Book Review: Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov

Time Shelter joined the depths of my Goodreads list a long time ago. When I finally picked it up at the library, I was expecting some kind of nearly The Littles-esque character searching the globe for various artifacts and buttons. Instead, I witnessed the spiral of an inventor, the blending of reality, and the ethics of hospice.

The most interesting thing about this novel is how real it became. At first, it seemed almost magical. I genuinely questioned whether actual time travel was taking place rather than a simple illusion. Surely it was impossible to recreate the past so perfectly - to emulate it so clearly that people believed? I found it nearly unbelievable that an entire nation could be compelled to believe a reality constructed for the comfort of the geriatric, let alone a whole continent! But people did believe, when at first they had only meant to pretend. 

It is much the same as when we fall asleep. In order to put ourselves to bed, we pretend to be sleeping already: lights out, blankets up, still and breathing slow. Eventually we wake up and know that we must have fallen asleep at some point without consciously intending to. This method of pretending become reality is the same that drives many method actors. It is the way that groupthink forms; at first we only "believe" to appeal to the masses, until suddenly we believe genuinely. 

Gospodinov paints a horrifying picture so unbelievable that the reader cannot look away. It shows both the sweetness and the horror of nostalgia, demonstrating both how the past can bring comfort and how it can cause us to regress. This forces questions of where the past truly belongs. We must remember it somehow, as to abandon it would be both impossible and unwise. The past is necessary for the prevention of repeated mistakes. To cling to the past, however, bogs us down, so that we cannot see what is necessary to move forward. One should take lessons from the past into the future, but should not dwell in either entirely. Dwelling entirely in the past allows the past to repeat, as in the case of Time Shelter. Dwelling only in the future, however, is how the context society is built on becomes lost. 

Time Shelter is a glimpse into a future where humanity devours the past. It is a delightful insight into the culture of Bulgaria, which I admittedly lack knowledge of. It is an exploration of memory, of how to care for those who can remember no more, and what is worth preserving. Gospodinov's work is driven by a strong voice, good ideas taken too far, and a desire to do what is right in a world of greed. Perfect for readers who crave literary images or deep pondering, Time Shelter is a beautiful novel for the ages.