What do you think?
Rate this book
Ballerina, Ballerina: A Novel
The narrator of this novel is Ballerina, a fifteen-year-old with the cognitive faculties of a child, and each of its fifteen chapters begins with her first wetting her bed and thereby greeting a new day. Drawing comparison to William Faulkner in its expressionistic depiction of Ballerina's interior world, this is a classic of contemporary Slovenian literature: a hugely popular exploration of a character whose world is so divorced from what we think of as reality.
- GenresFiction
97 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 7, 2014
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley.
This book starts with a 15-year-old with severely limited cognitive abilities. The book follows her from age 15 to death but she never matures, never stops wetting the bed, never learns to care for herself, etc. She is known as Ballerina because in times of stress she stands on her tiptoes, and "sings" to feel better. Her extremely patient mother cares for her until her death, and tries to make the world relatable and safe for her eternal child. You have to read between the lines to fully understand what is going on, because Ballerina focuses on things like colors and sounds.
I found it to be pretty repetitive, and while I enjoyed the challenge of reading into the context, since Ballerina never changes, it makes it hard to get invested in her. However I really wanted to read a book from Slovenia, set in Slovenia, and there aren't a lot of those out there. You pick up little bits and pieces of Slovenian culture and conflict within Yugoslavia.
This book starts with a 15-year-old with severely limited cognitive abilities. The book follows her from age 15 to death but she never matures, never stops wetting the bed, never learns to care for herself, etc. She is known as Ballerina because in times of stress she stands on her tiptoes, and "sings" to feel better. Her extremely patient mother cares for her until her death, and tries to make the world relatable and safe for her eternal child. You have to read between the lines to fully understand what is going on, because Ballerina focuses on things like colors and sounds.
I found it to be pretty repetitive, and while I enjoyed the challenge of reading into the context, since Ballerina never changes, it makes it hard to get invested in her. However I really wanted to read a book from Slovenia, set in Slovenia, and there aren't a lot of those out there. You pick up little bits and pieces of Slovenian culture and conflict within Yugoslavia.
May 7, 2025
Zlo zalostno. Sm vesela, da je mela Balerina ob seb tak velik krog ljudi, ki so razumel njeno situacijo in jo mel radi. Ne morm so niti predstavljat, kok druzin faila svoje otroke, ze ko so povsem “normalni”, kaj sele, ce se jim kej zgodi. Pa konec me je strl, upam, da je Balerina scasoma prsla do nebes in mame.
August 7, 2025
Roman Balerina, Balerina (*lastni imeni, zapisani z veliko) se uvodoma bere kot preprost zapis, ki pa to zagotovo ni. Spoznamo najstnico Balerino na razvojni stopnji triletnega otroka. “Preprost” slog pisanja – kratki stavki, preproste stavčne strukture ipd. – pa v svojem bistvu skriva vseobsegajočo širino, tj. globino čustev, ki jo Balerina zaznava – zgolj izraziti je ne ni sposobna. Sosič na zapleten in slogovno izviren, samosvoj način prikaže kruto usodo deklice s posebnimi potrebami, ki ima v življenju to srečo, da jo na poti spremlja ljubeča družina – mama, oče in sorojenci – ki jo ima rada na poseben način. Prav zaradi najbližjih je lahko Balerina, ki jo doleti žalostna usoda in ki življenja ne dojema tako kot okolica, srečna in predvsem to, kar je – vse do zadnjega vdiha in, kot se izkaže, še dlje.
September 25, 2018
Priznam, da je kar velik občutek krivde, da sem komaj sedaj uspel prebrati to Sosičevo prelepo pripoved.
Ni je knjige, ki bi uspela na tako obarvan in prepričljiv način narisati življenje in misli človeka, ki svojo okolico še kako zaznava a je, zaradi lastnih “danosti”, ne uspe ponotranjiti—vsaj ne na način, kot smo “navadni ljudje” vajeni.
