The Historian Week 6 Questions and Discussion...

It is the last week of discussion -- and what a fantastic six weeks it has been -- we had such a big group reading along, and I appreciate everyone's participation!  If you're like me, you also  found many more blogs to follow in just our group...and hopefully a deeper appreciation for The Historian...

What an incredible conclusion to The Historian -- it's no doubt that there are a multitude of questions and thoughts that all of you may have.  I know that although this is the second time that I've read this since it was first published, it still felt like a new read to me, particularly the ending.

Questions:

1. Why did you think the author finished the story with the epilogue like she did?  
2. Why do you think Kostova included the small part of the story involving Dracula at the very end of the book?
3. Do you think she is setting up a sequel?  Would you like to see a sequel?  
4. Who do you think gave the book to the narrator at the end of the story? 
5. Were you satisfied with the book and the ending?  If anything, what would you have changed?

Click here to view an incredible travel portfolio of photographs from Vlad Tepes' birthplace, such as the one below.

Vlad Tepes' birthplace, Sighiosara

"The road from Plovdiv was narrow, and it curved along a rocky stream on one side and steep cliffs on the other.  We were making our way gradually into mountains again -- in Bulgaria, you could never be far from mountains.  I remarked on this to Helen, who was gazing out the opposite window in the backseat of Ranov's car, and she nodded.  'Balkan is a Turkish word for mountain.'" (Ch. 67)  Note:  Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and the history spans some 6,000 years.

Plovdiv

"The monastery had no grand entrance -- we simply pulled off the road into a dirt lot, and from there it was a short walk to the monastery gate.  Bachkovski manastir sat among high barren hills, partly forested and partly bare rock, close to the narrow river; even in early summer, the landscape was already dry, and I could easily imagine how the monks must have valued that nearby source of water.  The outer walls were the same dun-colored stone as the hills around them.  The monastery roofs were fluted red ceramic tile, like that I'd seen on Stoichev's old house and on hundreds of houses and churches along the roadsides.  The entrance to the monastery was a yawning archway, as perfectly dark as a hole in the ground." (Ch. 67)

Bachkovo Monastery from Mountains

Entrance to Bachkovo Monastery

Monastery

"Ranov seemed to be holding back a triumphant smile. 'No,' he said.  'He has not seen any account of such pilgrims.  There were many pilgrims during that century.  Bachkovski manastir was very important then.  The patriarch of Bulgaria was exiled here from his office in Veliko Trnovo, the old capital, when the Ottomans captured the country." (Ch. 67)

A medieval stronghold in Velika Turnovo

Church in Velika Turnovo

"Ranov shook his head.  'He says he has heard this song before.  He collected it from an old woman in the village of Dimovo, Baba Yanka, who is a great singer there, where the river dried up long ago.  They have several festivals there where they sing these old songs, and she is the leader of the singers.  One of these will be in two days, the festival of Saint Petko, and you may wish to hear her." (Ch. 67)

St. Petka's Days

"One of them had the oddest instrument I had ever seen up close -- a bag made of cleaned white animal skin with wooden pipes sticking out of it.  It was clearly a bagpipe, and Ranov told us that it was an ancient instrument in Bulgaria, the gaida, made of the skin of a goat.  The old man who cradled it in his arms gradually blew it up like a great balloon; this process took a good ten minutes and he was bright red before he'd finished.  He nestled it under his arm and puffed into one of the pipes and everyone cheered and applauded.  It had the sound of an animal, too, a loud bleat, a shriek or squawk, and Helen laughed. 'You know,' she told me, 'there is a bagpipe in every herding culture in the world.'" (Ch. 69)

Gaida Player

"They go together into the tiny scriptorium, where three of the monks sit copying manuscripts, according to the old way, and one carves letters to print a page of the life of Saint Anthony.  The press itself stands in one corner.  It is the first printing press in Wallachia, and Dracula runs a proud hand over it, a heavy, square hand.  The oldest of the scriptorium monks stands at a table, near the press, chiseling a block of wood.  Dracula leans over it.
    'And what will the be, Father?'
    'Saint Mikhail slaying the dragon, Excellency," the old monk murmurs.
    'Rather have the Dragon slaying the infidel,' Dracula says, chuckling." (Epilogue)

St. Michael Fighting the Dragon by Albrecht Durer, 1498

Below is a video of an authentic Bulgarian folksinger -- haunting and beautiful, isn't it?

