East of the West: A Country in Stories - Softcover

"Miroslav Penkov unpacks his stories with great skill, drawing the reader so deeply into the world he has created that when the magic comes--a father wrapping his son's eyelash in a handkerchief--it knocks the wind right out of you. East of the West captures the moments that prove we are truly living."
--Hannah Tinti, author of The Good Thief
"Miroslav Penkov has successfully trapped two elusive creatures: the absurd beauty of Eastern Europe and the emotional paradox of self-exile from that absurdity. His sense of history, his sense of humor, and his ability to create lasting characters make this book a dark yet hilarious pleasure."
--Elizabeth Kostova, author of The Historian
"I suspect that Miroslav Penkov would be a wonderful writer in any language, but lucky for us, it happens to be English, and what funny, tender, tragic, and soulful stories he spins in his adopted tongue. East of the West is, simply put, one of the best collections I have read in years, ambit

"The reader will be forgiven for not recognizing the name of the 28-year-old Bulgarian-American writer, or for being ignorant of the plight of Bulgarians at home or abroad. East of the West may do a lot to change that because of its rich and fascinating subject matter and its author's unmistakably large talent. . . . East of the West is about unforgettable characters in memorable situations. You are, in short, in the hands of a novice master testing his skills and the boundaries of his craft. Think of a young Alice Munro crossing paths with David Bezmozgis and Jonathan Safran Foer."
--"The Gazette "(Montreal)
"Miroslav Penkov unpacks his stories with great skill, drawing the reader so deeply into the world he has created that when the magic comes--a father wrapping his son's eyelash in a handkerchief--it knocks the wind right out of you. East of the West captures the moments that prove we are truly living."
--Hannah Tinti, author of The Good Thief
"Miroslav Penkov

"These are fearless, gutsy stories with tremendous impact."
--"Philadelphia City Paper
"
"The reader will be forgiven for not recognizing the name of the 28-year-old Bulgarian-American writer, or for being ignorant of the plight of Bulgarians at home or abroad. East of the West may do a lot to change that because of its rich and fascinating subject matter and its author's unmistakably large talent. . . . East of the West is about unforgettable characters in memorable situations. You are, in short, in the hands of a novice master testing his skills and the boundaries of his craft. Think of a young Alice Munro crossing paths with David Bezmozgis and Jonathan Safran Foer."
--"The Gazette "(Montreal)
"Penkov's Bulgaria is a postmodern multicultural mix, but there is also something primitive and tribal about the place. A poor, culturally divided and frankly backward country, with many of the people we meet dreaming of Western lifestyles and trying to make it to America,

"An agile and assured debut . . . In each of these stylistically old-school yet freshly envisioned morality tales, Penkov burnishes brute circumstances to surprising beauty." --"Elle ""Splendid . . . These stories are not the promising work of a first-time author. They are already a promise fulfilled--wise, bright, and deep with sympathy." --Alec Solomita, "The New Republic ""Like Aleksandar Hemon, Ha Jin, and Edwidge Danticat, Penkov is a translingual. . . . His dexterous English prose [portrays] human beings left in limbo, without a compass." --"The Dallas Morning News""Penkov's stories combine toughness, vulnerability, and bravado. . . . This is a sparkling collection." --Catherine Taylor, "The Guardian" (London)"A fantastic collection that lives up to its audacious subtitle . . . Penkov's writing style is clear and startling, filled with warmth and wisdom. . . . These are fearless, gutsy stories with tremendous impact." --"Philadelphia City Paper"

An agile and assured debut . . . In each of these stylistically old-school yet freshly envisioned morality tales, Penkov burnishes brute circumstances to surprising beauty. "Elle"

Splendid . . . These stories are not the promising work of a first-time author. They are already a promise fulfilled--wise, bright, and deep with sympathy. "Alec Solomita, The New Republic"

Like Aleksandar Hemon, Ha Jin, and Edwidge Danticat, Penkov is a translingual. . . . His dexterous English prose [portrays] human beings left in limbo, without a compass. "The Dallas Morning News"

Penkov's stories combine toughness, vulnerability, and bravado. . . . This is a sparkling collection. "Catherine Taylor, The Guardian (London)"

A fantastic collection that lives up to its audacious subtitle . . . Penkov's writing style is clear and startling, filled with warmth and wisdom. . . . These are fearless, gutsy stories with tremendous impact. "Philadelphia City Paper""

"An agile and assured debut . . . In each of these stylistically old-school yet freshly envisioned morality tales, Penkov burnishes brute circumstances to surprising beauty." --Elle

"Splendid . . . These stories are not the promising work of a first-time author. They are already a promise fulfilled--wise, bright, and deep with sympathy." --Alec Solomita, The New Republic

"Like Aleksandar Hemon, Ha Jin, and Edwidge Danticat, Penkov is a translingual. . . . His dexterous English prose [portrays] human beings left in limbo, without a compass." --The Dallas Morning News

"Penkov's stories combine toughness, vulnerability, and bravado. . . . This is a sparkling collection." --Catherine Taylor, The Guardian (London)

"A fantastic collection that lives up to its audacious subtitle . . . Penkov's writing style is clear and startling, filled with warmth and wisdom. . . . These are fearless, gutsy stories with tremendous impact." --Philadelphia City Paper