Summary of Flesh-Coloured Dominoes
“Flesh-Coloured Dominoes” is an entertaining, somewhat surrealist novel that alternates between the eighteenth century and the Second World War. The novel has two plot lines. The first is about an orphan boy in Riga during the 1940s, who experiences how the invading Nazi and Soviet armies determine people’s fates purely based on their ethnicity. The second plot follows a Baltic German woman in Vidzeme in the 18th century, who tries to find her husband after he does not return from war.
Reasons to read Flesh-Coloured Dominoes
“Flesh-Coloured Dominoes” explores various philosophical and societal themes, such as the meaning of humanity and ethnicity in times of war and turmoil. The novel provides insight into the lives of people living in Latvia during the 1930s/1940s and the 18th century. Zigmunds Skujiņš, one of the most celebrated Latvian authors of the 20th century, received several literary awards, including the Order of the Three Stars and the Annual Literature Award for his lifetime contribution to Latvian literature. Other notable works by Skujiņš include “The Bed with a Golden Leg” and “A Man in his Prime”.
Setting: Riga & Vidzeme (Latvia)
Original title: Miesas krāsas domino
Year of publication: 1999
Nr of pages: 256
