Reviews

After nearly thirty years since the publication of his first poetry book Rabi, which appeared in 1998 after winning the First Book Contest organized by the Lithuanian Writers’ Union, Mindaugas Kvietkauskas makes a powerful return with his second poetry collection Gruntiniai vandenys (Groundwaters). This book also includes prose-poetry and poetry translations. The texts flow seamlessly

Bukolikos (2024) is the sixth original poetry collection by poet, literary scholar, and translator Erika Drungytė. She made her debut in 1998 with the collection Tiksli žiema (Exact winter), establishing herself as a master of nature and domestic reflection, who’s able to capture moments of everyday life infused with deeper existential insight. Drungytė’s sensitivity to

“What a great idea for a book that is, to write about How we make ourselves sick. And then we become famous.” (“Narcizai” [“Narcissus”]) Lina Buividavičiūtė (b. 1986) is a poet and the author of three successful confessional poetry books. She’s also a participant in literary readings. When she made her debut, she voiced an

The words of Chinese artist Wu Shanzhuan, printed on a tote bag I bought as a gift at Sydney’s White Rabbit Gallery, read: “Everyone has a right to refuse to be an artist.” Everyone also has the right to refuse to be a writer. Darius Žiūra doesn’t hurry in calling himself a writer, either. “I

The DŠM Lineage. In the media, Mykolas Sauka is presented as a sculptor, his name presented alongside prominent figures of Lithuanian art and culture. His grandfather, Donatas Sauka, is a renowned writer, literary scholar, folklore researcher, and a long-time professor at Vilnius University. Mykolas’s father, Šarūnas Sauka, is one of the most prominent representatives of

Tomas Petrulis stands out among Lithuanian poets. He’s a kind of rebel and provocateur. He published his first book, where he combined religious imagery with pornography (only one page separated a cock from a cross), on the Naujas vardas (New Name) free e-book platform in 2017. His work is shocking but playful, even clever. He

Liekamieji reiškiniai (Long-term Side Effects) is the fifth poetry collection written by the prose poetry writer Agnė Žagrakalytė. The abstract explains that “long-term side effects” linger after an event. Perhaps they can be interpreted as consequences or as a recollection of events that occurred somewhere in the past. The theme of memory is closely tied

Austėja Jakas’s debut poetry collection Mėlynieji malonumai (Blue Pleasures) pulses with vivid depictions of daily life and a sensitivity to the world. The book’s editor, Gintaras Grajauskas, says that he eagerly awaited its release, explaining that “[t]hese poems aren’t as boring as some.” He praises Jakas for the way she captures reality with precision and

Sigitas Parulskis is one of the most prolific and widely translated contemporary Lithuanian writers. Literary scholars and critics classify his work as postmodernist, highlighting his ironic, grotesque style and his exploration of the traumatic experiences of a nation and a generation. Parulskis’s eighth novel, Kaip aš mečiau (How I Quit), stays true to these themes.

Tomas Venclova is a renowned Lithuanian poet, translator, and scholar. I approach his poetry with caution and respect, as he is a poet whose work encompasses multiple layers of meaning, reflects intellectual and emotional depth, and showcases masterful linguistic skills. I was in awe after reading his newest book Už Onos ir Bernardinų (Beyond St. Anne’s and