Books
Apie anuos nepamirštamus laikus
Juozo Lukšos-Daumanto ir Nijolės Bražėnaitės susirašinėjimas
Mylėti kitą yra prisiliesti prie to, kad šviesiausia žmogaus sieloje. Paleisti mylimąjį eiti savo sielos ir įsitikinimų keliu yra aukščiausia meilės išraiška. Tai ir yra ta meilės dovana, kurią Nijolė Bražėnaitė padovanojo partizanų vadui Juozui Lukšai-Daumantui, kai jį išleido sugrįžti į Lietuvą toliau kariauti rezistencijoje prieš sovietų okupaciją. Jauna pora paaukojo savo asmeninę laimę dėl aukštesnio tikslo - kovos už Lietuvos Nepriklausomybę. Toks jų meilės paradoksas - vienas kitą surasti, tada paleisti - nulėmė dvejus metus trukusią meilės istoriją, prie kurios per jų laiškus, rašytus vienas kitam, mes dabar prisiliečiam.
Žvelgdami atgal per ilgus istorijos puslapius, suvokiame, kad Nijolės ir Juozo sprendimas vienam kitą paleisti buvo svarbus mūsų šiandienos Nepriklausomybei. Toks savęs paaukojimas vardan Lietuvos laisvės įkvėpė ateinančias kartas siekti atkurti Lietuvos Nepriklausomybę ir
suteikti žmonėms vilties ir pasididžiavimo tamsiais okupacijos dešimtmečiais.
Pagaliau sutikdama išleisti intymiausius savo ir Juozo Lukšos jaunystės meilės laiškus, Nijolė Lietuvai padovanoja neįkainuojama dovaną. Šiame dviejų žmonių susirašinėjime atsiskleidžia jų draugystės taurumas, idealizmas. Tai ir yra gilios sielos dovana - rasti savyje
drąsos net sunkiausiomis beviltškomis sąlygomis mylėti kitą iki širdies gelmių ir kartu paleisti tą meilę vardan aukštesnio tikslo.
Nijolei ir Juozui tėvynės laisvė buvo aukščiau už jų asmeninę laimę. O šitie laiškai išliko kaip jų džiaugsmo ir praradimo paliudijimas.
Apie anuos nepamirštamus laikus
Juozo Lukšos-Daumanto ir Nijolės Bražėnaitės susirašinėjimas
Mylėti kitą yra prisiliesti prie to, kad šviesiausia žmogaus sieloje. Paleisti mylimąjį eiti savo sielos ir įsitikinimų keliu yra aukščiausia meilės išraiška. Tai ir yra ta meilės dovana, kurią Nijolė Bražėnaitė padovanojo partizanų vadui Juozui Lukšai-Daumantui, kai jį išleido sugrįžti į Lietuvą toliau kariauti rezistencijoje prieš sovietų okupaciją. Jauna pora paaukojo savo asmeninę laimę dėl aukštesnio tikslo - kovos už Lietuvos Nepriklausomybę. Toks jų meilės paradoksas - vienas kitą surasti, tada paleisti - nulėmė dvejus metus trukusią meilės istoriją, prie kurios per jų laiškus, rašytus vienas kitam, mes dabar prisiliečiam.
Žvelgdami atgal per ilgus istorijos puslapius, suvokiame, kad Nijolės ir Juozo sprendimas vienam kitą paleisti buvo svarbus mūsų šiandienos Nepriklausomybei. Toks savęs paaukojimas vardan Lietuvos laisvės įkvėpė ateinančias kartas siekti atkurti Lietuvos Nepriklausomybę ir
suteikti žmonėms vilties ir pasididžiavimo tamsiais okupacijos dešimtmečiais.
Pagaliau sutikdama išleisti intymiausius savo ir Juozo Lukšos jaunystės meilės laiškus, Nijolė Lietuvai padovanoja neįkainuojama dovaną. Šiame dviejų žmonių susirašinėjime atsiskleidžia jų draugystės taurumas, idealizmas. Tai ir yra gilios sielos dovana - rasti savyje
drąsos net sunkiausiomis beviltškomis sąlygomis mylėti kitą iki širdies gelmių ir kartu paleisti tą meilę vardan aukštesnio tikslo.
