Recently, Koro Navarro translated into Basque the essay written by George Steer on the War of 36: The tree of Gernika. A field study of modern war. It was the British journalist who told the world of the bombing of Gernika, giving news contrary to his official speech. Information is power, and the power competition is becoming more and more diffuse. In essence and in a nutshell, it is precisely this struggle that emerges in this novel, both in the context of the War of 36 and, to a lesser extent, in the context of the Basque conflict.
The issue is not new, we know very well what happened in Gernika, and the Basque novel also talks about the Santoña Convention or the attack on the prisons in Bilbao (the reader can find himself in the Sacred Heart bi of Saizarbitoria). However, the uniqueness of this novel lies in context, in form. Lists without comma, short sentences, lack of entries and cuts to follow the story, semantic plane changes or repeated syntactic structures are some of the characteristics that define the style. The poet’s voice also appears from time to time, creating eye-catching images through metaphors: “On small motor boats, red flags made the journey of urban salmon in the early afternoon” (117).
Identity, political and ethical responsibility, doubt and relationships are mixed with the newsstand, and the resources used to represent the lack of communication are related to knowledge of languages (not mastering English, speaking Spanish, but in French, etc.). ), the kind of relations between the characters, the manipulated news about war/conflict, the prison that prevents communication and the torture mechanisms to obtain information. From the War of 36 to the Basque conflict of 1998, the protagonist Galder is in London.
It is a recommendable novel, but there are some aspects that I am not entirely satisfied with, such as interpreting any situation with codes of war: “In the ballroom everything was Dresde London Nagasaki” (63). Anyway, from the innocence of paper planes, Egia poses an interesting literary game: literature is the most enriching place of letters to flee from whiteness, because imagination liberates us.
Rosvita. Teatro-lanak
Enara San Juan Manso
UEU / EHU, 2024
Enara San Juanek UEUrekin latinetik euskarara ekarri ditu X. mendeko moja alemana zen Rosvitaren teatro-lanak. Gandersheimeko abadian bizi zen idazlea zen... [+]
Idazketa labana bat da
Annie Ernaux
Itzulpena: Leire Lakasta
Katakrak, 2024
Decisive seconds
Manu López Gaseni
Beste, 2024
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When the dragon swallowed the
sun Aksinja Kermauner
Alberdania, 2024
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Dozens of books have been written by Slovenian writer Aksinja Kermauner. This is the first published in Basque, translated by Patxi Zubizarreta... [+]
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Itxaso Martin Zapirain
Sowing, 2024
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The title and cover image (Puntobobo, Wool Bite and Rag Doll) will suggest mental health, making the point and childhood, but more patches will be rolled up as the book... [+]
Itsasoa bete urre
Dani Martirena
Irudiak: Ana Ibañez
Txalaparta, 2022
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Liburu honetara barneratzen den irakurleak sentsazio ugari izango ditu. Deigarria da azaleko letren urre kolorea eta zuritasuna, goialdean ageri den... [+]
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Issa watanabe
1545 argitaletxea, 2024
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Adania
Shibli
Translation: Aitor Blanco Leoz
Igela, 2024
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During these days, an Israeli soldier is bombarding hospitals, schools, Palestinian refugee camps with drones as if it were a video game, while in the West we see on... [+]
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history Alison Bechdel
Txalaparta, 2024
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Fun Home. Alison Bechdel is known for the first publication of the graphic novel A Tragic Family Story (2006), although he himself participated in several... [+]
PLEIBAK
Miren Amuriza Plaza
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Book Non sense
Edward Lear
Translation: Juan Kruz Igerabide
Denonartean, 2024
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The writer and illustrator Edward Lear published this work in 1846. As Igerabide says in the prologue of the book, “nonsense humor, absurd... [+]
Hetero
Uxue Alberdi
Susa, 2024
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In the era of negationism, the manosphere and trolls, the contribution of literature is essential, because it is an exceptional instrument to look at the folds of reality: the situations... [+]
Guardasola wants rain
Patxi Zubizarreta
Illustrations: Irrimarra
Ibaizabal, 2024
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30 years ago Patxi Zubizarreta published the book Marigoringoak hegan; J. M. Illustrated by Lavarello and by the hand of the Catalan publisher... [+]
Eyes on the horizon
Writer: Illustrator Miren Agur
Meabe: Ane Pikaza
Elkar, 2020
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Miren Agur Meabe has published several texts and books. He's worked with all the literary genres: children's and youth literature,... [+]
Barrengaizto
Beatrice Salvioni (Translation:
deceit Fernando Rey)
Txalaparta, 2024
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Fernando Rey has chosen the title of Barrizto to translate La malnata de Beatrice Salvioni. King says he has tried to be the voice of the... [+]