Ana Barton – Ophanim

This novel is like a hug. Which, by the way, I got it directly from the writer right before I started reading it.

On the 14^th of October, I went to the launch of the novel Ophanim, glad that Ana Barton had finally published another novel. I had been waiting for it for such a long time!

I found out about Ana Barton on my second time moving to Bucharest, while I was looking for a job (the umpteenth time). During an interview with the manager of the marketing department, whose name was also Ana (I am starting to see a pattern here and my mom’s name must be guiding me for I have been knowing so many women called Ana during the past years, and none have disappointed me), we started to talk about books (this also because I was asked about mine) and Ana Barton’s name came up and she was dearly recommended.

Ever since, I read everything that Ana had published and loved it. Also, despite her full schedule (this si based on a hunch), Ana made time to look over one of my texts and gladly offered her opinion on it. And it seems not such a big deal, but it is. And this because I have asked around and few other writers did this. My dear Zully is also one of these remarkable people that made time to offer their recommendatons and it matters so much.

Going back to the book launch, after the event, a queue of people formed to get autographs. When it was my turn, I gave Ana the book and she signed the autograph. Afterwards, when I left, I laughed while reading it because I could not grasp what she had written in the lower right corner and I remembered what she had said during the event, that her handwriting is really dificult to read. I have looked at it from different angles and still I cannot understand it. 

(later edit - The author told me she wrote embrace. Maybe because I had received it already, my mind could not grasp it.)

When she gave the book back to me, she asked me if it is OK to give me a hug, which left me a little puzzled. I very much love Ana’s books, but I had never dreamed of a hug, too. Which, as it happens, was not short, like those that are sometimes given to people just so they say they received it. I left with the smile of a child that feels emotional when receiving a prize. And just like me, the others must have left in the same way because Ana had hugged all of her readers that night.

Just like Mrs. Mărculescu had mentioned that evening, the novel Ophanim must be read, but the reader also must let the novel read her/ him.

I liked all characters in the book, but, from them all, I adore Mamifera. She has a special way of telling things as they are, which resonates dearly with the person that I am, pragmatic and fed up with so much superficiality.

And because I prefer to let the book convince one about why it should be read, instead of trying to explain it, I leave you with a couple of paragraphs:

‘…

 

… that angel of a mom that I have believes that all we have to do in life is to figure out when we feel the urge to behave badly and to put a stop to it; then, we must think about why that urge emerges and, in time, with self-discipline, we will succeed in not behaving badly… The only thing a human being is able to build is the lack of viciousness.

…

 

… And when your mind is wandering around and fears take hold of you that this could happen, and the other thing could happen, or, even worse, something horrible could happen to your loved ones, you must turn that thought around and imagine that you actually lift it with your hands and turn it inside out, like a glove, and then get out of bed, if you are in a bed, start walking and change your thought while starting to do something else, even if you only scribble on a piece of paper. You have to use your mind for a good purpose, Intriesh, darling, and not let it do whatever it wants to do because the mind is a very treacherous thing, if you don’t keep your guard up, it will take you somewhere you would never want to go. Nothing and no one can scare you as much as your mind could, darling, but you must not let it do it to you.

...’