Nijolei ir Juozui tėvynės laisvė buvo aukščiau už jų asmeninę laimę. O šitie laiškai išliko kaip jų džiaugsmo ir praradimo paliudijimas.
Esė Nutildyta mūza
knygoje Atrakintas dienoraštis: Matilda Olkinaitė
Matilda Olkinaitė (1922–1941) – jauna Lietuvos žydų poetė, kūrusi lietuvių kalba, nužudyta Holokausto metu. Gimė Panemunėlio miestelyje (Rokiškio rajone), vaistininko šeimoje. Baigė Rokiškio J. Tumo-Vaižganto gimnaziją. Studijavo prancūzų kalbą ir literatūrą Vytauto Didžiojo ir Vilniaus universitetuose. Nuo 1932 m. skelbė eilėraščius ir prozą Lietuvos spaudoje, rengė debiutinį poezijos rinkinį. 1941 m. liepos 10 d. lietuvių žydšaudžių buvo žiauriai nužudyta Kavoliškio miške prie Rokiškio kartu su Olkinų ir Jofių šeimomis. Matildos eilėraščių sąsiuvinį išgelbėjo kunigas Juozapas Matelionis, 1941 m. paslėpęs jį Panemunėlio bažnyčioje, po altoriumi įrengtoje slėptuvėje. XX a. 9-ajame dešimtmetyje jį atrado disidentas, vargonininkas Alfredas Andrijauskas, perdavęs saugoti profesorei Irenai Veisaitei. Vėliau profesorei pavyko atrasti ir 1940–1941 m. rašytą poetės dienoraštį – tragiškų istorinių metų ir jos vidinio gyvenimo dokumentą. 2018 m. liepą Veisaitė šiuos rankraščius perdavė Lietuvių literatūros ir tautosakos institutui, patikėdama parengti ir išleisti Matildos knygą.
"Atrakintas dienoraštis" – tai pirmą kartą iš užmaršties iškylanti poetės kūrybos visuma. Knygą sudaro Matildos dienoraštis, eilėraščiai ir mažoji proza, biografinė medžiaga ir nuotraukos, surinktos iš įvairių valstybinių ir asmeninių archyvų. Kūrybos publikacijas lydi sudarytojo Mindaugo Kvietkausko įvadinis straipsnis, Irenos Veisaitės palydimasis žodis, rašytojos Laimos Vincės esė „Nutildyta mūza“. .
This Is
Not My
Sky
This coming of age story spans two continents and several generations.
Based on true events, the story begins with the armed resistance of Lithuanians against Soviet occupation in the 1940s, a struggle that will resonate with many people around the world today. After losing her parents in this “invisible war”, the story’s heroine is able to escape to Poland and then to New York City, where she and then her children grow up. And they grow up and look to find their way in the tumultuous 60s, 70s and 80s against the backdrop of social change, new opportunities for women, and the drug culture – and with the tragic legacy of their home country. Finally, as Lithuania begins to regain its independence in the late 1980s, the characters come to terms with life in their new country, the possibilities of returning to their old country, and their strong but challenging family relationships.
This Is
Not My
Sky
This coming of age story spans two continents and several generations.
Based on true events, the story begins with the armed resistance of Lithuanians against Soviet occupation in the 1940s, a struggle that will resonate with many people around the world today. After losing her parents in this “invisible war”, the story’s heroine is able to escape to Poland and then to New York City, where she and then her children grow up. And they grow up and look to find their way in the tumultuous 60s, 70s and 80s against the backdrop of social change, new opportunities for women, and the drug culture – and with the tragic legacy of their home country. Finally, as Lithuania begins to regain its independence in the late 1980s, the characters come to terms with life in their new country, the possibilities of returning to their old country, and their strong but challenging family relationships.
