Book · 1987 · Fiction
Once in Europa
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The second one is the one that I started with and that I read called Once in Europa. But it's a collection of it's like a short story cycle and I think it for fans of Train Dreams might be fans of that as well because there's very similar themes about life kind of moving on and leaving people behind.
Clint Bentley · The Book Review · Feb 2026 Listen at 35:57 Why people recommend it
Once in Europa by John Berger is a collection of interconnected short stories exploring rural life and societal transformation. During an appearance on The Book Review podcast on February 24, 2026, in the episode Director Clint Bentley on Adapting ‘Train Dreams’ for the Big Screen, Clint Bentley recommended the book to listeners. Bentley noted that it was the specific volume by Berger that he started with, describing the work as a short story cycle. He suggested that fans of the cinematic and literary qualities found in Train Dreams would likely appreciate Berger's stories because the two works share very similar overarching themes concerning the relentless progression of life and the way time moves on, ultimately leaving people behind. Bentley's thoughtful recommendation pointed readers toward a European perspective on industrialization and rural displacement, framing Berger's writing as an emotional companion piece for those moved by narratives of transition, memory, and loss.
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Clint Bentley The second one is the one that I started with and that I read called Once in Europa. But it's a collection… 1
“The second one is the one that I started with and that I read called Once in Europa. But it's a collection of it's like a short story cycle and I think it for fans of Train Dreams might be fans of that as well because there's very similar themes about life kind of moving on and leaving people behind”