Mediapool Reviews 'My Seven Fathers': A Boyhood with Seven Stepdads

A new book review on Mediapool has brought attention to My Seven Fathers, a memoir by Andrev Valden, now available in Bulgarian translation by Eva Kaneva and published by Emas. The review describes the book as a delicate and dramatic story that is both funny and disarming, told through the eyes of a child growing up with a rotating cast of father figures.

According to the review, the narrative follows the young Andrev from age seven to fourteen, as he, his mother, and younger siblings move from flat to flat, town to town, each stop marked by a new man in his mother's life. The boy wonders what it would be like to call each of these men "dad," and the review notes that each of the seven is awful in his own way.

The reviewer praises the authenticity of the child's perspective, which evolves as Andrev grows. The book captures the unique logic and humour of a child who lacks adult labels, so where a grown-up reader might see a violent man or a drug addict, the boy sees a magician. The review highlights the book's ability to be both hilarious and heartbreaking, as Andrev copes with instability by retreating into rich fantasies of heroism and escape.

The memoir's autobiographical nature becomes clear as the protagonist's name matches the author's, and the review suggests that Andrev survives a difficult childhood to tell his story with courage and tenderness. My Seven Fathers is recommended for readers interested in contemporary Bulgarian literature and stories of resilience.