The End. And Again

Set against a backdrop of war and music, The End. And Again delves into the lives of four characters grappling with their tumultuous pasts.

In The End. And Again, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of war, romance, and rock 'n' roll, transporting readers to Ljubljana and the Balkans during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Through the eyes of four main characters—Peter, Goran, Denis, and Mary—the story explores their intertwined lives as they navigate the chaos of a region in turmoil. Peter is an embittered bureaucrat, while Goran is a corrupt manager, and Mary is a free-spirited runaway. Their experiences are vividly depicted, revealing the impact of historical events on personal relationships.

The novel introduces a cast of unique characters, including a mysterious woman who runs a roofless library in war-torn Bosnia, guiding a young soldier through hidden doorways. There's also a businessman hiding from an angry mob and a lonely divorcee who picks up a hitchhiker, only to be drawn into an unfamiliar forest. These elements create a rich tapestry of human experience, illustrating how love and music can provide solace amidst chaos.

The End. And Again offers a captivating reimagining of Slovenia's independence and the breakup of Yugoslavia, highlighting the characters' memories of a time when their passions revolved around music rather than politics. Their unresolved stories haunt them, prompting a search for closure and a different kind of ending, making this novel a thought-provoking exploration of memory and identity.