Weaving elements of magic realism, Romanian folklore, and Kafkaesque paranoia into a gritty and moving depiction of one woman’s struggle for personal and political freedom, Bottled Goods is written in short bursts of “flash fiction” and explores universal themes of empowerment, liberty, family, and loyalty. until Alina’s mystical aunt proposes a surprising solution to reduce her problems to a manageable size. With the government watching-and most likely listening- escape seems impossible. As the couple continues to be harassed, their marriage soon deteriorates. But after her brother-in-law defects, Alina and Liviu fall under suspicion and surveillance, and their lives are suddenly turned upside down-just like the glasses in her superstitious Aunt Theresa’s house that are used to ward off evil spirits.īut Alina’s evil spirits are more corporeal: a suffocating, manipulative mother a student who accuses her and a menacing Secret Services agent who makes one-too-many visits. She and her husband Liviu are teachers in their twenties, living under the repressive regime of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in the Socialist Republic of Romania in the 1970s. Perhaps if they had a more catchy name, they might even hit the mainstream one pot stories, books with the crusts cut off, chapter hacks Benefits of writing NiFs: Of course, those of us who are most excited about the possibilities are writers. Longlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize, this poignant, lyrical novel is set in 1970s Romania during Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu ’s regime-and depicts childhood, marriage, family, and identity in the face of extreme obstacles.Īlina yearns for freedom. In 2019, Sophie van Llewyn’s Bottled Goods was longlisted for two major literary prizes.
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