A Constellation of Vital Phenomena: A Novel

Registered by BookBirds of Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on 7/19/2014
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by BookBirds from Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on Saturday, July 19, 2014
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Journal Entry 2 by BookBirds at Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on Sunday, October 16, 2022
What a marvel, this book, but how could it not be.  It tries, it really does.  After finishing this book, I was puzzled as to why I wasn't more of a fan of Marra's other book when I read it years ago, 'The Tsar of Love & Techno'. (Reading my note for 'Tsar' now:  I read it during the worst episode of The Walking Dead and couldn't handle much more misery at that point - so yes, it was the wrong time to read poor 'Tsar'.)  This one probably would have fared the same at the time.)  But anyway, this book!  Maybe I'm just a fan of books including strugglers finding humanity in places that aren't usually featured in books - here, Chechnya.  Marra has the genius of that perfect, special sauce mixture of a book. Between a setting and time that might be overlooked by most, between such empathy for his characters while all of the characters are equally balanced and equally heartbreaking. The narrative's chaotic juggling of time as the characters are jumbled by war.   Also Marra's way with crafting sentences and the balance between sadness and humor. The sentences, so thoughtful and full of grace in a place of such ugliness, so full of heart in such darkness.   Marra might have the skill to write a perfect book.  Then as a bonus:  So many images in this book will stay with me -- I know this will happen because so many images from 'The Tsar of Love & Techno' still stay with me.  So Marra also loves to leave those nuggets in your memory when so many other books tend to fade away.  Wow, I'm glad I read this. The book reminded me of an old foreign film somehow -- which is funny because a lightbulb lit when I realized Marra's new book 'Mercury Pictures Presents' is about older films.  I do appreciate that Adam Johnson is listed in the acknowledgements, as this book could sit alongside 'The Orphan Master's Son'.   Also, 'The Tiger's Wife' by Téa Obreht.

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