The Physics of Sorrow

"The Physics of Sorrow" is an inventive and mind-expanding novel that explores the inner life of its unnamed narrator, who experiences episodes of 'pathological empathy' that allow him to enter others' memories. Through a series of vivid recollections—from a Bulgarian fair in 1925 to the mind of a swallowed slug—the story weaves together family history, coming-of-age themes, and reflections on life in Communist Europe. Translated from Bulgarian, the book offers a unique meditation on the small, hidden moments where life quietly unfolds.