{"product_id":"bottled-goods-a-novel-isbn-9780062979520","title":"Bottled Goods: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLonglisted for the\u003cbr\u003e2019 Women’s Prize, this poignant, lyrical novel is set in 1970s Romania during\u003cbr\u003eCommunist dictator Nicolae \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCeausescu\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e’s regime—and depicts childhood, marriage,\u003cbr\u003efamily, and identity in the face of extreme obstacles.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlina yearns for freedom. She and her husband Liviu\u003cbr\u003eare teachers in their twenties, living under the repressive regime of Communist\u003cbr\u003edictator Nicolae Ceausescu in the Socialist Republic of Romania in the 1970s. But after her\u003cbr\u003ebrother-in-law defects, Alina and Liviu fall under suspicion and surveillance,\u003cbr\u003eand their lives are suddenly turned upside down—just like the glasses in her\u003cbr\u003esuperstitious Aunt Theresa's house that are used to ward off evil spirits. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut Alina's evil spirits are more corporeal: a\u003cbr\u003esuffocating, manipulative mother; a student who accuses her; and a menacing\u003cbr\u003eSecret Services agent who makes one-too-many visits. As the couple continues to\u003cbr\u003ebe harassed, their marriage soon deteriorates. With the government watching—and\u003cbr\u003emost likely listening— escape seems impossible . . . until Alina’s mystical\u003cbr\u003eaunt proposes a surprising solution to reduce her problems to a manageable\u003cbr\u003esize. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWeaving elements of magic realism, Romanian folklore,\u003cbr\u003eand Kafkaesque paranoia into a gritty and moving depiction of one woman's\u003cbr\u003estruggle for personal and political freedom, \u003cem\u003eBottled Goods\u003c\/em\u003e is written in short bursts of “flash fiction” and explores\u003cbr\u003euniversal themes of empowerment, liberty, family, and loyalty.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“A lovely, funny, sad and informative book...It almost reads like a Wes Anderson film” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDolly Alderton author of international bestseller Everything I Know About Love\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Sophie van Llewyn’s stunning debut novella shows us there is no dystopian fiction as frightening as that which draws on history” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChristina Dalcher, author of VOX\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A story to savour, to smile at, to rage against and to weep over.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eZoe Gilbert, author of Folk\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Sophie van Llewyn has brought light into an era which cast a long shadow.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJoanna Campbell, author of When Planets Slip Their Tracks\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A tour de force, a harrowing and ultimately triumphant story, a must-read by a masterful writer.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChristopher Allen, author of Other Household Toxins\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A dizzying, daring window on life in Ceausescu’s Romania.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStephanie Hutton author of Three Sisters of Stone\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eBottled Goods \u003c\/em\u003eis a powerful, sophisticated, and emotional delve into Soviet-era Romania through the eyes and heart of a young woman. […] an exciting plot-driven read that offers a thoughtful, introspective look into a woman reaching maturity under a government that isn’t built for girls who ask questions.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndependent Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[A] totally original and wonderful novella.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNikki Bedi host of The Arts Hour BBC World Service\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The chapters are as brief and intense as flashes of lightning in a storm. So is van Llewyn’s prose. . . . the novel is a strikingly original work.  Taut, searing, and sharp, van Llewyn’s novel is a lyrical jewel.”  - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Drawing on Romanian folklore and a few touches of magic realism, this novella-in-flash-fiction by the Romanian-born van Llewyn is a wonder.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44889262817509,"sku":"NP9780062979520","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062979520.jpg?v=1730230878","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/bottled-goods-a-novel-isbn-9780062979520","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}