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Baga Jaga je snijela jaje
First published 2008 · 456 pages
A fresh, extraordinary meditation on femininity and identity woven from the terrifying threads of Eastern European folklore.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a house on chicken feet, only to find a profound space for reflection inside. It takes the terrifying, mortar-flying figure of Eastern European myth and transforms her into a lens for exploring the complexities of womanhood. The narrative unfolds at a steady, contemplative pace, weaving together themes of aging, LGBTQ gender identity, and the power of storytelling. The prose feels extraordinary and fresh, balancing the uncanny dread of ancient folklore with a deeply human meditation on love and secrets. It is a subversive, mythic experience that will delight readers who crave literary fiction that reclaims traditional legends to examine the raw, hidden facets of femininity and identity.
- Mood
- folklore-infused
- contemplative
- uncanny
- Tone
- meditative
- subversive
- mythic
- reflective
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- femininity and aging · myth and storytelling · gender identity · secrets and love
- The writing
- Extraordinary and fresh, weaving traditional mythic elements into a thoughtful literary tapestry.
- The arc
- Moves from the terrifying roots of ancient folklore into a profound, fresh meditation on identity and the aging female experience.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love feminist retellings of folklore and deep literary meditations on gender, aging, and storytelling.
Content notes
- folklore violence
- child endangerment (mythic context)
- aging
About the book
Baba Yaga is a witch-like character who flies around on a giant mortar, kidnapping (and presumably eating) small children. She lives in a house on chicken feet. She is generally a terrifying figure, portrayed not only in literature but also film, animation and music throughout Russian culture. Dubravka Ugresic takes the story of Baba Yaga and weaves it into something completely fresh. The result is an extraordinary meditation on femininity, ageing, identity, secrets, storytelling and love.
Description from Open Library.
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