In my ever-constant desire to devour the world, I’ve decided to commit myself to reading a work from every country. I anticipate the journey to take several years as I intend to only read a couple from the list (which I’m slowly curating!) each month. I’m starting with the As.
Country: Albania
Title: A Girl in Exile: Requiem for Linda B.
Author: Ismail Kadare
Language: Albanian
Translator: John Hodgson
Publisher: Counterpoint (2018) Onufri (2009)
Set during Albania’s 1945-1991 dictatorship, A Girl in Exile: Requiem for Linda B. is a slim novel of paranoia, absurdity, and obsession. Rudian Stefa, a playwright, is waiting to see if the committee will approve his latest work for production when he’s called in for questioning regarding a young woman’s suicide. An autographed copy of his book was in her possession.
He learns that Linda and her family and been “interned” for suspected crimes against the Communist regime. Under the restrictions of her internment, Linda was not able to enter Tirana. A friend had gone on her behalf to meet Rudian and get his autograph for Linda. The government wants to ensure her suicide is not some political statement, and that the renowned playwright is not involved.
Prior to Linda’s suicide, Rudian developed a relationship with Migena. What transpires is an obsessive somersault into madness as he imagines himself in a relationship with Linda, who is already dead, and as he imagines how Migena serves as a vessel to carry his affections to Linda.
I didn’t much care for the novel because I really didn’t care for Rudian; he is very unlikeable and Kadare’s writing style highlights that unlikability. I wanted the story to be more about Linda, a young girl growing up in internment who takes her life after a situation involving a teacher. But it is a fascinating look at a repressive regime on both a young girl whose family is “suspicious” and on a writer, whose work and life are constantly under watch.
A Girl Named Tommi 