A queue of readers stretched from the start of the event and many books marked with a golden seal – the eighth book by actor, writer, and pilgrim J. Gaižauskas, “Cobra’s Lullaby,” was presented in the packed main hall of Vilnius Town Hall. The book launch, as usual for the actor, turned into a theatrical concert featuring music, amusing travel stories, readings from the book, a singing duo of critics, and even an author interview.
On stage with J. Gaižauskas appeared his friends, actors Lina Rastokaitė, Eimutis Kvoščiauskas, Dalius Skamarakas, Vaidotas Martinaitis, Emilija Latėnaitė, Giedrius Arbačiauskas, Algirdas Latėnas, performers Gabrielė Malinauskaitė, Živilė Mackevičiūtė, and cellist Kamilė Milieškaitė.
A special guest of the evening was Darius Mileris-Nojus, leader and singer of the group “Airija,” who flew in from Ireland to Lithuania. “Every book is like a meeting to me, and meetings help us grow,” Nojus greeted J. Gaižauskas with the new book.
At the presentation of “Cobra’s Lullaby,” the author did not reveal the plot of the book. Speaking about his works, he says he always seeks balance – the reader should be curious but must not be deprived of the joy of discovery.
“The book is about choices. We have to choose every day. One person’s choice – good or bad – usually changes nothing. But a chain of choices leads us to a certain place,” said the writer, adding that we are living in a time when the world seems to have formed an excessively long chain of wrong decisions.
“People ask me – what to do? Sometimes it seems that nothing can be done – whatever decision you make, it seems bad, it does not create results. I always advise the same – do not limit yourself to one choice. Let’s create a big, beautiful chain of good choices that, over time, would lead the world to a place full of hope,” invited J. Gaižauskas.
One snap and the pilgrim gets stuck in the mountains. Not a soul around, the nearest village is several kilometers away, everyone who could help is far ahead… The pilgrim pushes through the mountains without thinking of stopping, although every step is a knife, and every meter is an hour…
Where does the unbreakable determination come from? What do persistence and resolve hide? Could such a crazy journey with almost uncontrollable legs have meaning?
Soon it becomes clear that in a strange pilgrim house, where the weary travelers find shelter, begins an impossible but the greatest journey of life to the bloodsucker-infested jungles in another part of the world, where death is just a detail.
According to the author, “Cobra’s Lullaby” intertwines drama, thriller, adventure novel, comedy, and philosophy.
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“I don’t want to draw a line, we don’t live in genres,” he said. “We don’t live only in comedy or only in tragedy. Both happen in our lives at the same time. That’s what I write about,” he explained.
The geography of “Cobra’s Lullaby” stretches from the pilgrim route of Santiago de Compostela, the albergue located in the mountains of Spain, to the border of Thailand and Myanmar. In one part of the world – pilgrims entrusting their secrets, pain, and losses to the path, in another – people fleeing violence and slavery across the river.
J. Gaižauskas said that the idea for the book began to emerge when he met young people from Myanmar during a family vacation. They worked at the hotel where Juozas was vacationing – carrying drinks and taking care of guests.
“We became friends, and when I returned, I started to learn about their country. The more I read, the scarier it became, and I realized I wanted to write about it,” says the author of “Cobra’s Lullaby.”
Readers will find stories in the book about people trying to escape the regime in Myanmar, the dangers they face, and their daily struggle for life. However, it is not a dark story; on the contrary, it is dedicated to those who endure their pains and those who have reasons not to sleep at night.
The cover of the new book also breaks the usual rules – it has neither the author’s name nor the title. Juozas calls “Cobra’s Lullaby” a deadly cobra’s strike and kiss at the same time – a painful but hopeful story about ordinary people whose strength reveals itself in the hardest moments of life.
Having walked eight pilgrimage routes, J. Gaižauskas usually sets out on the Path after writing a new book. This happened after “Cobra’s Lullaby” as well – this spring, the writer traveled 1000 kilometers in Spain.
This weekend, the author of “Cobra’s Lullaby” is holding a similarly cozy, fun, theatrical book presentation at the Kaunas Book Fair. J. Gaižauskas will be waiting for readers at the “Žalgiris” arena on Saturday at 5 p.m.
