It's difficult to comment on this book because this is a book that almost defies comment. One has simply read it...or one hasn't. It is the lucky one who has.

In this lyrical and playful novel, Milorad Pavic tells the story of Belgrade architect, Atanas Svilar and his journey through life, a journey he hopes will answer the question, "why had his life been barren and futile, despite the enormous effort invested?"

His journey leads him to an ancient monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, that holy mountain reserved for men, a mountain where no woman has set foot for centuries, the mountain where Atanas' father disappeared during World War II.

Since Atanas doesn't find all he is seeking on Mount Athos, in Book Two, he abandons his family, changes his name to Atanas Fyodorovich Razin and moves to the United States with the beautiful Vitacha Milut. There, something goes his way at last, and he becomes wealthy, at least in a material sense.

Like Pavic's first book, "Dictionary of the Khazars," "Landscape Painted With Tea," is a playful enterprise containing chapters that can be read "down" or "across," much in the same way a crossword puzzle is read. The person who solves the solution to the ultimate puzzle is said to have the key to the solution to the puzzle of life. While I didn't find the key to life in these pages, I did find fun and enjoyment, and, not surprisingly, quite a bit of beauty. So much so that I'm recommending the book to all of my friends.

If stark realism is what you enjoy, you'd probably be better off skipping this book. Those who love writers who can spin magic with words, who are playful and inventive as well as creative, will no doubt love "Landscape Painted With Tea" as much as I did. "Dictionary of the Khazars" made me a Pavic fan; "Landscape Painted With Tea" has simply cemented my admiration for this playful and inventive author.

Usually, I do not read the reviews when buying books, and similarly, never write them. However, when it comes to writings of Milorad Pavic, it is difficult to remain indifferent. Unfortunately, he is not too well known in the United States, and only few of his books had been translated. Pavic's characters, or rather, settings, seem to be appearing from a different dimension, the existence of which, we all feel instinctually, but unable to grasp with our senses. Landscape Painted with Tea, is in many ways similar to the paintings of Salvador Dali; it is surreal, it can be perceived on many different levels, each with its own beauty and mystery, and yet, being a part of the whole. Also, people either love it, or hate it, no one, however, remains cold or untouched by it. Just as the unusual twists of Pavic's imagination lead his unsuspecting readers deeper and deeper, layer by layer, into a world where fantasy and reality meet, so the readers' perception alters depending on the surroundings. Thus, if you read one of his novels during the day, your impression will be different from that of the morning or evening readings, and so on. Landscape Painted with Tea also can be compared to a dream, sometimes, strange, and sometimes leaving you guess about its true meaning, but always fascinating. Well, a praise, however high, will not suffice - you must read it for yourself! I hope, you will enjoy it!

I used to read Landscape Painted with tea on the train in Seoul inbetween English classes. One day, I lost it on the train. I am looking for another hardcover copy. I feel enshrouded in colored mist when I read Pavic. His words are like beads of golden sweat dripping from an ancient genie. His writing style is similar to Arwei Kwei Armah in The Beautiful Ones are not yet born. Tea is one of my favourite books. I hope I find it again.

The Inner Side of the Wind, or the Novel of Hero and Leande

Milorad Pavic's Dictionary of the Khazars is a very odd book. It's written more like an encyclopaedia than a dictionary, and more like a book of mythology/folklore than an encyclopaedia.

Perhaps the book can be best described as the ultimate bathroom reading for post-modernists. The book is divided into three parts: Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. The entries are generally short, and can be read in any order. As you read, you'll find crossovers, similarities, and outright contradictions to perplex and tease your mind. The time periods covered jump from the distant past to the present, with murders, accidental deaths, personification of devils, and dream-hunting.

Some parts I found rather dry, but on the whole, the book is filled with moments where I would put the book down to contemplate a sentence. The Dictionary of the Khazars is full of nice, chewy ideas and insights, and reads a bit like a more user-friendly Umberto Eco.

I saw this book in a store and saw that there were two editions. This intrigued me -- why "Male" & "Female". It was only several years later on the Internet that I was finally able to find the differing sections -- and different they are, although not necessary for the enjoyment of the book. Choose either edition; you will find the same pleasure.

The Khazars were a real people, holding wide areas of modern-day Russian. They did convert, eventually to Judaism, although you would never learn this from Pavic in particular. No, Pavic is not worried about the reality of the Khazars, but in the melding of cultures of the Balkans, the state of Man and God and their relationships to each other, and odd connections that a literate reader makes between multiple books.

This is not a book with a plot. This is not a book with a single or simple way to read it. I believe that I have read the whole book twice, but they only way I could say that for certain would to be like Hansel and Gretzel and leave marks on the pages that I have actually finished. Like swimming through a dictionary or encyclopedia, this book invites you to read sections in no particular order, or, more realistically, in the order YOU see fit to choose.

The three sections (Christina, Muslem, Jewish) are seperated, yet intermingled due to cross references (many of them contradictory). They are colour-coded, yet this only provides one level of deliniation. Each section is set up like an encyclopedia in its own right. The unifying figure of Princess Ateh is sure to intrigue any sagacious reader; the whimsical nature of the book may seem superficial at first, but you will be drawn deeper into the mystery of "What is this all about?"

Prepare to lose yourself in a magical world of words and inter-relations. I have noted that previous reviewers have compared the writing to Marquez and Calvino -- this is not far off the mark, especially if one could only spin the two together.

There were too many writers who tried to make something new aboyt the literary form.Some never do the noticeable inovation,some are succesful once in their life.Milorad Pavic does that every time he takes the pen.But,the reader is always brought to a position to wonder about the "simplicity " of the idea.Who couldn`t remember of a dictionary,or the tarot cards,or inversing the story!Everything looks so familiar and easy like a fairytail or a SF novel,and then it begins to look like a little more seriously stuff.Metaphorical,maybe.Than you continue reading and become confused:who is who,and what all those people do in a completely different centuries?But there occurs one more time transfer and the book shows itself as an highly symbolic text. All those layers are invisible,their meanings cannot shine out while you are reading,but when you say:"I don`t see any conection here" and go to bed or start washing the dishes.And then it becomes suddenly clearer and clearer.You run back to read it on.It doesn`t let you rest. But the most unexpectable for me was that the author puts the Key of the book in Appendix(I and II),on the place where is less expected,like something that could and didn`t have to interest You. The time is floating trough the people making people`s efforts last forever.But there`s very,very much texts where much better things are wrote than I ever could.

Author of this book should qualify as an inventor of the unique style of writing that incorporates magical realism, surrealism and pure scientific invention. It is true that Milorad Pavic wrote better books than this one, but one must admit that writing a book where each chapter represents untold tale of tarot cards is truly original. And does anyone ever gets the full story after cards are read? It appears that there is always something unsaid or unfinished about card reading - tarot or not. The book treats the story the same. In addition to beatiful illustrations done by Ivan Pavic, book contains clusters of wisdom. My favorite one includes the conversation between two lovers, where one says: "We are happy lovers. Aren't we? And happines makes one stupid. Happiness and wisdom do not go together, just as body and thought do not go together. Because only pain is the thought of the body." For readers looking for something new and different, this is a perfect find.

I have been waiting a long time for this book. I'm almost finished reading it but I cannot seem to get excited about the book. It simply isn't as good as his earlier books. His drawing of strange images is losing its edge and novelty. Because I've enjoyed his early works, I will have to read the book again to see if a second reading will produce better "results."