This Is
Not My
Sky
This coming of age story spans two continents and several generations.
Based on true events, the story begins with the armed resistance of Lithuanians against Soviet occupation in the 1940s, a struggle that will resonate with many people around the world today. After losing her parents in this “invisible war”, the story’s heroine is able to escape to Poland and then to New York City, where she and then her children grow up. And they grow up and look to find their way in the tumultuous 60s, 70s and 80s against the backdrop of social change, new opportunities for women, and the drug culture – and with the tragic legacy of their home country. Finally, as Lithuania begins to regain its independence in the late 1980s, the characters come to terms with life in their new country, the possibilities of returning to their old country, and their strong but challenging family relationships.
This Is
Not My
Sky
This coming of age story spans two continents and several generations.
Based on true events, the story begins with the armed resistance of Lithuanians against Soviet occupation in the 1940s, a struggle that will resonate with many people around the world today. After losing her parents in this “invisible war”, the story’s heroine is able to escape to Poland and then to New York City, where she and then her children grow up. And they grow up and look to find their way in the tumultuous 60s, 70s and 80s against the backdrop of social change, new opportunities for women, and the drug culture – and with the tragic legacy of their home country. Finally, as Lithuania begins to regain its independence in the late 1980s, the characters come to terms with life in their new country, the possibilities of returning to their old country, and their strong but challenging family relationships.
This Is
Not My
Sky
This coming of age story spans two continents and several generations.
Based on true events, the story begins with the armed resistance of Lithuanians against Soviet occupation in the 1940s, a struggle that will resonate with many people around the world today. After losing her parents in this “invisible war”, the story’s heroine is able to escape to Poland and then to New York City, where she and then her children grow up. And they grow up and look to find their way in the tumultuous 60s, 70s and 80s against the backdrop of social change, new opportunities for women, and the drug culture – and with the tragic legacy of their home country. Finally, as Lithuania begins to regain its independence in the late 1980s, the characters come to terms with life in their new country, the possibilities of returning to their old country, and their strong but challenging family relationships.
This Is
Not My
Sky
This coming of age story spans two continents and several generations.
Based on true events, the story begins with the armed resistance of Lithuanians against Soviet occupation in the 1940s, a struggle that will resonate with many people around the world today. After losing her parents in this “invisible war”, the story’s heroine is able to escape to Poland and then to New York City, where she and then her children grow up. And they grow up and look to find their way in the tumultuous 60s, 70s and 80s against the backdrop of social change, new opportunities for women, and the drug culture – and with the tragic legacy of their home country. Finally, as Lithuania begins to regain its independence in the late 1980s, the characters come to terms with life in their new country, the possibilities of returning to their old country, and their strong but challenging family relationships.
Vanished Lands
Memory and Postmemory in North American Lithuanian Diaspora Literature
"Dr. Laima Vincė Sruoginis, an established author, academic, and life-long part of the North American Lithuanian diaspora, courageously faces Lithuania’s difficult historical legacy in her ground-breaking book. She researched her community’s refugee ancestors, drawing both from personal interviews and dusty academic sources, confronting uncomfortable truths."
(Philip S. Shapiro, President, Remembering Litvaks, Inc.)
As World War II ended, refugees fled Soviet-occupied Lithuania, finding shelter in the displaced persons camps of Europe. By 1949, most had emigrated to North America. They brought with them opposing narratives about the Nazi occupation (1941–1944) when 95 percent of Lithuania’s Jewish community was annihilated. Trauma narratives were passed down to the second and third generations through collective memory. Through postmemory, cultural memory, and trauma theory, Vanished Lands analyzes literary works by North American Jewish and Lithuanian writers who speak over the silence of decades, seeking answers.
available at: peterlang.com
The Cerulian Bird
by Matilda Olkinaite
Selected, translated and introduced by Laima Vince
Matilda Olkinaitė was only 19 years old when, in 1941, she was murdered by Nazi collaborators in her native Lithuania.
