Od blizu

Od blizu is a novel by Slovenian author Irena Svetek. It was first published in 2004.

Plot

The novel is a fictionalized intimate drama told from the perspective of a first-person narrator. The central part of the story takes place in Bucharest, where the protagonist moves to work at the Slovenian embassy. While the narrative focuses on her immediate experiences, a more unsettling, fascinating energy from her early childhood constantly intrudes, described as a "deadly radiation."

Reception and Awards

The novel won the 2004 Best Debut Award at the Slovenian Book Fair and was nominated for the Kresnik Award for Best Novel in 2005. One critic noted that while the author "knows how to tell a story," the writing "lacks a foundation of experience" and feels "somewhat empty."