Customer Reviews

Suffled How It Gush: A North American Anarchist in the Balkans

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In this gripping memoir, author Shon Meckfessel brings us on a journey through the historical as well has the modern Balkans. With a voice simultaneously encompassing both irony and reverence, Meckfessel tells a story filled with anarchism, music and a love for a part of Europe that the world has turned its back on, leaving only its shining coca cola cans and new Mercedes cars behind it. His story, as the cars and cans, reflect the struggling peoples of the Balkan countries trying to make a living while trying to fulfill their dreams of a good life. Viewing first hand the damaging influence of the American Dream, corrupt politicians, and greedy businessmen, the author sits down for a drink with every national within the Balkan hearing how they view their own situations as well as the Western World.

An interesting read. Travel book, interspersed with references to scholarly literature (which is often absent in journalist narratives). His sources are given excact references in scholarly style, this heightens credibility. A lot of anecdotes, which the author at the same time makes arguments about situation, I think he succeed. Sort of mix between ethnography and literary journalism. I think his strength is excactly his perspective - as an Ámerican punk traveller he gets access to a whole lot of people and situations that a professor or native academic would not. Recomended, especially if you like more non-standard ethnographic genres.

I'd call this a punk "junior year abroad." I read most of the book and mailed it to a prominent journalist in the former Yugoslavia, a guy who saw the worst of the war and it's aftermath. He later told me he read about half of it standing up in a cafe then placed it on the counter and walked out. Later he saw it in the trash. The only reason I bought the book, which does have a good name, by the way, was because the writer was with the three American "journalists" who wandered into Iran and even now are in the Iranian slammer. You can read this book if you want, but Rebecca West's venerable "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon" written some 70 years ago, will teach more about this region and be a more satisfying read.

Shon Meckfessel, a green-haired, banjo-playing anarcho-punk journalist from Sacramento, wrote this riveting memoir about his experiences backpacking around the Balkans to explain the complicated political dynamics of this war-torn region. In this book, we visit refugee camps, Roma communities, a Bosnian eco-village, anarchist infoshops, and a Gay Pride Rally in Croatia that was attacked by neo-nazi fascists. Along the way, we meet a wild assortment of interesting characters from crusty street punks to human rights and environmental activists to everyday people just trying to survive in the midst of ethnic conflict and economic collapse. There is even an excellenct chapter on Greece which includes several exciting post-Situationist blog excerpts from participants from last December's mass protests in Athens. In short, if you enjoy Ramor Ryan, the Crimethinc Collective, or Michael Muhammad Knight, you'll LOVE Shon Meckfessel's fast-paced, fun, and highly intelligent memoir which counteracts the mountain of disinformation provided by both the right-wing pro-NATO corporate media and leftist organizations like the Workers World Party which wrongly supported the Milosevic regime while correctly opposing US military intervention. Thank you Meckfessel for your fabulous book. I look forward to reading about your future adventures!

Don't read this book. The self-impressed author spoils his opportunity to uniquely profile the Balkans with immature, incoherent scraps of rambling thoughts that are a confused jumble. You're better off stealing a bag of postcards from disaffected youth idly traveling the former Yugoslavia who think little, and write worse.