There are big and complicated novels that want to embrace the universe but fall into oblivion.
There are simple stories that go straight to the heart and stay there.
So are the stories from the book called “Între râuri” (Between rivers) – written by my professor Constantin Drăgulescu. Why this name? He said – “Most places on earth are located between rivers” — and this book is mainly about places and life experiences…
What made this book so special for me was the fact that it lives. It has feelings and a life of its own.
Same feelings as mine. Different life experiences.
I felt this book so close to my heart that I sometimes wonder: “Wasn’t this written by me?”
If you feel awe for the Creation,
If birds and trees are your dear friends,
If you enjoy the company of mountain flowers,
If you get your energy from the Sun and the Earth,
If you sometimes get lost in thoughts while looking at the sky,
Then you know what I’m talking about.
The book was published in just 100 copies. Very few for its value… One can see there the life of a man who began his life in hardships and surpassed them little by little to see his dreams come true…
It’s so close to me but not only to me… there are some people I know and many people I don’t know who would find themselves well described in that book. You don’t have to be a botanist, you don’t even have to be a researcher or an engineer… Just to feel close to Nature. Peasants used to be. Shepherds used to be…
I say “used to” because… rural dwellers — peasants and shepherds — aren’t as close to Nature as their parents and grandparents used to be. Some aren’t at all. The bold sense of right and wrong that came with being close to Nature, God’s Creation, began to vanish… and so the once-beautiful surroundings began to get littered, clearcut or devastated…
I wish all the people who live close to Nature to take by the hand those who didn’t have the chance… and cure them of drugs, anxiety and illnesses… in the heart of a forest.
I wish I was back there in the mountains, after a good day of work, sharing stories near the fire and drinking wine with my friends…
I wish the next generations will enjoy that wine as much as I did .
9 octombrie 2007 at 12:30 pm
u know this word…oblivion..is a composition of Astor Piazzola..really nice..you should listen to it
9 octombrie 2007 at 2:07 pm
For a long time I couldn’t understand how can somebody feel good in a God forsaken place without current water or energy.
But the more I explore nature (climbing a mountain, walking through a forest)the more I understand why. The threes can’t shout at you, the flowers aren’t judging you, the rivers are not stressing you with deadlines. There I feel the way I should: home.
9 octombrie 2007 at 3:29 pm
Sounds like an interesting book, but I think it makes little sense to talk about a Romanian book in English. Especially since, as you say, it`s only been released in 100 copies. The readers won`t be able to understand what you`re refering to. (the other comment by Alina is an example of a verifiable reference: anyone can search piazzola on youtube for ex and understand what Alina was talking about)And the whole idea is to share, to connect. Or maybe there is virtue in a partially decoded message. What do you think?
9 octombrie 2007 at 5:12 pm
Hey! Thank you for your comments, Radu! I removed the default options about posting comments so posting is free and easy now.
A second post is coming soon and I’ll try to answer your question about connecting…
9 octombrie 2007 at 6:52 pm
Well Radu, you are right… but even if the book was published in English in 100,000 copies, you could find it on Amazon.com sold for 30$ each + 14$ international shipment — and that’s not a great reference. Even public domain book are sold for big money and they’re unavailable for free…
I’m aware of the fact that some people won’t have access to it. I will talk with the author about this and see if he wants to publish some of the stories in English – on the Internet.