site.btaWriter Zdravka Evtimova: Book Is Passport to Eternity

At the opening of the 19th International Podgorica Book and Education Fair, where Bulgaria is an honorary guest, Bulgarian writer Zdravka Evtimova said: "The book is eternity's other face, our passport to eternity." She told BTA's Simona-Alex Mihaleva that the one who reads ensures oneself a piece of eternity.

"I hope that in these conditions of daily effort to put the bread on the table, there will be time for a book, there will be time for mom to take the child by the hand and read them a story, and for her to read herself, to praise a book to her friends," noted Evtimova. 

On the occasion of the upcoming celebration of the Bulgarian alphabet on May 24, she said that the alphabet is the mother of the spirit, of spiritual survival.

"I had the good fortune to be a jury at Novel of the Year and along with the nominated works, there are many strong debut authors - this made me very happy. Young people's books are a happy path that leads to Bulgaria, knowledgeable and capable," she noted. "They say that the level of education has dropped, but I think this is a period that will last for a while, because Bulgarians understand well that knowledge is independence and freedom. May 24 for me is the celebration of spiritual freedom and talent. Bulgaria, I am convinced, is not only a nest of talents; Bulgaria is the future of talents".

The novel Thursday and the collection Pernik Stories are the works of Zdravka Evtimova that have been translated into Serbian at this time. The writer noted that this is her first visit to Montenegro, but she feels at home.

"To my surprise, people's eyes here are very calm, people are moving very calmly," Evtimova said. "Even if I have some expectations about Montenegrin readers, they will always be exceeded by these people in a positive way. They are slim and lean and give the impression of power and stability. This is my impression of Montenegro. Such a person, even if they read slowly, will read in such a way that what is written becomes part of his spiritual make-up."

A presentation of Evtimova's work was held Wednesday within the programme of the International Podgorica Book and Education Fair. On Thursday's programme is Bulgarian writer Georgi Bardarov.