Jim Ashilevi publishes new work in Loomingu Raamatukogu

ERR reports that Loomingu Raamatukogu has published Estonian writer Jim Ashilevi’s new work, “Inimese kostüüm” (“The Human Costume”). The book was inspired by Ashilevi’s close friend Margus Karu succumbing to long-term depression.

Ashilevi describes the work as being about beginnings, friendship, a shared sense of absence and the path towards accepting loss. It also explores restorative everyday life, family moments, caring for one another, low points and the forces that provide help, as well as the effort to find something warm, genuine and real.

“A good literary work is like a physical piece of the author themselves,” Ashilevi said. “When an author feels they are giving the reader a piece of their flesh and blood, then it is right. Then it is personal, and it carries weight. At the same time, it does not affect either the author or the reader traumatically. When the contact is right, it affects both soothingly, perhaps even healingly.”

The publication includes an excerpt titled “Bloodstain”, which begins with a quotation from Jet Johnson’s “Death Song”.