Jela Krecic Zizek

Interesting book, somewhere between a philosophical novel and Hollyoaks. Young characters, drinking lusting and partying with lots of late-night setting of the world to rights. That, and simple prose mean it wouldn't be too out of place in the YA/teen section of a library.

The main character is utterly unlikeable, and his friends aren't great either, but this is surely a deliberate provocation to the reader to think more closely about the reallife attitudes they mirror. Partway through I wondered if there were parallels to be drawn between the main character's breakup, and subsequent flings with other women -- and this echoing Slovenia's recent history and necessity of finding a new place in the world post-Yugoslavia. A fun game to play, but ultimately I'm not sure I know enough about the country to be sure this reading works (I'd love to hear other readers' thoughts on this!)

Ultimately, for me, it was a bit too episodic, and lacked any real depth. But that probably says more about my biassed expectations that translated fiction should be highly literary! Approached as a exploration of what it is to be in your twenties in the 2010s in Slovenia and beyond, it is a fun and readable. Pleased that Peter Owen / Istros Books and translator Olivia Hellewell have made this available in English.… (altro)