Last Night

by Sven Popović

Acclaimed in his native Croatia, Popović’s unique blend of intimacy and contemplation has garnered him a following in the alternative literary scene of Zagreb—and beyond. With an intellectualism that never takes itself too seriously, an unaffected fluidity of form, and a keen eye for the smallest, strangest moments that color our lives, his stories weave an offbeat tapestry of urban life.

Last Night is the first short story collection from Sven Popović, whose writing was previously featured in Dalkey Archive Press’s Best European Fiction 2017, and his first full work to be released in English. Slickly translated by Vinko Zgaga, Popović's sometimes-dreamlike, sometimes-conversational vignettes offer a shrewd, original outlook on life’s absurdities.

183 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2014

About the author

Biografija
Sven Popović rođen je 1989. u Zagrebu, tadašnjoj Jugoslaviji. Diplomirao komparativnu književnost te Engleski jezik i književnost i amerikanistiku na zagrebačkom Filozofskom fakultetu. Piše glazbene i književne kritike za zato specijalizirane časopise i portale. Prozu objavljuje u Quorumu, Zarezu, Fantomu slobode, časopisu Nova riječ, časopisu Script, zborniku „Record Stories“ (Aquarius Records), antologiji mladih prozaika „Bez vrata, bez kucanja“ (Sandrof) te raznim internetskim portalima. Književni prvijenac „Nebo u kaljuži“ (Meandarmedia) objavljuje 2015. Jedan je od osnivača „TKO ČITA?“, programa namijenjenog mladim autorima. Također je jedan od urednika zbornika „TKO ČITA?“ za sezone 2015./16 i 2016./17. Priče su mu uvrštene u „Best European Fiction 2017“ (Dalkey Archive Press) i prevedene na engleski, njemački, poljski i rumunjski.

Biography

Sven Popović was born on September 19, 1989 in Zagreb, now located in Croatia, but back then in Yugoslavia. His short stories were published in the anthology of young Croatian writers („Bez vrata, bez kucanja“, Sandorf 2012), in a collection of short stories „Record Stories“(Aquarius Records, 2011) and various magazines and webzines like Quorum, Zarez and Arteist. He contributed as a freelance journalist to a number of magazines such as Zarez, Aktual and the Austrian leftist magazine Wespennest, as well as writing literary and album reviews for various webzines. His collection of short stories, “Last Night” (Meandarmedia) came out in 2015 and received excellent reviews. Several of his stories were included in “Best European Fiction 2017” (Dalkey Archive Press). “Last Night” is to be published by Dalkey Archive Press.

Reviews

[Maja Shinigami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Preokrenula sam očima previše puta.

[Dominik · Rating 1 out of 5]

ovaj lik misli da je kul zato što ubacuje milijun pop-hipstersko kulturnih referenci iz svijeta glazbe i filma...da, to može proći kod nekih ženskica s last fma u pubertetu i pred njima može glumit nekog kulera bez da ga provale, ali svakome razumnome je jasno da se ovdje radi o izuzetno loše napisanom djelu kojeg ni naporne reference na bendove koje nitko normalan ne sluša ne mogu popraviti. toliko je loše napisano da je nečitko; taj stil - rečenica. točka. rečenica. točka.; taj toliko loš flow među rečenicama, i toliko nezanimljiv sadržaj jednostavno ostavljaju čitatelja u nedoumici - jel se ovdje netko zajebava? pa ja koji nemam pojma o pisanju bih mogao napisati ovo, ako ne i bolje. savjet autoru: promjeni posao!

[123abc · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really liked this! a little dreamy and at times confusing but the writing is very nice. a quick read that i didn’t want to end

[Genndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this one. It is a collection of existentialist stories which are interconnected between each other. First 2 stories are pure garbage and I almost dropped the book because of them, but the rest is a real gold. Very relaxed and honest, but extremely powerful prose dealing with youth and perspective of some individuals completely lost in todays world. Language itself is a real treat, and metaphores are so natural but original and powerful that you can almost feel them kicking your ass.

[Saby BanKuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

stories are very interesting, sometimes you do not know whether a writer writes in a dream or a reality, each one is special in its own way, easy to read and striking sentences( all ambitions are not profitable/
what happens to our neglected dreams/I am consistent in inconsistency)

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

(SPOILER ALERT)



Da sam pri prvom čitanju doživjela rečenicu koja kaže da Coldplay treba streljati, ne bih joj dala pet zvjezdica.

[Maxwell Sibley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the english tranlation so this review is targeted towards fellow Western Devils who might consider reading this as an example of Croatian/Balkan Lit:

1. This is very much a book about being a guy in your late teens/early 20's, written by a guy who was probably still in his early 20's. Know that going in. It was almost painful how much the situations, mentalities, and proclivities of the characters reminded me of myself at that age and time, despite growing up a continent away. This is peak dumbass bildungsroman.

2. This is not "Black Lamb and Gray Falcon". It is not interrogating the soul of Croatian/Balkan Identity. It is mostly Artists Hanging Out. Honestly, I believe this approach of getting glimpses into the character lives on a very human level is way better then as some historical/cultural 'other' to be examined. Still, if you read close and follow up on the references, you get a subtle glimpse into the cultural life and shared history of Zagreb. Cultural institutions such as KSET and "Wrong Way" bar (Krivi Put, here), casually mentioned, are well worth looking into.

3. Despite the sort-of Magical Realist framing, it is immensely readable. Such framing adds poetic depth and keeps the work from purely being a series of typical early adult escapades. Overall, It has the easy going vibe of a dive bar conversation that starts off on shared interests which grows deeper over the night, told through a series of vignettes. The prose mostly exists in a continual present, giving the work a sense of vitality, even as it tries not to take itself too seriously.

[Tamara Vojnovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prvijenac, pa mu se oprašta.
Ima zanimljivih trenutaka, ali sve u svemu -3. Što je san, što je java, gdje smo sad, gdje smo bili, i tako dalje.
Rekao je moj dragi Matić, svi smo mi jednom pisali grozno, svakako, ali učiš se.

[Zvonimir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skup povezanih kratkih priča u kojima pratimo glavnog junaka koji ne zna što želi, ali zna što ne želi :) Neobični dijalozi, situacije ispunjenje dimom i alkoholom, a u svemu se krije pozadinska muzika na koju se autor često poziva. Osim istog prezimena, autor i ja imamo sličan ukus u glazbi pa je i to pridonijelo dojmu ove zanimljive knjige. Za razliku od Nikolaidisovog Sina, nema popisa pjesama za soundtrack romana, već se kroz priče provlače stvari i izvođači upravo prigodni za trenutnu situaciju. Vratilo me ugođajem u studentske dane, bezbrižne i ispunjene nekim drugačijim pogledima na život i drugačijim prioritetima i problemima.

[Stargirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thalia je prevagnula u korist petice.