For literary hedonists, it was an amazing banquet - an evening with the Mostar-originated, Sarajevo-born, Belgrade-educated and USA-settled writer Vladimir Pistalo. It wasn’t just an excellent opportunity for Sarajevans to meet Vladimir and get acquainted with his work, it was much more. An opportunity for each one of us in the audience to discuss the relationship between ‘the outer world’ and ourselves. My personal revelation curve went sky-high, deeply affected by both - extracts from Pistalo’s books but also his unique life story.

And what a story the two make! When he spoke, I could feel the scent of a leopard as if I were dog Mimi from one of his stories. I could feel Tesla’s rage over the power cut in the midst of his thunderstorm experiment. His words and their cadence made me both feel and understand. Understand the silence, beauty and timelessness of Venice which prevailed in the jam-packed room of ears and minds eager for more. The smell of the Mediterranean which levitated 300 meters above our heads. We saw the beauty because Vladimir pointed out to it.

Before last night, I had not read anything that Vladimir Pistalo wrote. This morning I opened his book. Why? But because he managed to describe exactly how I felt about so many things…being born in this region, being able to see its beauties even when they are hidden, being able to feel the unknown. All these notions got their legitimacy in the words as shuffled and dealt by Pistalo.

There were thoughts that touched and broke hearts, without which, Pistalo said, it would be pointless to write. He also said that once you write about something, you inhale a part of it into your soul… and this is what I’m hoping for.

And yes, good things come in simple packages….nothing fancy, and yet precious. Thank you Vladimir Pistalo for exploring the world for us and reminding us of the power of words.