Many of the poems in this chapbook were written in a notebook that, prior to Matilda’s death, had been given to the Catholic parish priest, Father Juozapas Matelionis, for safekeeping. Shortly before his death, Matelionis revealed its hiding place to organist and political dissident, Alfredas Andrijauskas who, in his turn, kept the notebook safe for more than three decades until 1987, when he handed it to Holocaust survivor Irena Veisaitė; at around this time, Veisaitė also acquired Matilda’s diary from another source and this too contained poems. Both notebook and diary came to the attention of the poet and translator, Laima Vincė, who, working directly from Matilda’s handwritten poems, translated all 34 poems in the notebook, plus those jotted down between diary entries.
The poems included in this chapbook span Olkinaitė’s short life and Vince’s powerful, yet sensitive, translations, together with her illuminating introduction, allow the English-language reader access to the work of a remarkable and prescient young writer who, had she lived, would undoubtedly have become an important poet.
available at: arcpublications.co.uk
This Is Not
My Sky
This coming of age story spans two continents and several generations.
Based on true events, the story begins with the armed resistance of Lithuanians against Soviet occupation in the 1940s, a struggle that will resonate with many people around the world today. After losing her parents in this “invisible war”, the story’s heroine is able to escape to Poland and then to New York City, where she and then her children grow up. And they grow up and look to find their way in the tumultuous 60s, 70s and 80s against the backdrop of social change, new opportunities for women, and the drug culture – and with the tragic legacy of their home country. Finally, as Lithuania begins to regain its independence in the late 1980s, the characters come to terms with life in their new country, the possibilities of returning to their old country, and their strong but challenging family relationships.
Journey
into the
Backwaters
of the Heart
A Fulbright grant enabled me to travel to Lithuania to record the oral histories of women and men who were former partisan fighters, liaisons, or supporters of Lithuania's post World War II armed resistance against the Soviet Union. I also spoke to Lithuanian Jewish Holocaust survivors and listened to the stories of women who survived Stalin's deportations to Siberia and Tajikistan. To hear these stories I traveled to remote rural locations, bumping down dirt roads in my Honda Civic. I sometimes slept in haylofts, helped out with household chores, or sat behind the table, as the Lithuanian saying goes, accepting the hospitality of my hosts. One visit was seldom enough. Often after hours of talk, we cried together, but more often we laughed. In 2007-2011 when I conducted these interviews, the people I spoke with were already in their seventies and eighties. The stories they told to me were detailed and precise. I discovered that the memories that remained most powerful at the end of these women's lives were memories of loves lived during times of trial and hardship. As I listened, I was continually amazed that people who had experienced torture, exile, loss, trauma, held one emotion close to their hearts: That emotion was love. Each story told to me, at its core, was a love story. That is why this collection of life stories is a journey into the backwaters of the heart.
The Snake
in the
Vodka Bottle
Twenty years after participating in Lithuania's independence movement as a student, Laima Vince returns on a Fulbright grant to post-soviet Lithuania with her three children. Over the course of four years, while living and teaching and raising her children as a single mother in Vilnius, she conducts interviews with a diverse range of people. In this book she records the life stories of traditional healers, who treat their patients using ancient verbal incantations; trafficked teenage girls and the activist social workers who shelter them; Baltic gay rights activists who fight, and win, the right to hold the first Baltic Pride March in Lithuania; Chechen war refugees and their Ambassador in Exile; a contraband butter smuggler; an unemployed ex-KGB informer; and the forgotten heroes and dissidents of the Cold War. This book illuminates one woman's personal odyssey into the sometimes tumultuous society of post-Soviet Lithuania.
Lenin’s Head
on a Platter
Laima Vince takes us on a harrowing through-the-looking glass tour of Lithuania in 1988 - 1989, during a time of great social and political turmoil. In diary form, she gives us her personal, unflinching account of the daily hardships that characterize this faltering society--one filled with guns, poverty, bitterness, mistrust, and sometimes, friendship. We see the full range of emotions here as people try to live normal lives against a backdrop of uncertainty. At times funny, at time poignant, this book explores the extraordinary human cost of an oppressive system of government, as well as the extraordinary human valor of those who survive it. It shows us that, underneath, all people share the same basic needs for freedom, for hope, and for love. This is a fine and important book.
