Without Waking Up

Maja struggles to unearth her identity and is marked by a lingering absence of homeland, mother tongue, mother, and warmth. She has brief moments of connection with her fading past through her childhood friendship with Marek, a Polish refugee. This poetic account invites an exploration of the relationship between language and identity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Bullaun Press

Sifting through memories, simple scenes nestled into one another like her own beloved wooden doll, the Matryoshka, Maja struggles to unearth her identity. She is marked by a lingering absence - of homeland, mother tongue, mother, warmth. Raised in an unfamiliar country by her taciturn aunt, Maja has brief moments of connection with her fading past, such as through her childhood friendship with Marek, a Polish refugee with his own stories of love and loss in the face of war and displacement. An adult Maja finds herself again and again on the outside of her relationships with others, and with herself. This poetic, yet unadorned, account invites an open-ended exploration of the relationship between language and identity.

As she delves into her memories, Maja discovers that her life is like a intricate Matryoshka doll, with each layer revealing a new facet of her identity. She yearns for a sense of belonging, longing for her homeland, her mother tongue, and the warmth of her mother's embrace. Raised in an unfamiliar country by her taciturn aunt, Maja experiences fleeting moments of connection with her fading past, such as her childhood friendship with Marek, a Polish refugee who carries his own tales of love and loss in the midst of war and displacement. As an adult, Maja struggles to establish meaningful relationships with others and with herself. This poetic and unadorned account invites an open-ended exploration of the profound connection between language and identity.

In the depths of her introspection, Maja unravels the intricate tapestry of her memories, like a Matryoshka doll revealing its layers. She yearns for a profound connection to her homeland, her mother tongue, and the warmth of her mother's embrace. Raised in an unfamiliar land by her distant aunt, Maja glimpses fragments of her past through her childhood friendship with Marek, a Polish refugee carrying his own stories of love and loss amidst war and displacement. As an adult, Maja navigates the complexities of relationships, both with others and within herself. This poetic and unadorned account beckons an open-ended exploration of the profound interplay between language and identity.

Weight: 250g
Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781739842321