Nominated for the 2016 Annual Latvian Literature Award, this novel offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Latvians thirty years ago, when Soviet power was in the process of abetting the country’s rapid economic collapse. However, the political climate suddenly shifted in favor of the basic human desire to live in prosperity, and the Soviets declared Perestroika. The novel revolves around
a communal apartment in Riga. Once the large, upmarket homes of the wealthy, during the Soviet years, these apartments were converted and shared by several families, who were forced to use the same kitchen and bathroom and often had
to keep their cooking utensils and food in their own rooms to prevent them from being stolen. The protagonists are products of the everyday reality existing at the time. They are of different nationalities, work in different fields, and have a totally different perception of life and yet, they share the same roof.

Contact: Dace Sparāne-Freimane, dace.sparane-freimane@dgrama.lv

The Mushroom Covenant tells the story of a young woman named Īva Baranovska, who goes to Ireland to earn money to pay off her debts and buy a flat back home in Latvia. Already interested in Celtic culture prior to her arrival in Ireland, Īva spends many hours listening to her colleague tell her local legends and myths, in which she begins to see connections with Latvian folk tales. Gradually, Īva grows tired of spending long days on the fields picking mushrooms and decides to become a prostitute. She slowly sheds her former self and matures, both sexually and spiritually, yet finds it difficult to remain connected to her own culture, which eventually gets reduced to Latvian food and cooking (the novel itself features several mushroom recipes serving as capstones to chapters). The playful, ironic prose of The Mushroom Covenant keeps the reader’s interest in the daily struggles of Īva, as she battles her way through the many difficulties facing her in Ireland before she decides to return to Latvia. The author’s and protagonist’s interest in the otherworldly is reflected in the parallels raised between Īva’s trials in Ireland and Latvian myths, as well as Celtic and Biblical legends.

Contact: Laima Kota, laima.kota@inbox.lv