Multiply autobiographical fiction with historical reconstruction. You will receive the book 'Lazarus', by Alexander Hemon, written a German literary critic. Hemon presented this book at the 'lit.COLOGNE' festival in Cologne. The hall of the Gloria Theater in Cologne was full of those who came to listen to Alexander Hemon's work 'Lazarus'. They are listening because this literary evening was one of many within the "lit-cologne" festival, a festival of reading books and meeting authors from all over the world. The German audience mostly does not know that Aleksandar Hemon was born in Sarajevo; they find out during the evening. One of the visitors explains why he is there in the first place: "It is interesting to hear the author and let him explain his train of thought to us. It is interesting and exciting for me." "Hemon created a series of important themes." The host on stage is the translator of one of Hemon's earlier works, Bernhard Robben. This author's books deserve attention, says Robben. Hemon writes fantastically; his works are both witty and informative, but Lazarus in particular raises a series of important questions: "It is also the time after September 11 in the USA, which hangs over this book like a shadow, but also questions about the homeland and the loss of the homeland, and how to find a home in a foreign country." [vc_column width="1/3"] [vc_single_image image="1823"] The photo that started it all: A policeman holding the head of murdered immigrant Lazarus Averbuch (Chicago, 1908)[vc_column width="2/3"] "Lazarus" is a book that tells about the murder of an immigrant in Chicago exactly 100 years ago, Lazarus Averbuch, but it is a book in which the author has packed numerous topics that fascinate him: from the relationship to the USA, BiH, emigrants' destinies, about good and evil in people, about besieged Sarajevo. Hemon himself reads in English, the language in which he wrote this book in his new homeland. The audience follows and reacts with attention, although it is not their native language. Literary nights in Germany are somewhat different than those in the US, Hemon says. Americans don't have long introductions like in Germany, but the contact with the audience is the same: "There is a lot of audience that likes what I wrote, so I like that." He adds that he does not expect everyone to love him: "No book reaches all readers. Each book chooses its reader, just as readers choose a book." In the audience, there are many "compatriots." In the audience, of course, some share at least two things: common emigrant destiny and common country of origin. Sarajka Lara says that her evening passed with reminders of her hometown, but that what she heard made her wonder where she is and who she belongs to, and adds, "And Hemon says that he already thinks in English, but the man doesn't think he can forget his roots. No matter how long you live somewhere, you remain who you are deep down." Crossing the border is a matter of life or death for someone. [vc_column width="1/3"] [vc_single_image image="1842"] After the literary evening, there was a queue for signatures. [vc_column width="2/3"] We are happy that we got to Alexander Hemon before others, says Susanne Klump from the publishing house Knaus Verlag. She does not hide that he is her favorite author, and in the book "Lazarus," she says that it is also a book about a world that is crossed by borders. This book is also a reminder for people who, like Germans, cross those borders without problems and don't think about it: "But for some people, crossing the border can decide life and death. This is an extraordinary book written in an extraordinarily exciting language, such as we haven't seen in years."
Azer Slanjankić
English
Bosanski
