The Scent of Rain in the Balkans
The Scent of Rain in the Balkans is a historical novel written by Gordana Kuić. The novel was published in 1986, becoming an instant bestseller. It centers on the Salom family, most notably five sisters — Buka, Nina, Klara, Blanki and Riki. The novel was inspired by Kuić's mother Blanki Levi and her sisters. The Scent of Rain in the Balkans follows the destinies of, not only Jews, but also Orthodox, Bosniaks and Catholics during two major historical events — World War I and World War II.
In his review of the novel, David Albahari wrote:
The Scent of Rain in the Balkans has been adapted into a ballet, a play and a television series.
Plot
The novel describes the historic period in the Balkans from the beginning of World War I in 1914, to the end of World War II in 1945 through the lives and destinies of the Saloms, a Sephardic Jewish family from Sarajevo. The leading characters are the five courageous Salom sisters whose struggle to fulfil personal desires and aspirations run contrary to the strict conventions of the multicultural and religious societies — Bosnian Jew, Muslim, Orthodox and Catholic — of the time, living side by side in the small town of Sarajevo.Characters
The Salom family
Leon Salom, the father of the familyEstera Salom, the mother of the familyLaura "Buka" Salom, later Laura Papo, the eldest daughter of Leon and EsteraNina Salom, later Nina Ignjatić, the second daughter of Leon and EsteraKlara Salom, later Klara Valić, the third daughter of Leon and EsteraIsak "Atleta" Salom, the eldest son of Leon and EsteraBlanka "Blanki" Salom, later Branka Korać, the fourth daughter of Leon and EsteraRifketa "Riki" Salom, the fifth and the youngest daughter of Leon and Estera, who becomes a successful ballerinaElijas Salom, the second son and the youngest child of Leon and EsteraNona Salom, one of the aunts of the Salom children and a highly respected member of the familySerbian characters
Marko Korać, a Mostar–born Blanki's childhood crush and eventually her husbandŠkoro "Ignjo" Ignjatić, Danijel's friend and Nina's husbandMiloš Ranković, Riki's mentor and lover for a whileDušan, a journalist from Belgrade who fancies RikiSanda Jovanović, Riki's friend from Belgrade of Jewish heritageNena Ranković, Miloš's wifeVlada Stefanović, a teacher in the village where Riki hidesDanica Stefanović, Vlada's wifeVera Korać, Blanki and Marko's daughterRisto Korać, one of Marko's brothersPero Korać, one of Marko's brothersSaveta Primorac, Marko's sisterJovo Primorac, Saveta's husbandAna Primorac, one of two Saveta and Jovo's daughtersJelena Primorac, one of two Saveta and Jovo's daughtersToma, a Serbian peasant who shelters RikiSpasenija, Toma's wifeMrs. Ninković, a frequent shopper in Nina's hat boutique who likes gossipingJewish characters
Danijel Papo, Buka's husband and the father of her sons Leon and KokiZdenka Vajs, an Ashkenazi Jew, Atleta's wifeLeon Papo, Buka and Danijel's elder son, named after his maternal grandfatherBarkohba "Koki" Papo, Buka and Danijel's younger sonOther characters
Ivo Valić, a Catholic Croat, Klara's husbandDidi Valić, Klara and Ivo's daughterPol Valić, Klara and Ivo's sonCliff Morton, an American soldier and Didi's husbandGrethen, a rich Austrian girl and Blanki's good friend from schoolCarl Raimund, the agent of a ballet school from ViennaDragu, a ballet dancer and Riki's friendMr. Panzini, an Italian rich man who fancies BlankiSister Agata, a nun in the convent where Buka diesStructure and language
The Scent of Rain in the Balkans is written in Serbian language, with some parts in Ladino, the language of Sephardi. It is divided in thirteen parts — 28 June 1914, A Flight to Unknown, Linden, the Tree of Old Slavs, Time for Decisions, Toboggan, When a Day Turns Cold and the Shadows Are Gone, The End of One Age, A Critic Point, Runaways, Paper Jesters, A New Life, Lasting and Epilogue.Awards
- 1986 — Association of Jewish Communities in Yugoslavia Award for Novel of the Year