See, Dictionary of the Khazars (1984) is less a "novel" in the traditional sense and more of a literary labyrinth. Written by Serbian author Milorad Pavić (and this is my first book by a Serbian author), it is a masterpiece of postmodernism and magical realism that functions like a choose-your-own-adventure story for intellectuals. It's a "lexicon novel": Pavić didn't write chapters. Instead, he wrote dictionary entries. The book is divided into three "books" representing the three perspectives on the Khazar Polemic (a historical event where the Khazar people had to choose a new state religion): the Red Book (based on Christian sources), the Green Book (based on Islamic sources), and the Yellow Book (based on Jewish sources). Because it’s a dictionary, one doesn't have to read it from page one to the end. One can jump from entry to entry, following cross-references, effectively building one's own version of the story.
The "story" centers on the Khazars, a nomadic people who lived between the Black and Caspian Seas between the 7th and 9th centuries. The core mystery is the Khazar Polemic: The Khazar Khan invited a monk, a dervish, and a rabbi to debate their faiths. Whomever won would convert the entire Khazar nation. The twist? Each "dictionary" claims their representative won. In the process of reading, one tries to piece together what actually happened to a people who have since vanished from history. And yes, I kept on finding myself checking Wikipedia to fact-check so to speak what this group of people was about, and what happened to them. Indeed, they seem to have vanished from the earth.
Another complexity I liked is the fact that this book apparently has a "male" and a "female" version. I happen to have read the female version. They are 99.9% identical. The only difference is a single, crucial paragraph near the end of the book. Pavić suggested that if a man and a woman who own different editions meet in a café and compare that specific paragraph, they might fall in love—or their lives might change forever. It's a meta-commentary on how gender or perspective shifts our entire understanding of "truth."
In any case, I think I loved this book. This reminds me of certain works by Umberto Eco or Italo Calvino. This book is meant to be explored, not just read. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
See my other book reviews here.
