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The Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore announced that scientists of Contemporary Literature Department of the Institute organised a traditional annual conversation about books of Lithuanian authors of the year 2009 on the 4th of February. The theme of this conversation was “Ideology of Glamour and Book-Event”. The scientists spoke about the abundance of books published last year despite the crisis and the prevailing tendencies in literature.

As the literature critic Jūratė Sprindytė has noticed, we live in the environment which adores glamour, external glow and fullness of consumption. A book-event would be a book which gives questions, registers features of the epoch, generalises things. Therefore, in her opinion, a book-event is almost impossible nowadays.

As compared with last year, it was noticed that 2009 was the year of poetry and literature of recollections – memoirs, diaries, books of creative heritage. According to J. Sprindytė, it is evident that poetry surpassed prose by its quality in 2009.

Twelve most creative books of the year 2009 have been selected (in alphabetical order):

1. Laura Sintija Černiauskaitė, Kambarys jazmino krūme (A Room in Jasmine Bush): A story and novella, Vilnius: Alma Littera, 2009.

2. Henrikas Čigriejus, Žiemių pusėje giedra (It is Sunny in Žiemiai Side): poems, Vilnius : Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers, 2009.

3. Valdas Gedgaudas, Kario šešėlis (Soldier’s Shadow): poems, Vilnius : Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers, 2009.

4.  Laurynas Katkus, Už 7 gatvių (Behind 7 Streets): poems, Vilnius: Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers, 2009.

5. Aušra Kaziliūnaitė, 20 % koncentracijos stovykla (20 % Concentration Camp): poems, Kaunas: Kitos Knygos. 2009.

6. Marcelijus Martinaitis, Mes gyvenome (We Lived): biographical notes, Vilnius: Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers, 2009.

7. Vytautas Martinkus, Žemaičio garlėkys: historical novel, Vilnius: Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers, 2009.

8. Sigitas Parulskis, Pagyvenusio vyro pagundos (Temptations of an Elderly Man): poems, Vilnius: Baltos Lankos, 2009.

9. Donatas Petrošius, Aoristas (Aorist): poems, Vilnius: Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers, 2009.

10. Diana Šarakauskaitė, Medžiai mano tėvai (Trees My Parents): poems, Vilnius: Homo liber, 2009.

11. Ieva Toleikytė, Garstyčių namas (House of Mustard): stories, series “First Book“, Vilnius: Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers, 2009.

12. Markas Zingeris, Rudens ir pavasario pasikalbėjimas (Conversation between Autumn and Spring): novel, Vilnius: Alma Littera, 2009.

The winner of the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore will be elected out of these twelve books during Vilnius Book Fair. The winner will be announced on the 20th of February at 11 a.m. The prize will be granted to the winner before the 11th of March.