Litost

Several sentences in this book were stand out beautiful and enough to warrant a solid 4 star review.

The deducted star is because some of the stories were not interesting. There was a huge discrepancy between the ones that blew me away and the ones that failed to hold my attention, as though they were not written by the same person.

The title and the title's description first drew me in. Litost is a concept of longing and lost, described by Milan Kundera in the Book of Laughter and Forgetting.

"Litost is Czech word with no exact translation into
any other language. It designates a feeling as infinite as an
open accordion, a feeling that is a synthesis of many others:
grief, sympathy, remorse, and an indefinable longing. The
first syllable which is long and stressed, sounds like the wail
of an abandoned dog....I have never found an
equivalent in other languages for this sense of the word
either, though I do not see how anyone can understand the
human soul without it."

This idea is furthered in the Preface. .

Everyone went through a Milan Kundera phase in their early twenties so this boded well. However the foreword was incredibly poorly written, yet well placed, because it meant the first story absolutely leapt off the page.
"What Did We Lose" is hauntingly beautiful, eerie and plot-driven.

Betrayal and anxiety and picking up on unconscious nuances are all common themes. Murderous rage is also featured quite often. "Night Errands" has a whiff of Japanese literature to it - no spoilers, it's very Murakami esque.
"Until we meet again" is also evocative but a little pointless and aimless maybe?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Samir Satam for an ARC to review.
A collection of short stories written in an elaborate literary style that will steal you away for the time you spend reading the book, and some will even stay behind for a little longer.
Like the title which stands to untranslatable Czech word that loosely means an inexplicable mix of remorse and misery that someone has brought upon oneself by their actions, the stories portray various array of so called feelings under different situations.
The book has lots of valuable quotes, too many to write down in a review actually.
I absolutely loved it.

I instinctively knew I was going to like the book when I saw the title and the cover. It just felt like something I needed to read, and I’m glad that I was a hundred percent right about it!

Litost is a collection of short or ‘sliced’ stories, as the author puts it. The thing with short stories that have deliberate indefinite endings is it can easily frustrate the reader. To satisfy yet leave the reader wanting more is a tricky balance and most writers will probably manage to get it in some stories but Samir Satam has beautifully managed to get it right in all the 12 stories in this collection.

It’s a short and crisp book with each story as different and fresh as the previous one, all held together by ‘litost’, which according to Milan Kundera, is “a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one's own misery.” ( The title is taken from Kundera’s book, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. )

Absolutely loved this book! I can’t wait to re-read it soon. What Did We Lose, A Trespasser and Until We Meet Again are my top three stories from the book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

There were 12 stories in the collection and 7 of them blew me away! The others were also beautifully done, but they just didn’t grab me in the same was as the others. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy of this when I get a chance though because I now have a few new favorites and want them in my hands! Thank you for the galley copy! :-)

A solid collection of stories. Collections like this usually don't receive many reviews, but this one has a lot after only being out for about month. That seems like votes for the quality of the writing. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

Litost is a book of exquisite short stories that show many emotions; grief, love, beginnings and endings. I enjoyed some of the stories better than others but they all convey a message to the reader. You may interpret the stories differently than I did but that is what makes these short stories wonderful. The author may have been expressing a certain feeling or situation but I think we each get something different as our lives reflect on how we think. Overall a wonderful book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ebook.

There is a word in my mother tongue that corresponds to the Czech 'litost', perhaps that is why I could so clearly notice the various aspects and meanings of the word in these sliced stories.
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The palette of multiple interpretations of the same word is contained in the stories, which do not end but cut off, giving the reader plenty of room to speculate about the characters' further fates.
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Poetic, unconventional and uncommon, these stories made me read them several times, each time catching something different and delighting me anew. The atmosphere, absurdity, emotions and authenticity contained in this collection will stay in my memory for a long time.
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Great book!

An interesting collection of short stories that express emotions and life changing events.
Told more in a poetic fashion rather than simple narration.

Demonstrating a wide grasp of the English language which betrays a writer who loves words that paint colour and engage our senses.
The language and flow is quite beautiful but I wanted more. It was to me like a 12 course taster meal with never enough to truly form an opinion or satisfy.
They left me wanting more; but I guess each story is an work of art you could re-read them with equal pleasure.

A talented author to look out for; as an example of his work this is something he can be very proud about.

A new author to me; a unique approach to writing short stories that is rooted in literature and language. I felt both drawn into his tales and also an active by-stander.

Strong on character, often depicting dramas where uncertainty may dominate, and when control is lost beyond the limits of the account shared.

In Litost: Sliced Stories, Samir Satam presents a thought-provoking and introspective collection that delves into the complexities of the untranslatable Czech word 'Litost'. With a masterful exploration of grief, remorse, sympathy, and an indescribable longing, Satam weaves a tapestry of narratives that touch upon the various facets and nuances of this enigmatic emotional state.

Through a series of poignant and evocative tales, the author invites readers to contemplate the diverse experiences and perspectives that embody the essence of litost. From existential ponderings to metaphysical musings, each story within the collection serves as a lens through which readers can glimpse the multifaceted nature of human emotions and the intricacies of the human experience.

Satam's skillful storytelling and evocative prose create a rich and immersive reading experience that resonates with a profound sense of introspection and contemplation. As readers immerse themselves in the diverse narratives and delve into the lives of the characters, they are confronted with the universal truths and existential dilemmas that define the human condition.

While the collection successfully captures the essence of litost and its emotional complexities, a minor deduction from a perfect rating is attributed to certain pacing elements that could have been further streamlined to ensure a more cohesive narrative flow. Additionally, some stories could have been further developed to provide a more comprehensive exploration of the characters' inner struggles and emotional journeys.

In conclusion, Litost: Sliced Stories is a compelling and thought-provoking read that invites readers to delve into the depths of the human psyche and contemplate the profound complexities of the human experience. Samir Satam's nuanced exploration of emotions and existential reflections makes this collection a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between grief, longing, and the enigmatic nature of the human spirit.