Literary fiction, Prose

In her newest autobiographical novel, the author describes her life from Christmas of 2010 to 23 December 2011, frankly and openly discussing the events in her life. She struggles with the unfortunate outcome of adopting two Romany children, which she had already described in her earlier book, The Year of the Rooster (Rok kohouta). Readers will empathize with her worries for her mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The novel also includes the author’s reflections on art, especially film and literature. Her intimate family world increasingly blends with the outside world, both finally merging in the death of former president and playwright Václav Havel. Reading out from his old correspondence and telling stories about him, the author attempts to restore her mother’s memories and return her lost life back to her, all the while feeling that Havel’s death has also marked the end of a long – and wonderful – chapter in her life.

Praise

“Boučková’s writing is concise, clear and minimalist. Her book has momentum, it develops and works with the reader’s expectations.”

— Radim Kopáč, MF Dnes