I found The Trenchcoat by Norman Manea to be a bit difficult. I felt lost at times and I was unsure of what was happening in the book at moments. The plot begins with a dinner party in which the guest feel awkward and obligated to be there. Perhaps because Ioana’s husband Ali is co-workers with Brazil and Dina who are the hosts. Although Ioana, Ali, Felicia and the kid could care less about Dina, they were confused as to if they should call and thank Dina and Brazil for the dinner party. I found confusion to be a recurring theme in this novel. The Stoians (Ioana and Ali) are later confused when Dina shows up at their place to visit shorty and does not call after. To continue, the main anxiety and confusion are brought upon by the trenchcoat that was left behind at the Dinner party. When Dina asks everyone and can not find who the trenchcoat belongs to, there is more confusion.
It was not until after I watched the lecture video that I learned about Romania’s communist era and the execution of communist dictator Ceausescu. Manea does not make explicit political references to the Romanian revolution but there are parts of the novel where I feel there were references to the communist political rule. I believe this happens when Ali is talking to the kid and mentions ” Even those creeps who keep an eye on us all, even they’ve become apathetic.” (p 239). Here I believe he is referring to the strict and arbitrary rule of the communist party in Romania. He also mentions “they plod through their jobs with their eyes on their paychecks.” The people they are talking about I think are the leaders of the Communist Party and the government workers who carry out surveillance to ensure strict communist rule. Even with the mystery of the trenchcoat, Ioana feels like there is something suspicious “under the surface” (p 257). This is what I feel like Manea attempts in his novel, he creates messages that are hidden behind the surface to allow the reader room for interpretation.
My question: Why is Dina not liked by most of the characters? I was not too sure why the guests already had their minds made up about Dina. They feel like she tries too hard and at one point refer to her as “stuck up and bitchy”. But I wonder if there is a particular reason as to why her presence is not preferred.
Hello!
I think you’re right about how most of the characters find Dina’s attitudes and “airs” sort of irritating. I believe it’s also mentioned that Dina comes from an “ethnic minority,” so I wonder if the others sort of look down on her or feel threatened by her presence and her relationship with Bazil – which might even be what makes Dina feel the need to try so hard in the first place.