Avtor uspe še kako barvito prinesti do src bralcev to navidezno ploskost doživljanja življenja glavne junakinje, Balerine. Zdi se, kot da bi knjigo bral na dveh nivojih: prvi nivo so dejansko vrstice teksta: suhe, brezčustvene, apatične. Med njimi pa dolina čustev, ki pronicajo, le da jih junakinja ne uspe ubesediti.
In kot “čiljegina sula torta”, ta prelepi valček dveh tako različnih jezikov kot sta slovenščina in italijanščina, ki ga prebivalci obalno kraškega območja še posebej čutimo kot svojega (bivši, sedanji in bodoči, se razume).
Zagotovo se bo na moji nočni omarici zelo kmalu pojavila nedavno prevedena angleška različica, da vidim, kako se je prevajalec lotil tako zanimive problematike kot je izražanje te tanke, a vendarle tako izjemno čustvene in zgodovinsko globoke jezikovne in kulturne naveze.
Ni je knjige, ki bi uspela na tako obarvan in prepričljiv način narisati življenje in misli človeka, ki svojo okolico še kako zaznava a je, zaradi lastnih “danosti”, ne uspe ponotranjiti—vsaj ne na način, kot smo “navadni ljudje” vajeni.
Avtor uspe še kako barvito prinesti do src bralcev to navidezno ploskost doživljanja življenja glavne junakinje, Balerine. Zdi se, kot da bi knjigo bral na dveh nivojih: prvi nivo so dejansko vrstice teksta: suhe, brezčustvene, apatične. Med njimi pa dolina čustev, ki pronicajo, le da jih junakinja ne uspe ubesediti.
In kot “čiljegina sula torta”, ta prelepi valček dveh tako različnih jezikov kot sta slovenščina in italijanščina, ki ga prebivalci obalno kraškega območja še posebej čutimo kot svojega (bivši, sedanji in bodoči, se razume).
Zagotovo se bo na moji nočni omarici zelo kmalu pojavila nedavno prevedena angleška različica, da vidim, kako se je prevajalec lotil tako zanimive problematike kot je izražanje te tanke, a vendarle tako izjemno čustvene in zgodovinsko globoke jezikovne in kulturne naveze.
January 17, 2025
Knyga, su kuria turėjau asmeninį santykį. Aprašomi dalykai man labai gerai pažįstami- santykis su psichikos klystkeliais keliaujančiu artimuoju. Skaičiau ir supratau kiekvieną sakinį, kiekviena aprašoma situacija perėjo per mano kūną kaip elektros srovė. Knygos gale rauda užspaudė gomurį. Man nereikėjo pasitelkti fantaziją, kad suprasčiau apie ką knyga, aš visas situacijas buvau išgyvenusi, - visa tai dar kartą perleidau per save...
August 12, 2021
4,5✨
Postoje dela koja mi tokom čitanja izazovu bojazan, da kraj neće biti onakav kakav obično bude, već će biti drugačiji, manje željan. Realan kraj.
Balerina je jedna od takvih romana. Ovo nije tipična priča koja nudi magično rešenje ili neverovatan kraj. Ne. Roman od svega stotinak strana, koji je ustvari jedna bolna priča o detetu osuđenom da večno bude dete.
Junakinja i narator ove drame je tinejdžerka sa autizmom koja sa svojom porodicom živi u Trstu u Italiji 60ih godina XX veka. Sam vremenski okvir za ovu priču kao takvu nije toliko bitan, jer junakinja ni ne shvata u kom vremenu živi niti gde se ona geografski nalazi. Njen život je baziran na odnosu koji ona gradi sa majkom koja je u skoro celom delu centar malenog neiskvarnog univerzuma devojčice.
U njenoj porodici iako su svi obuzeti nekim svojim demonima iz spoljnog sveta imaju apsolutno veliko razumevanje i empatiju za Balerinine ispade, sve u želji da će tako makar na tren biti bliži njoj jer ona nikada neće moći da bude bliža njima.
