Bottled Goods, Sophie van Llewyn
Bottled Goods, Sophie van Llewyn
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Bottled Goods
A Novel

Author: Sophie van Llewyn

Narrator: Fiona Hardingham

Unabridged: 3 hr 55 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/28/2020

Synopsis

Longlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize, this poignant, lyrical novel is set in 1970s Romania during Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime—and depicts childhood, marriage, family, and identity in the face of extreme obstacles.Alina yearns for freedom. She and her husband Liviu are teachers in their twenties, living under the repressive regime of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in the Socialist Republic of Romania in the 1970s. But after her brother-in-law defects, Alina and Liviu fall under suspicion and surveillance, and their lives are suddenly turned upside down—just like the glasses in her superstitious Aunt Theresa's house that are used to ward off evil spirits. But Alina's evil spirits are more corporeal: a suffocating, manipulative mother; a student who accuses her; and a menacing Secret Services agent who makes one-too-many visits. As the couple continues to be harassed, their marriage soon deteriorates. With the government watching—and most likely listening—escape seems impossible . . . until Alina’s mystical aunt proposes a surprising solution to reduce her problems to a manageable size.Weaving elements of magic realism, Romanian folklore, and Kafkaesque paranoia into a gritty and moving depiction of one woman's struggle for personal and political freedom, Bottled Goods is written in short bursts of “flash fiction” and explores universal themes of empowerment, liberty, family, and loyalty.

About Sophie van Llewyn

Sophie van Llewyn was born in southeastern Romania and now lives in Germany. She has published and won awards for her flash fiction and short stories across the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. Bottled Goods is Sophie’s debut long fiction work. It has been long-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019, the Republic of Consciousness Prize 2019, and the People’s Book Prize 2018.

Reviews

Goodreads review by emma on December 22, 2022

possibly the most unique book i've ever read that i would still categorize as forgettable. there was so much going on, but also not enough? it all felt distant. and a little bit confusing. and i always write reviews about a month after i read the book, and i rarely have this little of a memory of it. wh......more

Goodreads review by Deanna on August 09, 2020

My reviews can also be seen at: [URL not allowed] An interesting and unique read! “Bottled Goods is written in short bursts of “flash fiction” and explores universal themes of empowerment, liberty, family, and loyalty.” Bottled Goods is set in the 1970’s Romania during Communist......more

Goodreads review by Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer on March 30, 2019

Now longlisted for the Women's Prize 2019. Re read following its longlisting for the 2019 Republic of Consciousness Prize. This book is published by Fairlight Books, a new UK small press which “has one aim – to celebrate quality writing and promote the best of new and contemporary literary fiction.” a......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader on July 30, 2020

I think I’ve only read one other book set in Romania, a historical, The Girl They Left Behind. Bottled Goods is a slim novel at less than 200 pages and was nominated for the 2019 Women’s Prize. The book is set during the 1970s when Communist dictator Ceausescu was in power. Alina seeks freedom. She i......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on April 24, 2019

I think Bottled Goods is an interesting, impressive book in a number of ways, but I can’t help but to feel a bit underwhelmed by it. It tells the story of Alina, a young woman living in 1970s communist Romania, whose family comes under surveillance when her brother-in-law defects to the west. Blendi......more

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