We have had an amazing time these past six weeks and want to thank you all for participating in this readalong!  Dare I say it but...I know that the reading of The Historian has sparked quite an interest in the Dracula/Vlad Tepes lore.  Wouldn't it be interesting to dive more into the folklore of all the many cultures throughout the centuries worldwide to see if maybe, just maybe...there's more to the legend than just...legend?

Yours in profoundest grief,
Coffee and a Book Chick
Tedious & Brief

A Little Insight on the Food in The Historian...

I don't know about you all, but as I read this book, I've noticed that food is mentioned a lot.  Rightfully so, I'd imagine, considering that when you travel to a country you've never been to before, not only do you come home with stories about all of the places that you've visited, but you also talk about everything you ate...at least I do...

I've been meaning to post this for quite some time now, and I also wanted to introduce everyone to Annette (Annie) with Buttery Books, who has been with our readalong since we started!  The site is so unique -- they pick a book and do a review, and then they also feature recipes that are inspired from the setting in the book.  They also provide handy tips for your own book clubs and how you can do a whole theme based around the book.  I love this site, and you will find tons of fantastic recipes on here.  They've already featured The Historian, which is how we stumbled across each other in preparing for the readalong.  Click here to visit their site and specifically to The Historian party -- their recipes are fabulous!  I'm now a follower of the site, and they just recently did a post for The Thirteenth Tale and The Heretic's Daughter (two more of my favorite books)!

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The Historian includes so many interesting meals that (Paul and Helen especially) get a chance to eat -- who can forget Turgut's wife and all of the food that she overloaded them with?  Since food is mentioned in each location, I've picked just a few to feature.  Let me warn you that researching for these meals made me very, very hungry...

Palinka (Rakiya) -- "Aunt Eva ordered for all of us, as a matter of course, and when the first dishes came, they were accompanied by a strong liquor called palinka that Helen said was distilled from apricots."  (see below as it's mentioned again when they are with Stoichev, and it's called rakiya in that country.)

Hortobágyi Palacsinta -- 'Now we will have something very good with this,' Aunt Eva explained to me through Helen.  'We call these Hortobágyi palacsinta.  They are a kind of pancake filled with veal, a tradition with the shepherds in the lowlands of Hungary.  You will like them.' (Ch. 39)  picture from Habeas Brulee blog  The sauce on top is typically a cream made with paprika and sour cream.

And please check out Buttery Books' site -- yum on their version and recipe!!

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Börek -- "Then she and Selim Aksoy served us coffee and something she explained was Börek, a roll of pastry with salty cheese inside..." (Ch. 50)


Börek is made with phyllo dough and can be filled with feta, meats or vegetables.  According to Wikipedia, "it was invented in Central Asia by Nomadic Turks, and became a popular element of Ottoman cuisine."

In Turkey, they also have something that translates to cigarette Börek because of the shape. (Sigara böreği )

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Rakiya -- "Irina and Ranov came into the sitting room with a clash of plates, and Irina began setting out glasses and a bottle of amber liquid."

"But I returned the bow and downed my rakiya.  I decided there was no way to drink it except quickly, and the third-degree burn I received o the back of my throat was soon replaced by a pleasant glow.  Enough of this beverage, I thought, and I might be in danger of liking Ranov slightly."     (Ch. 57)

The fruit is fermented and distilled, and normally it's a colorless drink, but if herbs are included in the mixture, it can change colors, and of course, add to the flavor.  In Hungary, it's called palinka. The liquor itself can come from any type of fruit -- figs, apricots, quinces, peaches, etc.  It can be served as a standard drink, or can be used for ceremonies.  The drink can also be cooked and blended with sugar and honey to sweeten it up.  I'm thinking I might have to track this down and try it...although if it's homemade, it can be upwards of 50% to 60% alcohol content...!




