The Body Is Just a Trifling Thing
A guest at the first European festival 'Book on Stage' at the Czech House, whose novel 'Ostajnica' is shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, talks about her debut work which addresses the 'vow of chastity' and the fate of virgins, girls who assume male identities.
TL;DR
- The novel 'Ostajnica' by Rene Karabash explores the concept of 'virgins' (devica s datom zakletvom) in patriarchal societies, where women assume male identities to gain rights.
- Karabash was inspired by photographs of virgins and her own experiences growing up in a Bulgarian village, where gender expectations influenced her family dynamics.
- The novel is written in a free form, mixing poetry and prose, to counter the restrictive reality faced by women in such societies.
- The author emphasizes that poetry is the starting point for her work and that writing involves a deep, intuitive connection with the material.
- The narrative style intentionally blurs the lines between genres, reflecting the fluidity of identity and the search for freedom.
- 'Ostajnica' has been nominated for the International Booker Prize and translated into fifteen languages.
- The article highlights the paradox of gaining rights through adopting a male identity, while potentially losing one's true self and the freedom to love.
- The festival 'Book on Stage' in Belgrade aims to bring contemporary European literature to the forefront and foster dialogue between authors, publishers, and the public.