Ime mi je Damjan
(My Name is Damjan) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
All of Damjan’s days are filled with getting in trouble with the family, social workers and psychologists. That is because absolutely no one understands Damjan, neither parents nor girlfriend nor friends. Damjan tries to break free of loneliness by taking to drugs and getting drunk all the time. Sometimes Damjan sees red and goes on a rampage. This is his way of resisting those who pressure him and who want him to be someone he is not. But Damjan cannot and will not give in. Damjan has to find a way. (source: publisher)
Edited by: Mestna knjižnica Ljubljana
Comment:
This short novel by Suzana Tratnik has certainly gone down as one of the more remarkable achievements in the field of young adult literature. The protagonist, who is an uncompromising nineteen-year-old, lays his life bare in a self-help group. He has no education, he is always running late for work, he drinks a lot, his name is Damjan, and he is a woman. The way in which society views this character, deviant in terms of both societal and gender norms, may seem improbable – after all, Damjan is generally accepted and it is only at home that he faces serious difficulties. Crucially, however, the author never really involves herself in the plot, she does not describe any cause for Damjan’s plight nor does she pass moral judgment – she but sheds light on prejudice. Thanks to this distance both she and her protagonist come off as staunchly proud. The novel is an engaging yet difficult read which offers no safe haven. Indeed, the latter does not seem to be part of what it intended. The book has received the Golden Pear Mark of Quality. It is targeted at the age range 14+, but it is also suitable for younger readers who are capable of critical independent reading.