe her style and power of perception as "mature" - I would argue the opposite. The Balkans is a beautiful, troubled, complicated part of the world. There are millions of people who will, for the rest of their lives, try to come to terms with the recent war experience. And, yes, it's a place where story-telling matters. But this book does not capture any of that vibrant and complex reality.