Metak u srcu Svetog Augustina

by Boris Beck

Sadržaj:

Metak u srcu Svetog Augustina
Jedan mali pogranični incident
Zlokoban R među nogama
Mađioničarski trik
Udovica živog čovjeka
A možda je pas sanjao nas
Bili jedom Englez, Francuz i Bosanac
Žena koja je voljela brojeve
Terasa propuštenih prilika
Doručak kod Tifannyja
Kako je moja knjiga pokušala samoubojstvo
Četiri zadnje stvari

Genres: Short Stories

Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's title translates as A Bullet in the Heart of St. Augustine.

One of the stories, Perhaps the Dog was Dreaming Us is free online here: http://underpass.co/Home/LoadFullPage...

This was a tough read for me, even if humor and relief is thrown in.

I cannot put my finger on how the author has done it, but the short story reminded me of what I saw and felt in some places and when talking to some people when I visited Croatia after the war with Serbia. I think it is something to do with the mix of fantasy, the absurd, humor and hope and melancholy. Memories of the war were still very much in people's minds. This mix of disparate elements was also seen in the art that hung on the walls of art galleries.

Consider this line from the story: "You can only dream of yourself as you really are." To be able to dream, you must first sleep; the central protagonist cannot sleep.

This is one of those stories that you keep thinking about and wonder what actually is meant. I do not understand all aspects of the story. Could someone explain to me the significance of the title?

[Connie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read "Perhaps the Dog Was Dreaming Us", a single dreamlike short story in this collection by Croatian writer Boris Beck. It starts with the sentence, "I haven't slept since August 28, 1991", a reference to the war in Croatia. The narrator is a therapist who suffers from insomnia, and spends long hours strolling and thinking about the dead. When she can't sleep, she's just listening "to the nonsense running through my mind."

As she visits a disabled war veteran and a young war refugee she often encounters a magical dog. Is it reality, or is she dreaming about the soldier, the boy, and the dog? Is this an escape to a dream world because she is suffering from post-traumatic stress from dealing with the tension and horror of war? Is the lack of sleep affecting her mind? The title shows us another way of looking at the situation: "Perhaps the Dog Was Dreaming Us". Every reader will probably look at this surreal story a little differently.

The free short story is available at: http://underpass.co/Home/LoadFullPage...

Author interview: http://underpass.co/Home/LoadFullPage...
I read an interview of the author on the Underpass website where he was asked to describe his creative process. He finds much of his creativity happens as he sleeps or daydreams. "I think that creativity takes place on its own, the mind has to be relaxed, and then you just need to catch what was created."

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read only the one short story in this collection, Maybe the Dog Dreamed of Us, a story of a soldier and a therapist who meet after the war in Croatia has left the soldier paralyzed. The story is rather surreal and complex, but I believe the author is speaking to the loss of dreams that occurs when your world is virtually destroyed and the need to build new ones.

A translation is available online here:
http://underpass.co/Home/LoadFullPage...

[Haris Sladic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knjiga se sastoji od više kratkih priča koje su povezane time što su smještene za vrijeme rata. Ima tu par zanimljivih, neobičnih al većina su srednja žalost. Humor nije toliko loš, al uglavnom ništa specijalno.