This week, our book is The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna and takes place in the fictional village of Gost, #Croatia. When I finished reading it, I was struck by the thought that this is exactly the type of book I was hoping to find for this project, and so I am so happy I found this one!
The story is told from the perspective of Duro, an unmarried man who has lived in this small village in a small converted pig shelter with his two dogs, throughout his adult life (and grew up in the village as well). At the beginning of the book, Duro learns that a British woman named Laura and her two teenage children have purchased and moved into the house immediately next door to him. As this village is so small, and everyone knows each other, it is quite unusual for foreign strangers to show up. Duro introduces himself to Laura and convinces her to hire him to help fix up the house, which had previously sat empty for a number of years.
As the story of the home renovation progresses, so does Duro's relationship with the family, as well as our understanding of the significance of the house to Duro's life and to the history of the community. Along the way, he shares bits and pieces of the history of this fictional village within the context of the actual history of Croatia, as well as bits and pieces of his own life story with us - some of it truly shocking.
I really enjoyed the way the author had the narrator unwind the story over the course of the book. We begin with ideas of who the characters are, and of what it is like to live in this sleepy village, and by the end, we are left with very different ideas about both.
This book did a masterful job playing with the idea that we (ourselves and our communities) are a combination of who we choose to present to the world, and of what the world decides to believe about us. There is so much more beneath the surface of our friends, neighbors, loved ones and the places we live and visit than we would ever know if we don't ask the right questions... so many life experiences and secrets walking around us if we can shake off our first impressions, stereotypes and really ask, look and listen to the world where we live.
I enjoyed this book, and very much recommend it!
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