Balerina retko kada izlazi, nikog ne poznaje kao da ona ni ne postoji. Potpuno izolovana unutar svoje kuhinje koja je poprimila oblik malenog "zlatnog" kaveza, u kojem provodi vreme slušajući priče o spoljnom svetu o kojem joj majka stalno govori.
Balerina nikada ne priča ona svoje emocije iskazuje pesmom, peva kada je srećna, peva kada je tužba.
Emocija u njenom pripovedanju nema, jer ona ne zna da ih pokaže niti razume do kraja, ona ume jedino da odreaguje bacajući predmete oko sebe, jer su joj to jedini momenti kada ona deluje kao da je stvarno živa i da stvarno postoji.
Balerina jedna bolna istina o tome kako autistično dete živi i kako ono ustvari reaguje na svoju sredinu i promene koje se u njoj događaju. Balerina je takođe i jedna gorka priča o svetu, društvu i izolovanosti od sistema. Priča tako nevina i neiskvarena koja može tako lako da povredi čitaoca, ako samo na trnu oseti sažaljenje prema Balerini i njenoj porodici. Ova knjižica tako malenog obima bavi se jednom od ključnih tema za naše društvo, prihvatanju različitosti u našoj zajednicu ali pre svega razumevanju i humanost prema drugima, jer to je ono što nas i čini ljudima.
Postoje dela koja mi tokom čitanja izazovu bojazan, da kraj neće biti onakav kakav obično bude, već će biti drugačiji, manje željan. Realan kraj.
Balerina je jedna od takvih romana. Ovo nije tipična priča koja nudi magično rešenje ili neverovatan kraj. Ne. Roman od svega stotinak strana, koji je ustvari jedna bolna priča o detetu osuđenom da večno bude dete.
Junakinja i narator ove drame je tinejdžerka sa autizmom koja sa svojom porodicom živi u Trstu u Italiji 60ih godina XX veka. Sam vremenski okvir za ovu priču kao takvu nije toliko bitan, jer junakinja ni ne shvata u kom vremenu živi niti gde se ona geografski nalazi. Njen život je baziran na odnosu koji ona gradi sa majkom koja je u skoro celom delu centar malenog neiskvarnog univerzuma devojčice.
U njenoj porodici iako su svi obuzeti nekim svojim demonima iz spoljnog sveta imaju apsolutno veliko razumevanje i empatiju za Balerinine ispade, sve u želji da će tako makar na tren biti bliži njoj jer ona nikada neće moći da bude bliža njima.
Balerina retko kada izlazi, nikog ne poznaje kao da ona ni ne postoji. Potpuno izolovana unutar svoje kuhinje koja je poprimila oblik malenog "zlatnog" kaveza, u kojem provodi vreme slušajući priče o spoljnom svetu o kojem joj majka stalno govori.
Balerina nikada ne priča ona svoje emocije iskazuje pesmom, peva kada je srećna, peva kada je tužba.
Emocija u njenom pripovedanju nema, jer ona ne zna da ih pokaže niti razume do kraja, ona ume jedino da odreaguje bacajući predmete oko sebe, jer su joj to jedini momenti kada ona deluje kao da je stvarno živa i da stvarno postoji.
Balerina jedna bolna istina o tome kako autistično dete živi i kako ono ustvari reaguje na svoju sredinu i promene koje se u njoj događaju. Balerina je takođe i jedna gorka priča o svetu, društvu i izolovanosti od sistema. Priča tako nevina i neiskvarena koja može tako lako da povredi čitaoca, ako samo na trnu oseti sažaljenje prema Balerini i njenoj porodici. Ova knjižica tako malenog obima bavi se jednom od ključnih tema za naše društvo, prihvatanju različitosti u našoj zajednicu ali pre svega razumevanju i humanost prema drugima, jer to je ono što nas i čini ljudima.
