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Interview
"Slaviane" Magazine, Spain, December 2005
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Slaviane (S): Vadim, let's start with a traditional question: why have you chosen to live in Spain?
Vadim Babenko (VB): Actually, it happened by chance. Five years ago I decided to move from the U.S. to Europe. It seemed that Spain had the most flexible immigration policies, so I came here.
S: Do you feel comfortable in this country?
VB: (laughing) Well, I would say "yes" more than "no". I believe I feel like any other foreigner living here. Although Spain has its peculiarities and surprises you from time to time, it also has lots of positive sides, like, for example, Spanish cuisine...
S: AAnd why have you chosen Madrid of all cities?
VB: I just like to live in capitals, and I always have. Madrid is also the most "European" city in this country. It's the center of everything - where else could I live?
S: How is your writing going in Spain?
VB: I'd say I'm pretty satisfied. It is here, in Spain, that I wrote my longest novel, "The Black Pelican", from beginning to end. Now it's in the process of being published in Russia. I recently started a new book and it's also going very well.
S: Could you tell us about your books? Before you were mostly known as a poet and now you've switched to prose. Why is that?
VB: : I can only say that my personal evolution, if that is the right word, took quite a while, but I've finally discovered that at heart I'm a novelist, not a poet. And yes, you're right, I started with short poems, though now I'm not that happy with what I wrote. Later came two comparatively long books - they have well developed plots, like novels, but are written as poems, not prose. I really like them, especially the last one, "Buenos Aires", which I put a lot of creative energy into. By the way, it's also the most popular one - and it makes sense: it's about love... (laughing). And for the last five years I've been writing exclusively prose. The result is "The Black Pelican" and another book that is not yet finished.
S: What is "The Black Pelican" about?
VB: To make a long story short, it is about an individual and his struggle with the outside world as he tries to protect his identity. It illustrates how difficult it is to go against the crowd. In general, it's about desperation, and hope, and a victory at the end.
S: It has taken about a year now for the book to be published. Do you think readers are really looking forward to reading it?
VB: I hope so… Nevertheless, this novel is quite different from what is being written and published in Russia nowadays. The publishing houses, though praising the scale and style, were not fighting that hard to acquire the copyright. The novel looks more like a marathon runner than a sprinter. In other words, it is not a book that will gain popularity overnight.
S: Do you feel somewhat frustrated? Everybody likes to become famous as quickly as possible. Everybody is seeking fame.
VB: (laughing) No, believe me, I am not. Besides, it's impossible with the kind of literature I've dedicated myself to.
S: And how would you explain to readers what that "kind of literature" is?
VB: In fact, it's nothing special. I believe I'm doing the same as others who treat literature as an art form and not just as a means of earning money quickly. To be frank, in the latter case, you will always use shortcuts and other types of tricks to reach the goal. However, everybody is free to choose their own way and it's not for me to judge them. My objectives are more or less as follows: I'm using the language as an instrument to share my understanding of life. To be more precise, I'm depicting the brightest, most significant and extraordinary parts of my own personal world. To achieve this with words, I invent a story with characters, plot, intrigue… But the essence and the real depth are not in the plot of the novel. They mostly reflect the personality of the writer, and it is what he has inside, the scale and depth of his inner world, which comes across by putting into words a view of our reality, our past and even our future. Anyway, this is what all creative people do: musicians, artists, sculptors… The difference is only in the form, not the content. If an author has anything to say, he can succeed or fail in the attempt to do so, but it will surely be a failure if there is nothing to say from the beginning. And no stylistic nuances or other devices will be of any help. So it's clear that first of all you should work very hard on your own personal development. And that probably explains why writers are such reserved, gloomy people…
S: But besides all that depth and scale, the novel should be interesting, the reader should feel engaged, don't you agree?
VB: (laughing) Oh, yes, of course, and I'm trying really hard… Reading should be interesting. Leaving aside specialized literature and speaking of fiction, every writer does his best to find a path to the hearts of his readers. So that they feel excited, moved, intrigued. In this way the words capture their souls and the book lives in their memory. Though it's clear that not everyone is ready for that profound emotional step and not every writer can count on wide circulation. But I'm not talking about my books here - to tell you the truth, I have no idea what their destiny will be. Anyway, as they say, history will put everything in its place.
S: Do you follow what's happening in modern Russian literature?
VB: Yes, I pay a lot of attention to it. I cannot say that I'm pleased with what's going on, but I should add that as always there are some really talented writers out there. For example, poetry is really flourishing now.
S: And what about prose?
VB: Regarding prose, I'm not so optimistic. Unfortunately, everything there is organized in such a way that it slows down the promotion of any new writer or book. You're supposed to belong to certain circles to actually publish your work. And it's quite understandable, because, as they say, business comes first and the market for literature is a business as much as any other. When we talk about earning money, issues such as beauty and harmony are no longer important - especially in comparison with sales figures. All this has a strong impact on the quality of texts - and I can tell you even more: the word "quality" nowadays sounds like profanity. The usual way of doing "book business" is like a race. You write with a timer on your wrist and then maintain the same pace trying to sell your work, expediting the result with some dubious PR campaigning. Afterwards you are racing to make the short lists for literary awards, which have turned into a farce in Russia today. The consequence of all this is that the focus slips away from your writing to more "important" things like making useful connections and acquaintances, taking part in events, meetings, presentations. And there is no way to avoid it. However, I should say that any good book always finds its reader, though sometimes it takes a while.
S: So you had this problem with your books too?
VB: Oh, no. I cannot complain. "The Black Pelican", for example, is being published by a major publishing house. I just feel kind of offended from a professional point of view.
S: Have you ever tried to write in another language?
VB: I did, in English. The result was pathetic, so I've never tried again.
S: Do you find it boring to be a writer in a foreign country? What do you do in your free time?
VB: I believe I do the same things as many others: read, travel, go to the movies… I play lots of tennis, sometimes I even win against former professionals. And I'm never bored, seriously, never.
S: Where can we find your books in Spain?
VB: I'm afraid it will be difficult or even impossible. It's easier to buy them in Russia. Another option is to visit my website: www.vadimbabenko.com. All my texts will be there soon.
S: Are you homesick? Have you ever entertained the idea of returning to Russia?
VB: The answer is "yes" and "no". And it's not that I am afraid of changing my habits. I'm certain I wouldn't suffer from it, but I think I would have problems with the atmosphere of senseless aggression that I currently perceive in Moscow. A couple years ago I had quite a different feeling and was seriously contemplating the idea of returning, but not now. Maybe it's that kind of time over there - a spiritual nadir. I hope it won't last long. By the way, the plot of my new book is set there, in Russia, so mentally I do not in fact feel that far from my native country.
S: In Spain there is a tradition of writing letters to "the Magus", asking them for some presents. What would you wish to receive in the coming year, 2006?
VB: No idea. I think I've got everything I could wish for. Oh, yes, I'd like my tennis serve to become harder…
S: And would you please say a few words to our readers here at the end...
VB: With pleasure. I hope everybody will be in good spirits on New Year's Eve and enjoy the atmosphere of the approaching holidays. In reality we don't have that many of them. I would also like to say that my personal experience has always been that if you believe in yourself, you will ultimately succeed in all your efforts, and New Year's Eve is a perfect moment to remember that once again. Leave any doubts you have in the year that's passed - it's over and will never return.
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