Presentation of Jānis Joņevs' Novel

The Armenian presentation took place at Kond House, echoing the spirit of the Latvian launch, which was held in one of Joņevs' favorite clubs in Latvia. Real-life figures who inspired the book's characters were present at the Latvian event. Joņevs shared that many people approached him, saying they too were part of those experiences.

"Often, people come to me and ask, 'Why didn’t you include us in the book?' They sometimes edit the events in their memories because they recall things a bit differently."

The novel's events unfold in the city of Jelgava, a place largely unchanged since the 1990s.

"For example, the school where my story takes place now includes the book in its alternative reading list. When I was young, Jelgava seemed dull and unattractive to me, but I grew to love it. Back then, the city had a few notable institutions: a psychiatric hospital on Philosophers Street and two prisons."

Another key location was the stock exchange, featured in the novel, where teenagers sought out cassette tapes of rock artists. Joņevs remarked that many people in Jelgava today, including those who didn’t grow up on rock music, discover new aspects of their city through the novel.

Joņevs noted that "Jelgava 94" resonates with today’s teenagers and young adults, who know the 90s only through history.

"It’s surprising how much young readers reach out to me. They love this story, even though they’re not from the 1990s generation, and they’re curious about how their peers lived back then."

Newmag Publishing House first recommended "Jelgava 94" to Narek Bakhtamyan, himself part of the 90s generation. Bakhtamyan believes the book will inspire today’s teens to live with more excitement and joy.

"Though Armenia was facing severe challenges in the 90s, young people were equally invested in music and self-expression. I had long hair like the main character, and I’d often hear comments from people. We also used to gather at a rock club located in Raykom, where entry was four thousand AMD."

Naira Khachatryan, who translated the book into Armenian, noted that while Armenian and Latvian realities differ, there are also many parallels. Having lived through the "dark and cold" 90s in Armenia and later in Latvia, she found it fascinating to experience that era through the lens of Joņevs' novel.