Lithuanian literature and book suggestions!
Dear community members,
Hope you are doing well!
In this blog post I would like to tell you more about the Lithuanian literature and some of the more known Lithuanian authors who’s books you should consider reading. While reading in Lithuanian language might still be quite challenging during the first steps of the learning process, it will help expanding your vocabulary and will allow you to have a better understanding on the correct usage of specific words.
Lithuanian literature has a rich and diverse history, with works spanning from ancient folklore and legends to modern literature. As it would not be possible to overview all Lithuanian literature in general, in this blog post I have chosen to overview only four books, which left a strong impression to me personally and which I would like to recommend for those who are learning the Lithuanian language.
"Balta drobulė" (“White Shroud”) by Antanas Skema (Antanas Škėma)
"Balta drobulė” is sometimes cited as the most significant piece of Lithuanian modernist literature. This psychological, stream-of-consciousness piece, which is highly influenced by the author's own immigrant experience, relates the tale of an emigrant poet who, in the middle of the 1950s, was employed as an elevator operator in a huge New York hotel.
This is a modernist novel that explores themes of identity and alienation. The language in the book can be a bit challenging at times but is still very much worth the read. It will not only help you in the language and vocabulary learning process but will allow you to better understand the situation of Lithuanian migration and historical circumstances of the time.
"Dievų Miškas" ("Forest of the Gods") by Balys Sruoga
"Forest of the Gods" is a memoir novel by the Lithuanian writer and poet Balis Sruoga, written in 1945. It reflects the writer's experiences in the Nazi Stutthof concentration camp, to which B. Sruoga was sent in 1943. The novel is full of irony and mockery of the order of the camps, describing the ways of terrible treatment by the guards and Nazi officials. Black humor is an essential part of the writer’s style, being explained as the only way to at least resist the coldly thought-out, rationalized destruction of people at the camp.
B. Sruoga wrote the book in just a few months after returning from the concentration camp to Lithuania in 1945 while being treated in Birstonas (Birštonas) sanatorium. Its printing was banned during Soviet oppression.
“Tūla” (“Tūla” meaning a name) by Jurgis Kuncinas (Jurgis Kunčinas)
Jurgis Kuncinas’ novel "Tūla" is considered as one of the most outstanding works of Lithuanian literature. Fatal love, the grayness of the Soviet era covering the streets of Vilnius, an intelligent young man oppressed by anxiety and sadness - such images formed J. Kuncinas’ famous novel. The first edition of the book was published in 1993 and won the Writers' Union Award the same year.
“Vilniaus pokeris” (“Vilnius Poker”) by Ricardas Gavelis (Ričardas Gavelis)
"Vilnius Pokeris" is a novel by a journalist, writer and academic Ricardas Gavelis, which he wrote in the late Soviet period, 1979-1987, and published in 1989, when Lithuania was still officially part of the Soviet Union. The novel was a major shock in a still rather strict Soviet environment and became very successful in Lithuania and beyond after being translated in several languages.
“Vilniaus Pokeris”, focuses on a mysterious power known only as "They," which Gavelis once referred to in an interview as "a force within humans that is responsible for the establishment of totalitarian systems." Four distinct narrators, including a dog, recount the events of a single week in October in the story.
These are just a few examples of the many great works of Lithuanian literature. While reading these books in Lithuanian language, one can improve their vocabulary, as well as the general knowledge of Lithuanian history and culture.
Above suggested books are my own personal favorites, but I would be more than curious to know more about your experiences when reading Lithuanian literature! Did you have a chance to read in Lithuanian language already? If yes, how did it go?
Let’s talk about it in Practice your Lithuanian forum!
Yours,
Gytis
OLS Lithuanian community manager