The novel takes place in post-war Chechnya and brings together an assortment of characters that might not otherwise cross paths. Sonja the only doctor in the local hospital, Akhmed who barely passed medical school, and Haava the child Akhmed brought to Sonja to stay with her. They are all finding different ways to survive and not dwell on the reality that is theirs at the time. What do you do when you are afraid to hear a knock on the door? When your family, friends, and neighbors disappear after midnight visits from the Feds? It is dangerous to walk the streets? While reading this, I found some disturbing similarities to the recent crisis in the Ukraine. This first book from Anthony Marra was long-listed for the 2013 National Book Award and won the National Book Critics Circle Award last year, and was just recently shortlisted for the PEN Literary Award and Robert W. Bingham Prize. Come join us for Coffee Talk Book Discussion on Tuesday, August 12th at 1:30 p.m at the Cumming Library. Haven’t read the book yet? There’s still time, or simply join us and gain insight into the story and history behind it.
Joan Dudzinski
Collection Support Supervisor
Cumming Library
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