There’s a passage in one of the stories in this powerful and thought-provoking collection from one of Russia’s most acclaimed writers that describes a rubbish heap at a colony of dachas being excavated by the residents, gradually uncovering a whole lot of buried objects. This one episode acts as a metaphor for the whole collection, which is very much about the secrets of the past being uncovered and coming to the surface. The overarching theme is how the past invades the present and that nothing stays hidden for ever. The emphasis throughout is on things, on objects, that take us back to a particular time and place and how nothing can be permanently erased. A desire to cover up, to forget – such as with the Katyn massacre – only leads to the return of the repressed, even of the dead, as they gradually resurface. The Soviet and post-Soviet world is held up to scrutiny to great effect in these 11 stories, which are often harrowing and disturbing, and although some worked for me more than others, overall I found this a satisfying and insightful collection, which shed light on the injustices and crimes of the past.

This is an important topical collection of short stories by a Russian author currently living outside that country. My experience of collections and anthologies is that I always prefer some stories or essays to others in a book, and this collection was no exception. However, I’m very pleased I didn’t give up on it after the first story, which is the only one that did not appeal much to me, because there are some real gems here that will surely stand the test of time.

For this reader, the overarching theme of the collection is how the past hovers around like a ghost haunting the present. For example, some stories’ narrators ponder over events from their childhood, and communities discover that they have repressed their collective memory. Thus, this collection suggests that Russian’s repressive and cruel Soviet history is mirrored by today’s Russia, as though the ghost of that past is haunting us today.

The author trained as a geologist, and, unsurprisingly, I especially liked his accurate and affectionate portraits of Russian landscapes. The translator has managed to convey the typically Russian lyricism of these descriptions, although the occasional use of “American English” might well grate on those of us who are “British English” readers.

This is a collection of short stories. Usually collections are tricky, because the stories aren´t always on the same level, they´re often uneven. Here we have a good selection of good stories.
It´s not easy to describe them, they touch different subjects, problems and aspects of life. These stories seem to focus on a human being living, yet struggling in a modern Russia. I feel like some of the stories aren´t easy to understand, as if I have missed something important, but I am unable to tell what. Overall it´s an enjoyable read.