Nobody's Sky - Sanja Vukosavljević

 Growing up in a small Bosnian village, Jelena and Enes spend carefree days, bound by a friendship that knows no boundaries and differences from early childhood. She is his best friend, he is her protector. Guided by feelings which they are unable to recognize, and under the dark clouds which have risen above mahala, life took them to different sides.

After years of absence, Jelena returns to her hometown. Nothing is the same any more, by the most her. One was sure - Enes was still the most important person in her life. The question is, who is she now for him? Fate pulled the strings, setting them up the traps they were not up to. Are memories and reminiscences only what have they been left? Will fate intervene once again in the reunion of Jelena and Enes?

Everyone knows that romance novels are by no means on my list of books to read. However, these are some encounters, after which nothing is the same, so you wish  to go out of the comfort zone and embark on some few different adventures. I went to ongoing Book Fair in Belgrade, met Sanja, for real, and had amazing talk with her. Those of you who felt her energy would understand what am I talking about. After those few hours, a miracle happened and I returned home with, not one, but  two Sanjina's books. Led by my silly obsession to read books chronologically, I first grabbed Nobody's sky and I didn't regretted it.

By risking to lose the title of geek, freak, nerd and fool, I have to admit that I was very pleased by Nobody's sky. Even in my dreams, I couldn't imagine that I would like a romance novel this much. Because, Nobody's sky isn't just a cute love novel, but a warm life story about small people from a small town which besides all that happens in their lives, have strength and energy to socialize, love, progress and become great.

With indescribable ease and "folk vocabulary", Sanja tells the story of socializing, growing up, falling in love, suffering and life paths of a group of friends from a small town in Bosnia, with the main focus on Jelena and Enes. She does not exaggerate anything, things are as they are, so whoever likes it great, who doesn't "kiss and leave". As I read, I felt love and happiness and pain and suffering of protagonists, because Sanja writes it in a such vibrant and beautiful way that it was impossible not to find myself in some of the characters or recognize some of the situations. There is no idle and boring moments in the story, so I had a feeling that the story writes itself, and the pictures are raring at the speed of light.

I have to admit, at the cost of being burned alive ;), because I know how many authors love their literaly children, I also had a strong desire to bring Jelena and Enes (maybe even Sanja;)) in front of firing squad or to get them on electric chair or to simply surrender them for entertainment of the Spanish Inquisition. My gods and aliens, what pain did Sanja put those two through, it is simply indescribable. Even my twisted imagination she wouldn't have thought of such torment. Just when I thought "Yeah, that's it, now everything will be great" I'd get a cold shower and another obstacle. It's another thing that made me like Nobody's sky so much. Not everything is a shiny, pink and beautiful. The pain, stumps, thorns and various nonsense must be passed maybe to reach that "After the rain always sine the sun."

Atr the end of me, one huge recommendation for Sanja and its first book. This beauty was published by Drina Steinberg Publishing House. Since their site is currently under construction, you can find them at the Books in Belgrade, Gallery of Halls 1 or go to their Facebook page and treat yourselves with Nobody's Sky or some other Sanja's novels or anzother book from other authors that Drina SPH issues.