Orthodox church in Chișinău, Moldova (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
So. Tell me what you know about Moldova, eh? Tucked between Romania and Ukraine, the former Soviet country of Moldova is the least-visited country in Europe.
I confess my interest in Moldova had been nonexistent. During a marathon phone call with one of my brothers, he tossed out a random recommendation. “I think you’d like Playing the Moldovans at Tennis
Sure. Let me write down the title.
[Sidebar: I’ve long wanted to write about reading as an expression of love. If my sibling, or child, or in-law asks me to read a book, I say yes! Unless it is The Silmarillion
Warmth, I was learning, was a luxury commodity in Moldova.
It is quirky. The bet is so eccentric, a limp pretext for a trip to Moldova. But the travel bit is what I appreciated the most. Tony stays with a family, sees life from the inside. It is cold. It is drab. It is dispassionate. It is grim.
People came into this bar to abolish drinks. No passing of the time of day, not even a nod which acknowledged the presence of anyone else; simply a quick fix and then out again. Nurse, give me something to deaden the pain.
When he first visited in 1998 there wasn’t enough money to keep streetlights lit. So people walked the streets in the dark. Tony realizes that stuff he takes for granted in England—being warm and fed—are not givens in Moldova. The transition to independence was not easy. His host family is kind, warm, and helpful.
‘You have to remember,’ she’d said rather poetically, ‘that for more than half a century we have been like caged birds. Now the cage is open we don’t know how to fly.’
I would have enjoyed this book and would recommend it if the tone wasn’t so coarse (f-bombs, body humor, locker-room bawdiness). Tony made a full-length movie of the book, available on YouTube. I’ve only watched 20 minutes, but it might be worth a look.
A Living Pencil 
Interesting book. Not sure I will get it though. My husband and son went to Moldova last year on a mission trip. Our church association has partnered with a church there. The Moldovans will be facing the same thing as the Ukrainians; their population is split between ethnic Romanians and Russians. Not sure the economics are much better today since the book was written. The government is set to close the state run orphanages next year, putting a lot of at risk children on the street. Moldova has high rates of human trafficking. Our church association is working to open an orphanage, as are a lot of other churches and aid agencies.
I think you can safely pass on this book. But the good thing about reading it is that it sparked an interest in Moldova.
I was surprised that the host family went to church. It was at the “basilica” which I suppose is Orthodox.
Do you know any other books about Moldova?
I don’t know of any other books. The main church is Russian Orthodox, but after years of communism, church attendance is light. My husband loved going there. He made some deep friendships and really wants to return. My son has been there twice and feels the same.
Ah, The Silmarillion! No question a difficult book. I understand why it may not connect, but it did for me and I loved it. Maybe time to pick that one up again…