Call Me Esteban [Paperback]

A daughter's journey through memory and loss in war-torn Sarajevo.

In Lejla Kalamujic'sCall Me Esteban, a woman pieces together her identity by grappling with fragmented memories of her mother and navigating the complexities of pre- and post-war Sarajevo. From imagined encounters with Kafka to intimate moments in cozy apartments and stark scenes in psychiatric wards, she confronts her past to claim her present.

This piercing meditation explores themes of loss, resilience, and the search for self. Perfect for readers of literary fiction and personal narratives,Call Me Estebanoffers a poignant glimpse into a woman's struggle to find meaning amidst the ruins of war and the echoes of family history. Discover a powerful story ofidentity, memory, and Sarajevo.

"Stylish and brisk, these stories refuse to wallow in tragedy, becoming instead a convincing testament to the consolations of art." —Publishers Weeklystarred review"Think of Lejla Kalamujić’s astonishingCall Me Estebanas a series of dispatches from a war-torn world. . . . The histories and memories refracted through Kalamujić’s rigorous imagination, expertly translated by Jennifer Zoble, are unforgettable." —Christopher Merrill, author,Only the Nails Remain: Scenes from the Balkan Wars"There’s an immediacy to Lejla Kalamujić’s writing inCall Me Esteban, a haunting portrayal of what it means to live in a society that’s been fragmenting for the vast majority of one’s life." —Tobias Carroll, Words WIthout Borders"Playful yet piercing, these linked stories weave queer identity with the bitter aftertaste of the Balkan wars. The protagonist, Lejla, navigates adventures from the imaginary—a doorstep conversation with Franz Kafka, a letter to Elizabeth Bishop, scrawled in a psychiatric ward—to lethally real: 'Bullets hurtle throulc+