Customer Reviews

Cold Snap: Bulgaria Stories

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As a Bulgarian I was excited to read Cynthia Morrison Phoel's collection of Bulgaria Stories but also quite apprehensive. How well could somebody who only spent a couple of years in a country get to know its people? Would she pick up and expose all those little quirks that make us who we are but could be quite embarrassing? How is she going to judge her experience?

And what a wonderful surprise I found. Cynthia is a very fine storyteller. Her characters are so vivid and her stories so tight. I couldn't help but be amazed by her ability to penetrate under the skin of the people of this little town and capture their often suppressed but so real emotions. She managed to acutely grasp and depict the relations between women and men, children and parents and how they evolve, where the balance lies or a divide rises.

I felt right at home in the town of Old Mountain surrounded by the people I grew up with.
And was so moved by the tenderness with which Phoel observes their daily fights. I was saddened though that what Cynthia experienced was a time where the struggle for daily survival had taken center stage and left little room for dreams, aspirations and cheer.

Her book is an excellent debut and I can't wait to read more from her.

I was completely captivated by this novel. Cindy Morrison Phoel brilliantly shaped the characters and transported me to another land with her storytelling. I literally couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!

The characters in Cynthia Phoel's book came alive and I wanted to know more about them as they appeared. The author was very helpful in making that happen. I began to wish the book would not end. I hope she will write many more novels. She helped us meet the characters, but also get a feel for the times and problems at that time in Bulgaria.

I shall certainly be looking for more writing from Ms. Phoel!

This is a well-written, intelligent book. The book allows the reader to really understand the characters and life in Bulgaria. Its a great way to travel to another part of the world without actually leaving home.

These are enchanting stories, intertwined but stand-alone, superbly crafted with wit, cultural insight and portraying lives in transition. Bulgaria is a wonderful country but one must understand the challenges it faces as it evolves from a bleak past and struggles forward but all too slowly. Ms. Phoel captures the place, the people and the difficulties. But she also portrays the wonder of this unique, ancient and lovely culture! A must read for anyone who knows, or wants to know more about Bulgaria.

I found these stories really engaging. I got drawn in and wanted to keep finding out more. You're able to identify with the struggles these people are faced with as their country emerges from communism, with such vivid and well-crafted descriptions of their emotions and their situations.

And the stories are all stand-alone, but also related, so you can read it almost like a novel, but you can also read one story at a time. It's definitely not light and fluffy, but also very readable.

I really enjoyed these stories. They are set in a small town in Bulgaria during the 1990s while the town is waiting for the central heat to be turned on. The descriptions of the characters and their surroundings are so vivid you get a clear image of them in your mind. The townspeople (ranging in age from school children to the elderly) focus on the earthy basics of physical and emotional need. I finished the book wanting to read more about the characters.

A wonderful first collection of short stories by a brilliant writer - Cynthia Phoel! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cold Snap and would recommend adding this delightful book to everyone's holiday reading wishlist. Cold Snap will make a unique and memorable holiday gift for any avid reader. It doesn't matter if you have a previous connection to Bulgaria or not. The characters are so well developed, the location of the village of "Old Mountain" so well described, and the plot lines so well conceived, these stories are sure to amaze and amuse anyone who is interested in good literature.

Again, a highly recommended read. I certainly hope we will be seeing more from Ms. Phoel soon!