What about you?  Have you had the good fortune to try these delectable treats, or had a sip of the strong drink?


Happy Reading Eating & Drinking!
Coffee and a Book Chick
Tedious & Brief

The Historian Week 5 Questions and Discussion...

After tonight, we have one week left in The Historian readalong -- I hope you've enjoyed this as much as we have! Only a couple questions this week...

Paul and Helen have had quite an incredible journey together, and in this short section, they are accompanied by the watchful Ranov as they tour Bulgaria and interact with Stoichev to learn more about the monks who have written about the transport of an incredible treasure, that could be Vlad Tepes' body or his head, and the hope that the two are reunited.  I was also incredibly saddened to hear about the "amnesia" that Professor Rossi also experienced, separating him from Helen's mother forever.

1. We're getting closer to the truth...Last week, the general response was that it seemed to be a much slower point than the other sections.  What do you think of the story's momentum thus far in this week's section?
2. What has jumped out at you that you'd like to discuss with the group?

"I am glad to have the chance to talk with anyone who is interested in our medieval history," Stoichev said to me.  "Perhaps it would be interesting for you and Miss Rossi to see a holiday that celebrates two of our great medieval figures.  Tomorrow is the day of Kiril and Methodii, creators of the great Slaonic alphabet.  In English you would say Cyril and Methodius -- you call it Cyrilic, do you not?  We say kirilitsa, for Kiril, the monk who invented it." (Ch. 57)

Kiril and Methodii, painted by Stanislav Dospavski

"After a moment, he went into one of the other rooms and came back carrying a paper-covered volume, which proved to be an old scholarly journal printed in German. 'I had a friend --" he stopped. 'If only he had lived to see this day!  I told you -- his name was Atanas Angelov -- yes, he was a Bulgarian historian and one of my first teachers.  In 1923 he was doing some researches in the library at Rila, which is one of our great treasure-houses of medieval documents."  (Ch. 58)

"If my first glimpse of Stoichev's house had filled me with sudden hopelessness, my first glimpse of Rila Monastery filled me with awe.  The monastery sat in a dramatically deep valley -- almost filling it, at that point -- and above its walls and domes rose the Rila Mountains, which are very steep and forested with tall spruces."  (Ch. 61)

Rila Monastery, from An American in Bulgaria

"The great wooden doors of the gate were open, and we went through them into a sight I can never forget.  Around us loomed the striped walls of the monastery fortress, with their alternating patterns of black and red on white plaster, hung with long wooden galleries.  Filling a third of the enormous courtyard was a church of exquisite proportions, its porch heavily frescoed, its pale green domes alight in the midday sun.  Beside it stood a muscular, square tower of gray stone, visibly older than everything else in sight.  Stoichev told us that this was Hrelyo's Tower, built by a medieval nobleman as a haven from his political enemies.  It was the only remaining part of the earliest monastery on the site, which had been burned by the Turks and rebuilt centuries later in this striped splendor."  (Ch. 61)

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery Courtyard, striped walls

Rila Monastery

Hrelyo's Tower, photo by Bojidar Hinkov

The "Chronicle" claims that they traveled only a short distance -- "not much farther" -- from the monastery at Bachkovo, located about thirty-five kilometers south of Asenovgrad on the Chepelarska River.  Clearly, Sveti Georgi was situated somewhere in south central Bulgaria.  This area, which includes much of the Rhodope Mountains, was among the last Bulgarian regions to be conquered by the Ottomans; some particularly rugged terrain inthe area was never brought under full Ottoman domination.  If Sveti Georgi was located in the mountains, this might have accounted in part for its selection as a relatively safe resting place for the remains of Vlad III."  (Ch. 59)

Ruins of Sveti Georgi

"Stefan reports through Zacharias that his friends were "interrogated" in the town of Haskovo before being tortured and killed, which suggests that Ottoman authorities believed they possessed politically sensitive information of some sort.  Haskovo is located in southeast Bulgaria, a region that was securely under Ottoman command by the fifteenth century." (Ch. 59)

Haskovo Ruins

Yours in profoundest grief,
Coffee and a Book Chick
Tedious & Brief