Spring Flowers, Spring Frost by Ismail Kadare

In a small town in Albania, a bank worker and artist navigates the strange and often surreal world of post-communist life. The novel explores the tension between the old and new ways of life, as well as the underlying violence that threatens to burst forth at any moment. The protagonist's life is disrupted by strange events, such as the discovery of a girl who has been living in a bunker for years, and his own wife's sudden disappearance. The narrative is filled with dreamlike, often disturbing imagery, reflecting the protagonist's struggle to make sense of his rapidly changing world.

The 4901st greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 144

Since this book was first published in 2000, there is a penalty of 41.6%. The age adjusted score is 84.1.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.