Contents
A Traditional Pick of Psychologies in Early Spring: A 1958 Novel Can Conflict Between Feminists and Traditionalists. A tale of loss, creativity, and love shows what finding oneself can lead to. The story of a psychotherapist and his client in an unexpected way helps to restore the taste for life. And the historical story switches from today’s problems and immerses the reader into the distant past.
Life for another
“Darling Maggie” Betty Smith
The novel was written long ago – in 1958. And at first glance, its release in Russian raises questions: what can the story of a young Irish woman who grew up in Brooklyn in the family of a coachman give to a reader of the era of flourishing feminism? What do we have in common with the meek Margaret Rose Moore, who all her life was torn between “I want” and “should”, between her own needs and the desires of men, and they disposed of her forces and time at their own discretion? The contrast is in everything – in perception, lifestyle and thoughts.
Life forced Maggie to become a mistress of the house, a nanny, a cook and a laundress, already in childhood, but it never occurred to her to complain. She took care of her grumpy father and younger brother, gradually grew up and learned to understand people, remaining honest, whole and generous of heart. Maggie could have married a good, reliable guy, but she was fascinated by a visiting salesman who – to his credit – knew how to make her happy, but every spring, as soon as the winds of change blew, he disappeared without explanation in search of answers to his own questions. Maggie didn’t grumble, ignored the judgmental looks, and braved the cycles of separation and hope with dignity.
Do you need the sacrifice and fortitude of Dear Maggie, her humility and quiet but stubborn following of her heart today? Maybe not. Ambitious business women do not grow up from people like Maggie. But she was an understanding daughter and a faithful wife, ready to accept the chosen one as he is. Against the backdrop of today’s egocentrism, fiercely defending their own boundaries and interests, Darling Maggie seems completely different. But it is interesting that her empathy, mercy and gentle humility in the name of another person do not deprive her of freedom, dignity, or the ability to be happy.
“Darling Maggie” Betty Smith. Translation from English by Marina Nuyanzina. Eksmo, 480 p., 521 rubles.
Test
“Writers and Lovers” by Lily King
31-year-old Casey is trying to get over the sudden death of her mother, finish the novel she has been working on for six years, and deal with love relationships. It would seem that there are only three points, but, as you understand, the first one is more than enough.
Lily King wrote a timely—alas—novel about coping with loss. Casey has a lot to check in herself: is she able to write a real book, will she be able to find her man and be, without hiding, herself – in creativity, in love and in relations with the world? Some calmness and understanding comes after the search: mother’s love is always inside her, and this gives strength to live on.
Translation from English by Shasha Martynova. Phantom Press, 368 p., 375 rubles.
Taste of life
“Agatha” by Anne Katrina Boman
We are all living people: doctors get sick, and psychotherapists do not always manage to avoid burnout. The hero of Anna Katrina Boman has lost interest in patients and their problems – no joke, 50 years of practice – and draws birds at the sessions, his refrigerator is empty, and his soul is about the same. And suddenly a young German woman Agatha booked an appointment, demanding that she be given regular therapy.
The binoculars on the cover are an image from Agatha’s dreams: a psychologist advises her to look at herself differently. But in fact, observing the patient changes his own habitual train of thought. He learns more about his secretary, bakes a pie, meets a neighbor… Agatha is a novel of small steps that are not too late to take at any age. The taste for life returns to the place of hopelessness and fatigue.
Translated from Danish by Alexandra Livanova. Corpus, 320 p., 375 rubles.
Three reasons to read
“Shadows of the Teutons” by Alexei Ivanov
Feel the pulse of history. Alexey Ivanov turned to the European past for the first time and wrote an exciting novel about how the events of ancient times bizarrely echo, and the unlearned lessons of history have to be repeated by new generations. In the scenery of the majestic castle of the Teutonic Order of the 1945th century and in the gloomy catacombs of the Pillau besieged by the Nazis in 500, a mirror performance unfolds: the Polish warrior Kajetan Lichowski, and XNUMX years later and his distant descendant, get involved in the battle for the biblical sword Liguet. Everyone has to make their choice.
Hear a different culture. The verb “hear” should be taken literally. Shadows of the Teutons was originally created as an audio series for Storytel. The text is well perceived by ear. Playing with old, foreign words, German names and Teutonic realities create an atmosphere of an era unknown to us. Even while reading the text, we hear the clash of swords, the prayers of the monks and the sea wind of the Baltic, the shelling of Pillau and explosions in the dungeon.
Plan your trip. The historical background is reliable, key events like the siege of the knight’s castle, the explosion in Fort Calm are genuine. So, we can rush to the Baltic and see the scene with our own eyes. In the former Pillau – the current Baltiysk – you can explore the Swedish Citadel, Fort Shtile and German batteries. And acquaintance with the knight’s castle Marienburg will have to be postponed until the borders are closed.
Ripol Classic, 448 p., 550 rubles.