Kazuo Ishiguro: NOCTURNES: FIVE STORIES OF MUSIC AND NIGHTFALL (4.5/5)

This is a collection of five stories about musicians and lovers of music. Three stories, in particular, are exquisite literary pieces: Crooner, Come Rain or Come Shine, and Noctures. Ishiguro mixed comedic situations to sad, sometimes bitter, sometimes painful feelings. Wonderful!!!

Ismail Kadare: THE SUCCESSOR (3.5/5)

This is the continuation of Agamemnon's Daughter. When Enver Hoxha, the Albania dictator of four decades, died, Suzana's father became the designated successor. But because of the pressure imposed by the party to the Successor, brought about by the engagement of Suzana, he committed suicide. Or was he murdered? This novel showed the arbitrariness of a despotic regime on the vantage points of the Minister of the Interior, the Architect, the Guide, and finally, The Successor. The conclusion is shocking, but shallow.

Ismail Kadare: THE FILE ON H. (5/5)

Is Homer the real author of Odyssey and Iliad, or is he just a redactor? This is the main question the two Irish Harvard scholars wish to answer. And they thought that this question can be answered by interviewing rhapsodes in Albania using a newly discovered gadget in the 1930s - tape recorder. Wonderful piece of work!!!

Ismail Kadare: SPRING FLOWERS, SPRING FROST (3.5/5)

It is about disparate things: the discovery of an ancient artifact containing the Kanun, a bank holdup, the revival of vendetta. Anyway, I did not enjoy reading this novel.

Ismail Kadare: BROKEN APRIL (4.5/5)

Broken April is about the traditional blood feud, or vendetta, guided by the ancient law, Kanun, that pervades throughout Albania for a long time.