Our journalist’s book features many characters, not only Gliniada’s creator, Benedykt Kowalski, an eccentric artist claiming to be an actor with the Comédie Française. There are several other protagonists, including Grandma Róża and her pet—the garden gnome.
The gnome from Rajska Street is a curious character. He is interested in everything: the city, his neighbours and the mysterious sounds carried by the river in the evenings. All day long, the gnome observes and eavesdrops on people. He can hear the most closely guarded confidences and secret confessions.
Grażyna Hanaf and the owners of the Agora bookshop decided to put Grandma Róża’s gnome on display. Like in the book, he will comment on reality—both local and national. In his first appearance, the gnome offers holiday advice: “Sort your rubbish and head to Orka!”
At a time when the waste-management law is one of the more controversial topics, our gnome also sorts rubbish. But it is completely different from what everyone around him sorts. Real waste does not interest him. His sack contains an advertisement encouraging people to protect themselves during casual sex, the weekly Polityka with a photograph of Tusk, a photograph of a “blachara”, Gazeta Wyborcza and the gay series Queer as Folk, which the novel’s characters watch enthusiastically. In his hand, the gnome holds the novel “Joachim”, which, according to him and his owner Grandma Róża, is fit only to be thrown away.
The gnome’s views fully coincide with the opinion expressed about the book by the head of the Via Sudetica Centre for Local Initiatives and are consistent with a review of the book published by one of that organisation’s members. Bernard Łętowski took a photograph in which he placed the book in a toilet where toilet paper normally goes. The gnome and Grandma Róża support Via Sudetica’s initiative to cleanse the land of “Joachim”. It is possible that soon the gnome will promote this wonderful, in his opinion, Centre for Local Initiatives.
Competition for readers
At the Agora bookshop exhibition, the gnome stands among greenery and rubbish. Whoever correctly guesses which plant accompanies the gnome will win the novel “Joachim”. The consolation prizes are two tourist guides.
All you need to do is visit the exhibition and discover the name of the mysterious perennial. It is all the more intriguing because it comes from regions where Islam is practised.
Answers should be sent using the contact form.
Grażyna Hanaf’s website contains all information and reviews of the book “Joachim”