Reviewed by Clint McCown
Digging a Hole
to China
Laima Vince relocates to Hong Kong to teach at a Chinese international school (2013 - 2015). While she is in Hong Kong the Umbrella Revolution breaks out. Students and teachers in Hong Kong find themselves on opposing sides of the demonstrations. Some support mainland China while others dream of universal suffrage and democracy for Hong Kong. While living and working in Hong Kong Laima begins to understand the complex society that is today's China. This book chronicles life in Hong Kong as the region transitions from a former colony of Great Britain into a semi-autonomous city in China. Today's Hong Kong is a cultural crossroad between East and West. Contemporary Asia is a mixture of the ancient and the modern. Laima Vince documents the diverse voices of contemporary Asia while teaching, traveling,and exploring. Among the many people, whose lives she documents in this book, there is Michael, a mainland Chinese who grew up in a province of China and drew his community's discontent by learning English. Then there is Hans, a member of the Dusun Head Hunter's tribe of Borneo, who grew up in a traditional society in which his grandmother, a Baba Hasan, or medicine woman, could coax a breeze out of the sky. And there is Mariana, one of the last Macanese in Macau, a young archeologist striving to preserve her rapidly vanishing culture. During the two years chronicled in this book (2013 - 2015) Laima takes a 56-hour train ride from Guangzhou to Tibet; hikes through the rain forest with a descendant of Head Hunters; goes island hopping across the turquoise waters of the Philippines with three generations of a Filipino family in a fragile bamboo boat; together with her students builds a house from palm tree fronds in a Cambodian village; and stands with Hong Kong's student protestors in the initial peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations.
The Way Life Should Be
The Way Life Should Be is a collection of essays about people who live their lives in alignment with their soul path. With the exception of one person, all of the people I've written about in this book live in Maine. Whether it's the rough cold North Atlantic or the tall pines or that specific northern light that attracts artists and dreamers to Maine, or whether it's the possibility of living just that far away from “civilization”, the people in these essays share one thing in common—the lives they live and the work they do are in harmony. And so, this is a book about the way life should be...
What the Willows Have Taught Me
In recent years, my fate has brought me to live and work in countries and cities that are vastly different from the New York metro area where I grew up, completed my studies, married, and started a family. Intermittently over the past thirty-two years (since 1988), I have lived in Lithuania, the home of my father and my grandparents until World War II swept them across the Atlantic Ocean to America. Lithuania—for me is pure soul and the power of nature. I lived and taught in Hong Kong for two years, where I was the department head of the English Department of an international high school. And then, two years later, in cultural contrast with Hong Kong, I lived and taught for two years at an American cultural exchange program in Beijing, China. Thus, I was able to experience two Chinas—one Communist and one a Western democracy. I experienced the traditions, culture, climate, and people of both northern China and southern China. Living in Asia for four years enabled me to visit and absorb the cultures of parts of the world I’d never dreamed I’d be fortunate enough to see and experience—Bhutan, Bali, Tibet. An Indian businessman once said to me, “China is not a country. China is a civilization.” Perhaps the only way that I could make sense of daily life in China was through writing poetry. My poems are like diary entries. Through this elusive and concentrated form, I hoped to express a corner of what I experienced in Asia. When I return to the United States, I live in Maine, in New England. This part of the United States has its own unique culture, its own dynamic that speaks to me, again, through poetry.
The Cosmic Tree
Laima Vince began writing these poems as a MFA student at Columbia University School of the Arts. She continued writing poetry throughout her life, as she passed through many different phases of womanhood--marriage, motherhood, divorce, self-discovery, coming the terms. These poems consider what it means to be a woman in the twentieth and twentieth-first centuries. The poems also reflect a life of creativity and personal challenge.