I'm going to be the tough teacher who gives a less than stellar grade because I think this writer has unfulfilled potential. This is a story of one man's desire, lust and love for Mitko, the only named character in the book. Mitko is the proverbial bad penny. The author's writing brings to life Sofia Bulgaria, a city betwixt and between the 21st century and its former Soviet overlords. Some of the writing was absolutely breath taking. There was a passage describing a young child on long train journey which made my jaw drop it was just so perfect. This is a strong debut novel, and the author draws upon his life experiences teaching in Bulgaria. Let's hope he has a long and varied writing career and is not a one-story wonder.
2016 reading challenge checks the box for 8. A book set in Europe