Chronicle in Stone: A NovelMasterful in its simplicity, Chronicle in Stone is a touching coming-of-age story and a testament to the perseverance of the human spirit. Surrounded by the magic of beautiful women and literature, a boy must endure the deprivations of war as he suffers the hardships of growing up. His sleepy country has just thrown off centuries of tyranny, but new waves of domination inundate his city. Through the boy’s eyes, we see the terrors of World War II as he witnesses fascist invasions, allied bombings, partisan infighting, and the many faces of human cruelty—as well as the simple pleasures of life. Evacuating to the countryside, he expects to find an ideal world full of extraordinary things, but discovers instead an archaic backwater where a severed arm becomes a talisman and deflowered girls mysteriously vanish. Woven between the chapters of the boy’s story are tantalizing fragments of the city’s history. As the devastation mounts, the fragments lose coherence, and we perceive firsthand how the violence of war destroys more than just buildings and bridges. |
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Albania answered Aqif asked Aunt Avdo began Bido body bombing called cellar changed Chronicle cistern citadel close coffee coming crossed dark death didn’t door everything eyes face father fell finally fire girl going gone Grandma Grandmother Greek ground hair hand happened head hear heard Ilir It’s Italian Italy Javer kind knock Lady later leave light listened living looked magic mind morning mother moved Nazo’s neighbourhood never night once partisans passed Pino plane rain road roofs seemed seen shouted silence someone sound square started stayed stone stood stopped strange street suddenly talking tell things thought told took town turned voice waiting walked walls wandered watch whole wife wind window women Xhexho