Sharjah | At the Sharjah International Book Fair’s Forum 4, Bulgarian Booker Prize-winning author Georgi Gospodinov engaged readers in a session titled “From Natural Novels to Time Shelter :A journey with Georgi Gospodinov”.He cautioned against an overwhelming attachment to the past, emphasizing that “limitless love for the past is dangerous.” According to Gospodinov, the belief that revisiting past memories brings happiness is a misleading notion, often romanticized in popular culture.
“Nostalgia is a personal experience, not a universal one,” Gospodinov remarked. For him, nostalgia often involves places he’s never been. He recounted how his parents cherished an idealized view of Paris, a city they knew only through books and music. When he visited Paris to publish one of his novels, he found it less grand than he had imagined, though his parents struggled to accept this view.
Reflecting on society’s fixation with the past, Gospodinov noted, “We can’t imagine a bright future for the next decade; 50 years ago, the future looked better.” This desire to relive the past, he explained, is why some European countries have even conducted surveys to find the “happiest century.”
First love has always been poetry
Gospodinov’s literary journey began with poetry, a genre that remains close to his heart despite limited interest from publishers initially.He prefers poems that are only one or two lines long.He also mentioned that he draws inspiration from Zen poetry. Gospodinov explained that he has written novels centered on themes that are unfamiliar, such as death, and that poetry has significantly influenced his work. In his novels, rhythm holds great importance, along with unusual thoughts, mysterious corridors, and elements beyond structured systems. All these aspects form the themes of his novels, and he attributes this inspiration to the profound impact that poetry has had on his writing.
The physics of sorrow
One of his acclaimed novels,” The physics of sorrow” is inspired by real-life events. Reflecting on the novel’s deeply rooted realism, he explained how it draws on real-life events and explores the concept of “Extra-Empathy Syndrome,” immersing readers in themes of corridors and reluctance.
In a lighthearted response to how winning the Booker Prize has impacted his life, Gospodinov remarked that he now has less time for writing, as he frequently travels for international engagements, participating in discussions with culturally diverse audiences. This increased recognition has notably elevated Bulgarian literature on the global stage, with publishers showing heightened interest in works from his country. Following the Booker win, “The physics of sorrow” has been translated into nearly ten European languages. This year, the novel will be published in Sweden, marking the first time in 47 years that a Bulgarian author’s work has been published there.
The event’s highlight was the enthusiastic participation of students, who engaged with Gospodinov, asking questions, seeking advice, and sharing their thoughts. Many students also posed for photos with the author, creating a memorable experience for all involved.
The session was moderated by Anamika Chatterjee, associate editor of Khaleej Times’ feature department. After the discussion, Gospodinov held a book-signing session for his readers.