LIVING IN 3(somes): The “Esoteric” Enquiries of an Eternal Enthusiast. The author and the book
In the year in which the debut novel LIVING IN 3(somes): The “Esoteric” Enquiries of an Eternal Enthusiast was born, Stanimir Kiskinov won Bulgarian National Culture funding for translation of Bulgarian fiction into foreign languages. The author holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and a B.A. in Astrology. He holds dual US-Bulgarian citizenship. He teaches in the sociology department at Sofia University and through the foundation Europartners 2007. The entirety of his entire professional and emotional experience is in evidence in his literary project–including short theatrical and journalistic careers, 15 years in the Cultural Office of the US Embassy in Bulgaria, and extensive dealings in both the East-West cultural axis and the debris of love. Pax Publishing is proud to present this English version of the novel.
This book can make you dream and laugh out loud. It could also get you fined on the trolley, as you forget to punch your ticket while absorbed in its pages. It may not be to your taste, or it may leave you conflicted. But you might like it so much that you are inspired to write your own, or lend it to all your friends. It could cost you a day’s work, get you fired, or even land you a new job. It could come between you and your spouse, or it could get you married. This book has brought about all of these things–because it is a “true novel!”
“A modern-day Odysseus wanders the uncharted seas of dangerous relationships… In order not to be lured away and shipwrecked, he binds himself to the sturdy ’masts’ of his ship–philosophy, political science, astrology and esoteric practices… But in his book he is eloquent and engaging. Because he is sincere–such a rare quality in today’s literature.” (Tzvetan Todorov, journalist and author)
“This book is an intriguing effort to unite what seem at first glance to be the incompatible personality traits of its author. This has helped him a great deal in blending the spiritual, emotional, and day-to-day aspects of life in a colorful composite. Thus we have an integral achievement, a revelation that bears the soul – and with an alluring and highly sensitive search for limits and balance, moving along the edge of things. This book contains so much subtext that it can be read in any number of ways – but not with indifference.” (Dimiter Sotirov, Journalist)
“It would be easy to present Living in Threes as a novel of love. But that is only on the surface. … Kiskinov writes about the depth of human relationships and the gradual maturation of love, about coming to know true feelings and patience for others … And because it is a true story, it is difficult to distinguish fiction and reality.” (Olya Stoyanova, Literary Critic)
“In the course of these 226 pages, I had the pleasant opportunity to become familiar with the interesting, ambiguous life and the complex, but very colorful personality of the author […] who has discovered the ability to explore the problems of others, or even to live with them, to turn his back on his own ego without destroying it, to make sense of freedom – both his and the other person’s, and not only to make sense of it, but to try to open the eyes of anybody who underestimates this precious gift, this supreme human virtue.” (Assen Sirakov, Writer, Translator, Publicist, Linguist)
“This is a delicate exposé on polyphonic relations and the cultural polygamy of contemporary man. It is about duality and rifts, being faithful and having faith; it is about the physiology of compromise inherent in vows of love, viewed from the front, the back, from inside, out, and above. The book casts light on the right to have a free and open choice, on the merits of such a choice in comparable situations, on its non-prescriptive application, and on emotional need and its uses. In the scope of about hundred pages within the book, the author provides insight into whether such a triangle can be equilateral, what its finite capacity is, and why nature tends toward inequality. It investigates who is who in the uncertain geometry of male/female relations and whether the deficit in reciprocal love lies in the gap between two people or within each of them. Living in 3(somes) is a daringly authentic story about contemporary humans’ persistent attempts to civilize their own instincts by dressing them in ideological and spiritual quests.” (Ira Kolovska, Editor of the book’s first edition in Bulgarian)
THE BOOK CAN BE ORDERED THROUGH THE PUBLISHER’S WEBSITE www.paxpublishing.net, e-mail: paxpublishingnet@yahoo.com, and tel./fax +359-2 868-6668. FREE DELIVERY IN SOFIA!
Following is the book’s intro and epilogue:
INTRODUCTION
“Truth sets man free; Love teaches him how to live well!”
Peter Danov
Dear friends, It is an Aquarian who is writing you. We Aquarians’ are not especially strong at Love, but we believe we are great at interpreting Truth and Freedom. It turns out, however, that these three virtues are closely connected, just as I am bound to the two remarkable women I would like to tell you about.But it’s only fair to begin with myself. I have two degrees in higher education, in political science and astrology. I also have dual citizenship: born a Bulgarian and naturalized as an American. I have an affinity for the Hindu theoretical model of chakras, but have a preference for the practices of the White Brotherhood in Bulgaria (even though I’m only an initiate of their outer circles). Generally, the things in my life quite often come in twos.Duality calls for stabilization, whereas the triangle is a naturally hardy and stable structure. This is a story about a triangle, not so much a “love triangle” as a Triptych of Love. It is also a story about the inner drive towards integrity and the search for balance via a third point of support (whether internal or external). It is about the struggles of personal growth and the challenge of choosing between two alternatives. About the ups and downs of living together, but also about building new models of the family and “social architecture.”This type of book can often be annoying with its overly obvious autobiographical element. Regretfully, this can’t be avoided. No one can write about what s/he hasn’t experienced. It would come across as false. That’s why I’ve left the text in first person, singular. I’ve only allowed myself to alter the names of the main characters, without changing their roles. I’ve attempted to be completely honest, omitting nothing of what I’d like to share with you, and yet keeping it an entertaining read. I recently attended a play which tormented the spectators with the overbearing views of the author, for a whole hour and a half. May I have done nothing of the sort! My credo is: Life is wonderful (though it might not seem so at first glance) simply because there’s no other life that could be better. Even if there is, our present life can be approached positively, and can be improved. Such is the message I hope to get across. This book takes even more than an hour and a half to read, but I hope that getting acquainted with an optimistic “true romance” of this sort is a worthwhile investment of your time. Finally, may our “quality time” spent together be pleasant!
Again, it seems I have “put the cart before the horse,” and my thesis about the “triad of love” was only a hypothesis. Perhaps it is so when one’s life experience is insufficient. Theoretically, everything looked just fine. For three well-developed persons, harmonious co-habitation should not be a problem. In practice, however, it appears that I don’t need a trio to feel content. We were just fine as a couple. On the other hand, I can imagine variations in which my personal trio of love would be fulfilling. Not to mention that the imagination of faith is typically far more exuberant. After all that I’ve lived through, however, I could hardly force myself to prove that I am right at any cost. A trio is not motivated psychologically and reflects inauspiciously upon a couple. Let me, however, not be overly bold . . .
I am still puzzled whether such a relationship is possible in real life. This is why, at the end of the book, I turn again to you, my patient and tolerant readers. You have read the story; let’s finish writing it together! In the Age of Aquarius, it is nice to keep in touch with people. You may share your valuable personal experiences by sending me an e-mail at stankisk@ yahoo.com. I’ll be glad to read your stories, and particularly those that support the hypothesis. To emphasize, once again, that neither you, nor I are interested in love triangles, but rather in triads of Love. Actually, why set a limit: why not write about quadrangles, pentagons, or polygons of love as a whole?!!!