Mirjana Hećimović Bücher

The first collection of stories by young Slovenian writer Andrej Blatnik in English, Skinswaps, introduces a fresh perspective in post-communist Eastern European literature. Blatnik's narratives, ranging from the oblique and experimental to the absurd and realistic, illuminate universal themes of identity and fate without being weighed down by the legacy of communism. His detached yet compelling voice, combined with a laconic prose style and unexpected shifts in subject and tone, allows him to tackle complex themes with humor and precision. In "The Taste of Blood," a lonely woman, haunted by childhood memories, encounters men observing a dead woman's body, leading to a cryptic interaction with police officers. "Kyoto" features an American tea-drinking school in Japan, where an absurd bet unfolds with surprising philosophical depth. Meanwhile, "Isaac" presents a chilling narrative that reflects a boy's desperate escape from a boxcar heading to a concentration camp. Across these stories and thirteen others, Blatnik captures the isolation, self-deception, violence, and emotional decline inherent in human experience, all while maintaining a light touch infused with humor and irony.