Dušan Šarotar’s “Panorama”:

A Lyrical Journey Through Memory and Exile

By Dr. Andrew Goldsmith

Dušan Šarotar’s “Panorama” is a mesmerizing and lyrical exploration of memory, exile, and the human experience. This poetic novel follows an unnamed Slovenian writer as he travels through Ireland, weaving together observations, memories, and philosophical musings into a rich tapestry of prose.

Characters and Narrative Style

The protagonist, a 45-year-old Slovenian author, serves as both narrator and central character. His introspective and poetic voice carries the reader through a dreamlike journey across Ireland’s landscapes. Šarotar masterfully blends the narrator’s immediate experiences with his memories and reflections, creating a sense of timelessness and universality.A key supporting character is Gjini, an Albanian immigrant who acts as the narrator’s driver and occasional guide. Through Gjini’s story, Šarotar explores themes of displacement, cultural identity, and the immigrant experience. Gjini’s complex relationship with his adopted country adds depth to the novel’s exploration of belonging and alienation.Other characters, like Suzana (another writer the narrator encounters) and the various locals he observes, serve to populate the Irish landscape and provide different perspectives on the themes of travel, memory, and identity.

Prose Style and Structure

Šarotar’s prose is undoubtedly the star of “Panorama.” His writing is lush, poetic, and deeply evocative. Long, winding sentences flow like streams of consciousness, mirroring the narrator’s meandering thoughts and observations. This style creates a hypnotic effect, drawing the reader into the narrator’s contemplative state of mind.The author employs a non-linear narrative structure, seamlessly blending past and present, memory and reality. This approach reflects the novel’s central themes of time, memory, and perception. Šarotar’s ability to move fluidly between different temporal and spatial planes demonstrates his mastery of the form.

Themes and Motifs

“Panorama” is rich with recurring motifs and themes that give the novel its depth and resonance:

The Sea: The ocean serves as a powerful symbol throughout the book, representing both separation and connection, the vastness of human experience, and the ebb and flow of memory.

Light and Darkness: Šarotar frequently uses descriptions of light and shadow to evoke mood and explore the interplay between perception and reality.

Language and Identity: Through the narrator’s observations and Gjini’s story, the novel delves into how language shapes our sense of self and our connection to place.

Memory and Time: The non-linear structure and the narrator’s constant reflections highlight the fluid nature of memory and our perception of time.

Setting and Atmosphere

Šarotar’s depiction of Ireland is vivid and atmospheric. He captures the country’s moody weather, rugged landscapes, and rich history with a painter’s eye for detail. The author skillfully uses the Irish setting as a mirror for the narrator’s internal landscape, creating a powerful sense of place that is both physical and psychological.

Literary Craftsmanship

What sets “Panorama” apart is Šarotar’s exceptional literary craftsmanship. His ability to sustain the novel’s poetic intensity while weaving a compelling narrative is remarkable. The author’s keen observations and philosophical insights are seamlessly integrated into the flow of the story, never feeling forced or didactic. Šarotar’s use of imagery is particularly noteworthy. His descriptions are often startlingly beautiful, evoking complex emotions and ideas through carefully chosen details. Whether describing the play of light on water or the weathered faces of local swimmers, his prose brings scenes to life with remarkable vividness.

Unconventional structure and dense prose

“Panorama” is a testament to Dušan Šarotar’s skill as a writer. It is a novel that demands and rewards close reading, inviting the reader to immerse themselves in its poetic flow and profound reflections. While the unconventional structure and dense prose may challenge some readers, those who surrender to its rhythm will find a deeply moving exploration of the human experience.Šarotar has created a work that transcends traditional categorization, blending elements of travelogue, memoir, and philosophical meditation into a unique literary experience. “Panorama” stands as a significant achievement in contemporary European literature, cementing Šarotar’s reputation as a writer of exceptional talent and vision.