A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

A Constellation of Vital PhenomenaNew York Times Notable Book of the Year In a small rural village in Chechnya, eight year old Havaa watches from the woods as Russian soldiers abduct her father in the middle of the night and then set fire to her home. When their lifelong neighbor Akhmed finds Havaa hiding in the forest with a strange blue suitcase, he makes a decision that will forever change their lives. He will seek refuge at the abandoned hospital where the sole remaining doctor,

New York Times Notable Book of the Year

In a small rural village in Chechnya, eight-year-old Havaa watches from the woods as Russian soldiers abduct her father in the middle of the night and then set fire to her home. When their lifelong neighbor Akhmed finds Havaa hiding in the forest with a strange blue suitcase, he makes a decision that will forever change their lives. He will seek refuge at the abandoned hospital where the sole remaining doctor, Sonja Rabina, treats the wounded.

For Sonja, the arrival of Akhmed and Havaa is an unwelcome surprise. Weary and overburdened, she has no desire to take on additional risk and responsibility. But over the course of five extraordinary days, Sonja's world will shift on its axis and reveal the intricate pattern of connections that weaves together the pasts of these three unlikely companions and unexpectedly decides their fate. A story of the transcendent power of love in wartime, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena is a work of sweeping breadth, profound compassion, and lasting significance.

Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader's guide and bonus content from the author.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Hogarth Press
Published: 02/04/2014
ISBN: 9780770436421
Pages: 396
Weight: 0.84lbs
Size: 8.08h x 5.37w x 1.15d
Award: Dayton Literary Peace Prize - Finalist

Review Citations: People Weekly 03/10/2014 pg. 57
New York Times Book Review 03/16/2014 pg. 28