March 13, 2024
Heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Though the story is simple it is of a depth and intelligence, a sweetness and a sad bitterness all at ones. It gives a unique inside into the mind of a unique person, those people who live in the corners of the world, observing, seeing everything, but not talking. It tells one about the importance of listening, enjoying the small and simple things and to feel with those whom we in our society see as disabled, and realising that they are able and capable to see and feel what we do not, of what is really important in life.
May 19, 2017
Knjiga je lepa. Na lahkoten način prikazuje avtor dogodke tamkajšnjega časa s perspektive punce s posebnimi potrebami. Vsa dejanja so enostavna, omejena in ponavljajoča. Brez notranjih občutkov punce. Vse okoli nje se odvija kot na tekočem traku a nič ne pronica v njeno notranjost. Žalostno. Toda resnično. Veliko je takih oseb, ki ne občutijo veselja in žalosti. Le strah. Nemalo notranjih občutkov pa se gotovo porajajo bralcu, ko bere to knjigo.
December 10, 2023
"Ga ni več, eko, bašta, je šou, fertig, če je mona, je mona, ni kaj, bašta, fankulo porka putana, če sem mu reku, da se bo zgubu, tešta de kaco"
"in potem pravi, da je ta svet za en drek, da je dovolj, če imaš šolde in en dober avto in da je vse en kurc, če hodiš v šolo ali ne, da je še slabše, če hodiš v šolo, ker potem še več zastopiš, da je svet en drek"
"in potem pravi, da je ta svet za en drek, da je dovolj, če imaš šolde in en dober avto in da je vse en kurc, če hodiš v šolo ali ne, da je še slabše, če hodiš v šolo, ker potem še več zastopiš, da je svet en drek"
August 22, 2014
Marko Sosic’s first novel has been much acclaimed and it’s soon easy to see why. It’s a disturbing and disorientating insight into the mind of someone who simply doesn’t experience the world as most people do. Ballerina, so-called for her habit of standing on tip-toe, is a 15 year old with the mind and comprehension of a child and a range of unsettling behaviours. The author takes the reader inside her head in a stream-of-consciousness monologue from which we have to infer what the other characters are thinking and feeling. Ballerina is surrounded by love and care but looking after her is not easy. Gentle, compassionate and deeply moving, this classic of Slovenian literature is a haunting and poignant novel and one which I very much enjoyed.
July 31, 2014
Stream of consciousness style sucks the reader right into the middle of things where we read about Ballerina and her disjointed inner world. She sings, stands on her toes ("dances"), breaks whatever's near her whenever she feels - and she feels often - so her parents often give her "her drops" after which she doesn't feel anything. She pulls her father's ear, she wets her bed, she celebrates her birthday, and she watches the garden through the window with her mother, which is something she likes doing most often. She loses her family members one by one, ending up in a hospital where she dies. And we can hear her thoughts even after... Such a sad, sad book.
March 13, 2015
Ballerina Ballerina is an evocative rendering of the world of a girl lost within herself. We see the fascinating story of her world through her own eyes and the prose is both descriptive and engaging. This is a tale that will appeal to fans of novels like The Curious Incident... and is a wonderful novella that will pass a pleasant hour one afternoon.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.
October 14, 2016
This novel is so lovely! I simply grew soft while reading it! I liked the way it describes events and objects: the reader understands more that the girl does. For example, she describes people standing in rows and opening theit mouth, but she doesn't understand it's a choir singing.
I think, though, the one must be quite emotional and empathic to like it.
I think, though, the one must be quite emotional and empathic to like it.
June 30, 2016
Simple little tale of a girl who has some kind of mental handicap growing up in rural 60s/70s Slovenia. All we get is her stunted childish solipsism. Plenty of death and sadness but not enough weight on the fist to load the gut-punch. Not much here to get excited about.
August 2, 2021
(DNF) Gave up after half of the book. Very boring, same events over and over again, boring, boring, boring.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews