In this week of news in world literature, we hear from our Editors-at-Large on recent literary awards, revolutionary bookstores, and book fairs around the globe! From North Macedonia’s Novel of the Year to prizes for works across genres and languages in Spain, read on to learn more!
Sofija Popovska, Editor-at-Large, reporting from North Macedonia
At the end of May, the 24th “Novel of the Year” award, given by the Slavko Janevski foundation, was presented to the author Vlada Urošević for his novel “Вистината но не многу веројатна историја за семејството Пустополски за куќата покрај Вардар и за четирите прстени” (The true, yet not very likely tale of the Pustopolski family, of the house by Vardar river, and the four rings).
Urošević (b. October 17, 1934), who received the most prestigious Macedonian poetry award earlier this spring, is a writer, poet, and essayist. His oeuvre includes a wide array of literary genres—prose, poetry, essays, travelogs, literary and art criticism, and translations. His work as a full-time professor of comparative literature at the University of St Cyril and Methodius in Skopje is present not only in his lyrical oeuvre—his novel, too, blends different cultures together to create a thrilling, artful narrative.
“Вистината…” is set in the summer of 1898, when Nikola, the main character, returns to Skopje after finishing his studies at the École supérieure de pharmacie in Paris. Imbued with ideas of progress and modernity, he is determined to apply his newly acquired Western perspective to his life at home. The novel relies heavily on locale, walking its readers through the maala (neighborhoods) of Skopje, rich with traditional scenes and sensations, such as the smell of freshly picked grapes and strolls through the Old Bazaar. The novel effortlessly blends the domestic and foreign, injecting characters like Goethe’s Mephistopheles into a magical realist Balkan setting. Towards the end of the novel, these entanglements reach an apotheosis as time and space give way to correspondences and connections, revealed through encyclopedic multitudes of mythical and cultural allusions.
The novel presents a celebration of foreign and native culture alike, demonstrating the impossibility of separating one from the other. Simultaneously, it is a love letter to Macedonian life, the unique chronotope of fin de siècle Skopje, and the Macedonian language itself. The Macedonian language is one that Urošević places great faith in, claiming that “it is capable of tackling the most difficult tasks that literary creativity places before it.”
Jiaoyang Li, Editor-at-Large, reporting from China
Post Post 2.0, an innovative bookstore in Beijing’s Sanlitun district, revolutionizes the retail experience by seamlessly merging literature, music, fashion, and gastronomy. Located at Wuxiang, Happiness San Cun, this captivating space entices visitors with thought-provoking publications, mesmerizing vinyl records, stylish fashion, lifestyle products, and global cuisine. Its unique architecture, featuring a seven-meter height and a triangular pointed roof, adds to its allure. Beyond being a retail destination, Post Post 2.0 becomes an integral part of the community, fostering connections and transcending boundaries. The grand opening on June 10th, 2023, promises an extraordinary retail encounter for curious minds, book lovers, and cultural enthusiasts, redefining the retail landscape in Sanlitun as a dynamic space for cultural exploration and intellectual curiosity.
From June 15th to 18th, abC Art Book Fair Beijing captivates attendees with a curated series of thematic activities that delve into diverse fields. Participants get a glimpse into multidimensional initiatives, ranging from rediscovering ancient caves to exploring human endeavors driven by the attributes of the land. They also engage in resisting the inertia of progress, embracing individual “small places,” and satisfying the inherent human need for community. With the present moment as the reference point, abC Art Book Fair Beijing offers a journey through history and space, allowing attendees to navigate their coordinates and rediscover the interconnectedness of past and present. This immersive cultural experience captures the essence of exploration and invites participants to embark on a thought-provoking odyssey.
In Flushing, a Chinatown in New York, the exhibition “Home-O-Stasis: Life and Livelihoods in Flushing” presents the mesmerizing world of a mini-mall near the Flushing Library. Within this enchanting setting, the project “Flushing Polyphonous” draws inspiration from the classic board game ‘Monopoly,’ blurring the line between real life and the fictional stories of the Chinese immigrants here. It invites visitors to engage in a game-versus-real-life adventure, immersing them in the urban texture and multilayered livelihood of Flushing. “Flushing Polyphonous” becomes a gateway to explore and archive the essence of local life, allowing guests to uncover the vibrant tapestry of the neighborhood. It captures the polyphonous facets of Flushing, where memories are made, experiences resonate, and individuals shape the local narratives. The exhibition runs from May 27th to July 23rd, providing an opportunity to delve into the rich cultural fabric of Flushing.
Marina García Pardavila, Editor-at-Large, reporting from Spain
This past May, the Premios de la Crítica (National Critics’ Prize) announced the winners of this year, both in poetry and fiction. Since 1956, this award has highlighted the most astounding voices in Spain, taking into account the works written in co-official languages such as Euskera, Galician, and Catalan—which entered the competition in 1976. The prize showcases dazzling intergenerational talent, meticulously crafted pieces, and poignant works of art.
Pilar Adón, writer, translator, and editor at Impedimenta publishing house, has won the award in the Spanish fiction category for her novel De bestias y aves (Of Beasts and Birds). Following her previous ventures in nature writing and eco-uncanny themes, which were thoroughly explored in her poetry collections La hija del cazador (The Hunter’s Daughter) or Mente animal (Animal Mind), this new novel pushes the main character Cora to the verge of anguish after meeting three women living in a cottage. Wilderness engulfs the heart with extreme violence and primal instincts become questionable in this hostile setting.
In poetry, Dionisia García has received the award for her poetry collection Clamor en la memoria (Recollecting in turmoil). Her extensive work goes back to 1976, which links her to the mid-century poetry generation. Throughout her life, García has published short stories, essays, and poetry collections. Clamor en la memoria pays homage to her late husband with an unwavering love for him. Capturing ordinary life with sound insightful lines, her poetry offers a stunning portrait of simplicity.
The Galician poetry prize has been awarded to Yolanda Castaño, a creative powerhouse: poet, translator, editor, cultural manager, and video creator. Her last poetry collection Materia (Matter) discusses the concept of legacy, family bonds, and maternity. With a strong desire for experimentation, this poetry collection employs a wide array of poetic devices to say farewell to a not-soon-to-be daughter. Castaño had already received this prize in 1998, and her previous poetry collections have been translated into several languages. Keith Payne has translated into English Depth of Field, which won the Premio Ojo Crítico in 2009, and The Second Tongue.
In fiction, the Galician writer and academic Brais Lamela has won the prize with the novel Ninguén queda (No One Remains), which fuses non-fiction patterns with a fictional approach to memory. In this regard, Lamela delightfully uses his family archive to create a novel that links the current situation of precariousness that young people are facing with the forced migration of a group of villagers to the Terra Chá in the seventies. Despite being his breakthrough novel, Lamela has a long history of literary prizes from a surprisingly young age.
In Catalan, the poet Àngels Marzò has won the award for her poetry collection El rastre nival (The Snow Trail). It analyzes the present state of History through the lenses of art, that is, by recovering the old ekphrasis technique. It can be linked to the recently awarded poetry collection Barroco (Barroque) by Antía Otero, which also uses art to examine current events. Marzò took her inspiration from Henri Cartier-Bresson to craft an atemporal language that pierces time and historical landmarks.
Regarding the fiction prize, Raquel Ricart won the award in this category with her novel El dit de Déu (God’s Finger). In this story, three women open up about their problems with drinking, sexual harassment, cancer, and abandonment issues. It has an important social critique, which is magnified through the characters’ conversation. This is one of many prizes that Ricart had already received, such as the Premi de la Crítica dels Escriptors Valencians (2011).
In Basque, Jon Benito has won the award in the fiction category for his novel Lagun miñak (Close Friends). It portrays the inherent complexity of our current society, which becomes even more difficult as the main characters experience painful times.
Finally, in the poetry category, Aritz Gorrotxategi received the award for this poetry collection Uda vetea (Summer), which is a breathtaking recollection of summer memories written with an endearing language.
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