A Guide to the Serbian Mentality

by Momo Kapor

Book Overview

Posebnu zanimljivost predstavljaju ilustracije koje prate tekstove ali na sirem planu stvaraju galeriju crteza "najboljeg slikara medju piscima i najboljeg pisca medju slikarima". Belgrade author and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 8673466555
• ISBN13: 9788673466552
• Release Date: January 2011
• Publisher: Dereta
• Length: 313 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

If you know a Serb, you must read it!!!!

Serbs are a difficult bunch to understand. They can't even figure themselves out. That's why Momo is so celebrated there for he helped many understand themselves. I loved all his books...this one being the last one I read upon my return from Belgrade 3 weeks ago. All that he writes is true!!! I laughed reading it from the beginning to the end. Once you read it...get yourself a ticket and go to Belgrade. When you get there, don't be surprised if you stay forever!!! Momo understood the Magic of Belgrade (another one of his books) when he first moved there after the war. It's so sad he died today. A great writer, poet and painter.

A Giude to the Serbian Mentality

You will learn a lot about Serbs with this book. Very easy reading with some poetic and hard english words, but I enjoyed it very much. Highly recomended for anyone who try to get to know in depth about Serbian culture, unique habits, how they think and celebrate everyday life.

A Serbian Man Observes his Homeland

Momo Kopor was born in Sarajevo in 1937. He is a painter by training and graduated from the Academy of Figuartive Art in Belgrade in 1961. His literary career began in the early 1960's. I came to Belgrade and being American picked up a book I could read. Written in English. Soft cover. Easy to grab as it was in the front of the bookstore in a stack in the middle of the room I see why it has been translated, reprinted and made available to all. I will quote some of his observations of Belgrade and Serbia and let his expressions give you some insight into a country and a city that has had to say the least " mixed reviews". The chapters are short. Easy to read the last one as the first one and then skip to another. He writes conversational style. I read to my husband while he laughed at observations that he too had lived. The Country: " The outside world has always came to us more often than we have ventured into the world/" ..." because we live between the East and the West, we beleive that the truth and human measure are somewhere in the middle." Belgrade: "People like Belgrade because of the hospitality." It is an art city like little Montmarte of Paris. An aerial picture of Belgrade shows as the palm of your hand-its past, present and future." Food: Serbs believe there is no place tith such sumptuous food in their home, and that you, being lean. have just barely escaped hunger." The food they call Serbian is from all other countries. Cevapchia , a Serbian burger from Turkey. Njequska, smoked ham, from Italy. Pork Bar-b-Q from Spaniards and Italians. Beans from the Americas.. not to mention McDonald's. Business lunches are feasts. You can never eat that much at one time he says. Beans: " When Europe betrays us, when the table is laid without English roast beef, Italian spaghetti, French cheeses and German sauces...we return to Serbian beans." Plum Brandy: Nectar of the Gods. It is present at births, deaths, and every event in a person's life. It can be used as payment to the priest, the doctor and the tax collector. The Serbian hat that mean wear, The Sajkace. It is made from a wool like material. It has the shape of a seagull. It is a sign of defiance, courage, tenderness and spite. It is the only hat that is worn as folk costumes, everyday wear and taken into a military uniform in war. " It protects from natural diasters, holds a cigarette ( to be smoked later) a letter from a son ( to be read to everyone in the village) It is not taken off except before the Church... you can sleep with it and even pull it over your eyes to create artifical night. I could go on and on... his description and history of both art, politics, local cusines, local hangouts for artists is a testament for all who are familiar with the area and for those of us who are tourists a great takealong tour guide to enjoy the times and life of Momo and his Serbian friends.

Hilarious!

I adore Kapor and his sense of humor. This book is to the Serbs what "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is to the Greeks! Highly Recommend!