Lojze Kovacic is one of Slovenia’s most acclaimed and significant authors and his 3 volume autobiographical novel the most important Slovenian novel of the 20th century. I read and enjoyed Volume 1 which deals with the protagonist’s childhood after his half-German half-Slovenian family are exiled from Switzerland to Slovenia where their life in Ljubljana becomes increasingly difficult. Volume 2 follows Bubi as he comes of age in occupied Slovenia during World War 2 and where the family never manage to integrate. It’s a first person stream of consciousness narrative and a powerful evocation of growing up in a community where you are always the outsider, always trying to navigate a new society, a new language and new customs. I did not enjoy this volume as much as the first one, however. The prose seems much more opaque, perhaps to reflect Bubi’s growing maturity, but it makes it much harder to read. Many passages are in German and although these are translated I found that for me they interrupted the narrative flow and soon irritated me. I can see why the trilogy is acclaimed but I found it difficult to engage with Bubi here, or with his family, and I felt a certain alienation from them throughout, in spite of the sympathy their harsh life requires. Definitely worth reading, but the book demands patience and perseverance.

This autobiographical piece is said to be one of the most important Slovenian works. And I agree. It's about the authors journey going back to his homeland from Switzerland. In this novel you read about the hard times people lived through, their coping, the harsh conditions and so on. It was intense, hard to read at times, but good nonetheless. And knowledgeable. It portrays such times masterfully. Although this novel is worth the read, I found it impossible to get through to be honest. Whether it was my disinterest in the genre or perhaps the writing style, I will never know...
2.5*

*A copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Archipelago and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In terms of the geographical and historical setting, this was a book that really interested me and I tried, oh I tried - again and again - to read it. Again and again, I had to put it aside because I just could not get into it, let alone through it. My best effort ended with approx. 40% read. I consider myself bilingual (English/German), which I think is the only reason I was even able to get that far. The story as told through the eyes of a young boy, was too impenetrable for me.

I didn't realise that this was the first part in a planned trilogy but I'm so pleased it is as I didn't want this to end. Autobiographies are not at all what I normally choose to read but I'm so enjoying being introduced to new voices and genres through NetGalley. I loved this although it really challenged my knowledge of happenings around the Second World War outside of the more well-known narratives. I'm looking forward to the next two books so much although I think you need to be in the right (read: open) frame of mind to read these texts as the subject matter is very heavy going.

I missed the first but it is well researched and the history surrounding this families trials of learning a whole new life! The family members you learn from the child and his way of seeing things. This came to me from Net Gallery! The description of the Country and the history at the time was well written and had you believing you were with this family. Not going to tell the story but I think you will this series,it catches you up on what you missed and you are like me and did not'read the first one! Happy reading and be prepared for a lot of emotions!

The Newcomers is part of a trilogy from Slovene author Lojze Kovačič. As a child, Lojze and his family were expelled from Switzerland in the early years of the Second World War. The family went to move to rural Slovenia before settling in Ljubljana. This book is autobiographic and describes the events through the eyes of young Lojze in ways of internal dialog and reflections. It reminded me of Proust, but where Proust was more of a snob, this book is more of a telling of depressing, but very real events.
It tells of the struggles of moving, learning a new language, although the family moved back to its origins. Young Lojze felt like an outcast no matter what.
This first part ends with Mussolini's invasion of Ljubljana.

I enjoyed the prose a lot and am eager to read the two remaining parts. Especially, looking forward to the third as it was published after the author's death and describes a trip back to Switzerland.

(My rating is more of a 3.5, but as I share the same birthday as Lajze and am Swiss, I rounded it up to four stars.)