Jana Beňová
WINNER
WINNER
Biography
Jana Beňová (b.1974), is a poet and prose writer, who graduated from the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Bratislava (1993-1998) with a degree in theatre dramaturgy. At first, she wrote for the the publications Dotyky, Fragment and Slovenské Pohľady. Then she worked as a journalist for the daily newspaper SME, writing under the name Jana Parkrová. Currently, she is employed as an editor in the Theatre Institute in Bratislava.
She debuted with a collection of poems, Svetloplachý (1993), following up with another poetry collection, Lonochod (1997). Just as in her debut, this too is a ‘travelogue’ of interpersonal relationships, love, and observations on life. A collection of poems, Nehota (1997), a novel, Parker (2001), and a collection of short stories, Dvanásť poviedok a Ján Med (2003), followed. Her short stories are marked by a poetical sensibility bound with poignant insights into the human mind and human behaviour.
In the spring of 2008, the L.C.A. publishing house published Plán odprevádzania (Seeing People Off), subtitled Café Hyena. Her novel Preč! Preč! (Get off! Get off!) is marked by her original humour and ease of expression – precise, lively and spontaneous.
Nominated book : Café Hyena (Plán odprevádzania) (Café Hyena (Seeing People Off))
Summary
Seeing People Off (Café Hyena) is a novel, an unusual mosaic of observations, perceptions, self-reflections and memories. Two couples sharing a strange grant that allows them to live however they want. With some peculiarities. Its heroine Elza lives in a huge apartment building in the borough of Petržalka. Where all the walls play music and talk. And where time is immaterial. Here you can find creatures the rest of the world believes no longer exist, are extinct. The love story of Elza and Ian. Bratislava desperadoes not employed by an advertising agency, who have instead joined the carefree class of people who buy only what can be peed or pooped out or exhaled – recycled within twenty-four hours. Seeing people off means trying to protect them, to share the journey even when it leads to madness or death.
Excerpts
Related publications
EUPL Anthology 2012
Various authors