Promotion of the second, supplemented edition of the novel "Jefimija, žena koja čeka" Minje Marđonović will be held tomorrow in Podgorica, in the CKZ (Centre of Cultural Events) "Ribnica", in the multimedia hall at 20 p.m.
In an interview with "Vijesti", he reveals that this is an opportunity for everyone to remember the heroine, before the continuation of her story arrives.
Unusual for our area, a travelogue, love, political, rebellious, feminist, and above all personal novel by the young writer and activist from Serbia, Minja Marđonović, tells about the feminist Jefimija, her life's journey to Bali, witnesses her struggles with herself, the community from which originates from the one she left, but also the one she is just getting to know. The novel is full of erotic, passionate scenes, along with unique descriptions of journeys, and the freedom of the spirit, the road and the unknown, arouse the curiosity of the readers, who are hungry for new adventures. Marđonović so subtly and directly, on different levels, brings a story about women's freedom, play, sin, philosophy. In all of this, he leaves traces of himself and his own personality, reflection, struggle and mission.
"Jefimija, žena koja čeka" has been successfully living in Montenegro since its first promotion in Bar, and through the International Alternative Theater Festival FIAT 2021, Beran, Nikšić and other cities, and continues to arouse great public interest. When asked by "Vijesti" what she sees as the reason and key to its attractiveness, attraction, but also the intrigue it brings, she points out that it is an intimate and open story, close and enriched by her Montenegrin mentality.
"My love for the motherland, friends, the sea and the Montenegrin stone, was transferred and seems to be transferred to Jefimija, an island woman of Balkan blood. I think that, joking aside, Yefimija really opened Pandora's box of regional taboos. Gradually, but decisively, she breaks down the prejudices about a woman who is sexually free and emotionally emancipated in a harsh patriarchy that unsuccessfully, but perfidiously, camouflages itself among the traditions of love, tradition and female honor. I love when I come among my own with my heroine by the hand, and through getting to know the audience from all over the cities of the Balkans, I see how women are more than ever determined to freely love, kiss and treat their bodies in a general devaluation of their immense psycho-physical strength", explains Marđonović on at the beginning of the conversation.
She points out that in Podgorica she will present an updated edition of her novel, and that it is the second, updated edition and the largest circulation of the book so far.
"Therefore, I am extremely honored that in the capital of Montenegro, this Saturday, I will delight the audience with an impeccable copy of my debut, 'Jefimija, žena koja čeka'. As I go through the entire process of creating the book alone, because I am a self-made person, it seems to me that the CKZ 'Ribnica' is really the ideal place to center Jefimija's cultural, psychological and sociological events. As soon as I see the meaning in Yefimija's becoming and existence, even through this second supplemented edition, I would say that I only owe the audience a big one: 'Dear people, thank you for that!'
I am sure that the promotion will be unconventional, unpredictable (even for me) and not at all boring. At least that's what I expect from myself", points out Marđonović with a smile.
She also revealed to "Vijesti" that the second part, ie the continuation of Jefimija, is being prepared. In the debut, Jefimi goes on a five-month adventure with little money to her friend Tatjana, who is in Bali and is waiting for her. Marđonović experienced Bali herself, and Jefimija experienced life there. Whether and how much has changed in her heroine and around her in the meantime, the author points out that this is precisely what is inevitable in everyone who lives.
"A man who does not change does not really exist. Change is cyclical like life. It is constant, inevitable, like movement. Now, is it for the better or for the worse? From the island of love, Yefimija leaves for the Three Borders of his life. Her experiences before, during and after living in Bali, in effective cooperation, send her on a new path - the path of survival. If a man survives everything, he will show Yefimi in his sequel," she indicates.
Nevertheless, the new Yefimija is the old Yefimija, reminds the creator of her character, because there is no new without the old, just like the past is an inseparable part of a person and like every individual is a collection of everything lived.
"The old one had to come into being and remain in existence so that in the continuation of her life, in the novel, she would become the new one who will be the old one again someday, in the same but different life...", she points out and continues to reveal whether she will the continuation of the novel will be inspired by real events, experiences, reflections and how much (auto)biographical will be in it.
"There is no fake life, there are only fictional realities on paper or in the neighborhood. Many experiences came together in one woman. Her empirical rollercoasters are the truest truth of the feminist principle of justice: the personal is political. As a character creator and collector of female experience, I am everywhere. In every letter, in every word. There is enough of me in every Yefimija," emphasizes the writer.
What is certain is that the readers definitely expect adventures in the future of Jefimija's life, and Marđonović's "Vijesti" readers only tickle the imagination.
"Metaphysical, above all. From the bottom to the sky, from the sky to the Earth, from pain to sisterhood, from sisterhood to healing, from feminism to God - these are the adventures of my mischievous, disobedient and naughty heroine", concludes Minja Marđonović.
Such a geography, such a historical destiny
Minja Marđonović has her roots in Bar, and in addition, she is often in Montenegro and follows all the events.
"I often joke that I cross the border between Serbia and Montenegro more times a year than the Brankov Bridge. I don't like national features, symbols and superstitions, but I'm crazy about geography. Those roots are actually the geography that I am madly in love with - from the Adriatic Sea, Kolašin cheese, all the way to Piva more beautiful than the Caribbean", she says, and then she looks at the other side of this climate.
"However, such a geography, such a historical destiny. Like the entire Balkans, Montenegro is still in the process of self-liberation. Nevertheless, in its authentic geographical longitude and latitude, it must enlighten its battles for freedom, justice and equality. "Many truths of Montenegrin slavery, humanity, heroism, but also fear are hidden in Montenegrin socio-political and literary localities," Marđonović points out.
Our peoples write as they think - sharp, clear, legible and passionate
Although she loves geography, Minja Marđonović points out that geography and its borders do not exist when it comes to the literary scene, creativity and literature of the same speaking area, such as ex-Yugoslavia.
"I don't separate the scenes. Wherever the same language is thought, written and spoken, I translate into the Balkan literary space the freedom of existence of all writers. I think that our peoples write, how and what they think - sharp, clear, legible and passionate", emphasizes Marđonović.
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