Metod Pevec: An Evening In Dubrovnik

I think I might have some problems describing this book in english because, as far as I know, there hasn't been a translation to any foreign language. Yet. Which is a shame, actually, because this is a good book. I guess all smaller and unimportant nations face the same problem considering translations. It's not that our books are not good enough, it's not that we don't have great, excellent writers, we are just not interesting enought for greater countries. And by greater I mean size, not quality. It must be true that we, after all, have some kind of a national character, which is also shown in literature we produce. Our past experiences differ from experiences of big western countries, we have different values, different traditions, different thoughts, we love differently, live differently, know the world and ourselves differently. Hence, we can relate to stories we write but they may seem somehow odd and foreign to people from elsewhere. If an american will read a story, coming from a small nation, he will never understand how someone'd choose love over career or tranquillity of having nothing over what money can buy. I am exaggerating a little to prove my point, but basically that's how it works. If they don't understand they don't like and if they don't like they don't buy. So all chances and attempts of bringing one nation closer to another will fail when it comes to money. Literature could be a great bond between the east and the west, what little effort would it be to try to understand eachother through written word, to get to know eachother and let them be. But the west is not interested because it doesn't understand so it (can I reffer to the west as it? :)) will only accept something foreign when it'll transform it into familiar, into western, but then it'll no longer be foreing. I hope I'm making any sense? :)
The point was - noone will translate us if we don't sell. And obviously we don't.

And now to the book. I'd say it's a very slovenian one. The main character is a tired middle aged cop, who is trying to solve his last case before retirement. What he doesn't predict is that this case will leave a mark and bring light back to his dull life. It's a criminal story that takes place in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital where a television diva dies due to an overdose. As the events unfold we find out she was indeed murdered and every little discovery leads Kajetan (the cop) back to the television house where she'd worked. This is a very blunt description because what makes the story good isn't resolving the murder but all the happenings that surround this main theme. Kajetan has a mistress, who is always just there, but in the course of time he grows closer to her. He also finds a connection with the dead woman's daughter and becomes a closest thing to a friend to her murderer. The story is very lifelike and it teaches us there's no black or white, just infinite shadows of gray. And a quick read. :)