Fiction
Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry
by Tamta Melashvili
Life story of a middle-aged woman, Etero, who lives a quiet single life in rural Georgia. Having had an abusive childhood, she cherishes independence and freedom in her 40s. She likes to enjoy little quirks, nature, and life. Etero’s peace of mind is disturbed with a near-death experience as she almost falls into a raging river while picking blackberries. This becomes a pivotal moment in the novel. From this moment on, Ethero is more daring and outspoken; stands up to intrusive and judgmental people in her community and begins defying conventional social norms. She starts a romantic and passionate love affair. The reader gets an insider view into her past and self through the stream-of-consciousness narrative, which is also very observant of the present. An open ending leaves the finale up to interpretation, and even questions the reliability of the narrator. SABA literary award for the best novel of 2020.
