The Walnut Mansion

Jergovic's (Sarajevo Marlboro) latest is an inventive novel that tells the story of Yugoslavia through one family's history. In 15 chapters, Jergovic travels backwards through the 20th century, beginning in 2002 with the mental breakdown and death of Regina, 97-year-old matriarch of the Delavale family. The following chapters present various scenes from her family, such as the early onset of puberty in her granddaughter, giving her one awkwardly large breast at the age of 10. Other scenes are more tragic, including the accidental death of her daughter's boyfriend, the same day as Josip Broz Tito's death. Within these tales of an ordinary family, the reader gets glimpses into the dramatic life of the former Yugoslavia, from the brutal "ethnic cleansing" of the '90s to the resistance against the invading Nazis during World War II and the uncertainty facing the country in the days leading up to the First World War. The reader witnesses the country change from a territory of the Ottoman Empire to its own independent nation, then break apart into separate ethnic regions fighting over boundaries. The introduction provides a useful history of Yugoslavia and the author, helpful for those unfamiliar with either. Highly readable and well-constructed, Jergovic's voice is a exciting discovery. (Oct.)