Europe: Romanian Books, New Weird Events, Moomin, and Book Haul

(Romanian jaws, and detail work from an original Svankmajer we bought at the famous Gamba Gallery.)For some reason we took more photographs of Romanian books but wound up buying a lot of books by Czech authors in translation. We also encountered intriguing Czech editions of Milos Urban in Prague bookstores, and were delighted to be told by a bookstore employee at the famous Anagram Bookstore that an English edition, through a Finnish publisher (?!), of one of his books would be available this year. Urban's work, from what we saw, appears to be relatively unique, in a slipstream, pseudo-Gothic vein. Note also this free poster we got, created especially for Anagram:At the same time, we also bought some books in the Zurich and Budapest airports, which we wound up getting a chance to read. (I'd brought Mo Hayder's Pig Island with me from the US, which I can sum up thusly: 1st 200 pages excellent with creepy Wickerman atmosphere; 2nd 150 pages waffling but setting up any number of possibilities; last 75 pages banal, predictable, rushed, and disappointing. I love Hayder's work, but felt she let me down this time.)Here's a link to all of our photos of books from Romania, including Horia Ursu's excellent library, and photos from book launches, etc.And below find comments on what we bought and brought back.The spectacular NW poster created by Laser BooksThe poster for ParconI found 54, written by committee, much more entertaining than DB Pierre's Ludmilla's Broken English. 54 in the end might not have added up to that much, but it had some convincing adventures along the way, and the portrayal of Cary Grant working for the secret service and meeting Tito was perfectly written. I very much enjoyed 54, in particular because the characters turned out to be more likeable than I thought when I started. Ludmilla's Broken English just seems oddly paced and oddly structured. It involves two conjoined twins separated in their thirties and Ludmilla, who lives in some godforsaken part of the former Soviet republic. Ludmilla's sections are much less passive than those of the twins, who tend to talk to no effect. It's good dialogue, but there's not much movement. When their story intertwines with Ludmilla--they go to visit her when she, in desperation over her circumstances, puts her photo on a mail-order bride site. The grand guignol ending seems entirely appropriate, but is undercut by the coda in which more escape than should have. I really didn't, in the end, understand why the book existed. It seemed more like an exercise in cleverness, despite some brilliant writing.Ann read but did not love Kate Atkinson's first novel. I think she found it too unrelentingly depressing and found some of the side stories, not fully developed, more compelling than the main narrative. Still, it did hold her attention to the end.I bought these at Anagram in Prague, which was just across the square from our amazing hotel.The Parcon program book on the right and Tero's Finnish Fandom chapbook on the left. Both smart-looking productions.Mike Haulica's latest book of essays, and a cute little Czech SF book we bought a few of as a novelty gift for friends in the US.This tarot set is nothing short of spectacular, including a book about its creator. And the first of several English translations of Czech writers recommended to us.My Romanian translator's novel, and City Sister Silver, which we're told is a contemporary masterpiece of Czech fiction.Twisted Spoon Press does some very attractive editions of Czech writers in English.Two more Czech recommendations.Books and magazines from Cornel Secu's press, including the publicity poster he had made up for our event.Jukka Halme, thank you for our Moomin pillow cases!!!More of the wonderful Svankmayer piece we bought.Plus a shot from inside the gallery, and outside.And, finally, I urge you to go out and buy the magnificent Black Clock 9, which work by me, Jonathan Lethem, Brian Evenson, Steve Erickson, and many more.Oh, and I defaced Orcs and now Orbit is running a contest.Tomorrow, beer, spirits, food, and Finns.