Petković: Orhan Pamuk's visit was an exceptional event

The visit of the Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk is extremely important for Montenegro and shows that there is a significant readership in it, announced the PR and marketing manager of Nova Knjiga Jovana Petković.

In the organization of New Book, Pamuk will come to Montenegro on December 14, when he will open the Winter Book Salon and will also visit several Montenegrin cities. He is the second Nobel laureate who will stay in Montenegro in the organization of that publishing house, after Mario Vargas Ljosa, who visited in 2015.

"Opportunities for readers to meet the most famous and current writers in the world do not come every day. This proves to us that the book will never go out of fashion and that there is a significant readership in Montenegro," Petković told the MINA agency.

She said that the readership in Montenegro is eager for new titles and that the literary evenings and events organized by Nova knjiga are extremely well attended and covered by the media.

"In addition to the bestsellers published by these writers, we introduce the readers to their other works, and what is especially important, they have the opportunity to talk with famous world writers," said Petković.

She stated that all manifestations organized by Nova knjiga are recognized as important literary events and are supported by competent state institutions.

"When Toni Parsons was a guest, we visited the Ministry of Education and talked with Minister Damir Šehović. We also visited the Podgorica Gymnasium and the University of Donja Gorica," said Petković.

She explained that Parsons told Šehović that, until he came, he was not aware of how much young people in Montenegro were familiar with his work, and that apart from the most famous book, Man and Boy, they also know a lot about others.

"The students asked Parsons meaningful questions in perfect English. He was in a particularly good mood, and they were interested in future books, where his ideas come from. That was his biggest impression, and we were proud of it," said Petković.

She said that this year Parsons only responded to the invitation to visit Montenegro. "He said that decision turned out to be absolutely correct."

Petković said that Nova knjiga has so far published about a thousand editions in over 15 different libraries.

"In the editions of the New Book, there is an impressive number of key novels that marked the entire reading and human experience," said Petković.

She explained that Nova knjiga makes a top list of the most read editions once a week so that readers can see in time what is the most read and best selling.

"At the moment, the most read books are Elif Šafak's Three Daughters of Eve, Apartment in Paris by Guillaume Musso, My genius friend Elena Ferrante, the collection of poems Until the Last Breath and the book Stranac Rad Šerbedžija, who came to Podgorica in October," said Petković.

She said that the Red Book by Carl Gustav Jung, published in 2009, had the largest circulation in the New Book publishing house.

"It is a book that was published within the library of psychology. This is Freud's legacy, not posthumously, but several decades after his death," explained Petković.

She stated that among the publications in the world literature library are books by well-known world authors such as Dostoevsky, Kundera, Umberto Eco. Tomas Mann, Cervantes Ljosa, Ivo Andrić and Orhan Pamuk.

"As for the new names, they are writers from the region from our speaking area, with whom we constantly collaborate. We are constantly publishing new books by young writers whom we meet," said Petković.

She stated that in Nova knjiga within the Sfinga library, she publishes books by authors from the ex-Yugoslav speaking area, as well as local Montenegrin authors.

Petković said that Montenegrin authors published books by Balša Brković, Aleksandar Bečanović, Slavica Perović, Nikola Nikolić and many others.

"We eagerly await new writers and are especially open to cooperation with our local authors," said Petković.

According to her, a chain of bookstores operates as part of Nova knjiga, where, in addition to the editions of that publishing house, there are also editions by other publishers.

"In Nova Knjiga bookstores, we have more than 30 titles, something for everyone," said Petković.

She said that publishing is not the only activity that Nova Knjiga deals with, but that it is the primary one.

"In addition to the publishing house, we organize various manifestations, literary evenings, literary events and thus enable the reading public to get to know the most important local authors, from the region, but from all over the world," said Petković.

She announced that the Winter Book Fair, a traditional cultural manifestation, which will be opened by Pamuk this year, will begin on December 14, last until the end of the year and will be held in several locations.

"The Winter Book Fair, as a regional festival of publishers and writers, in addition to promoting new editions, allows the audience to socialize with well-known authors and literary critics. The salon's tradition is significant discounts, so visitors can buy books at favorable fair discounts," said Petković.

She also announced the traditional spring Book Fair, which will be held 13 times next year.

"The fair is in addition to the exhibition work and the educational character when all faculties and state institutions have opportunities to present themselves. This shows that the book is not only an object of enjoyment for the reader, but also has an educational purpose," said Petković.