752. Dictionary of Khazars

Dictionary of Khazars
Milorad Pavic

1984
Around 340 pages

So I knew right away that this was going to be a piece of work. There's no plot, and there are two different editions of this novel: Male and Female. The only difference is in one paragraph. Already that's a lot. When you have so many gimmicks lined up (and I've been on the other side of this, the writer side of this), it generally means that your writing is not enough.

Where to begin with a summary? Dictionary of the Khazars is the imaginary book of knowledge of the Khazars, a people who flourished somewhere beyond Transylvania between the seventh and ninth centuries. This story combines the dictionaries of the world's three major religions with entries that leap between past and future.

So we get a Serbian novel, at long last. I don't know; how do you judge an encyclopedia? Certainly, it doesn't read as a conventional novel. Depending on who you talk to, that means it's a triumph or a failure. Personally, I found it to be an exhausting read; it's one of those novels that you can spend a year trying to unpack. 

So depending on your tastes, you might have a great time with this one, or just be anxiously awaiting for it to be over. I found myself in the latter category.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

A ballet adaption of the Dictionary of the Khazars was staged at Madlenianum Opera and Theatre.

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