Violeta by Isabel Allende (ABC-Atticus)

In the new novel, Isabel Allende reveals to readers the story of a strong and passionate woman who lived long and happy 100 years. The author was inspired to write the book by her mother.

Violeta is the only daughter in the del Valle family. Before her, her mother gave birth five times, and boys were constantly born. The birth of the long-awaited girl was a real holiday. From infancy, Violeta was given a lot of attention: she was always pampered, helped to dress, fed with a spoon and put up with all her demands. Over time, the child's pampering bored the father of the family, and he hired a governess from England for his daughter, who changed the life of not only the girl, but also other family members. For 100 years, Violeta has experienced various family difficulties, buried relatives and people dear to her heart, knew love and passion, got married, gave birth to children. She found such significant periods of the XX century as the Spanish flu pandemic, the Great Depression, the war, the struggle for women's rights, witnessed the flowering of hippie culture ... The heroine coped with all the problems and crises thanks to her determination, sense of humor and desire to live.

Isabel Allende is considered one of the most successful writers in Latin America. Her books have been sold around the world with a total circulation of more than 74 million copies. In Russia, such novels of Allende as "The House of spirits", "At the edge of the sea is a narrow petal", "Beyond winter", "Japanese lover" were released. Her new work is filled with sensuality, hope and love.

"I don't remember what happened next, most likely, I lost consciousness or psychological trauma forever erased the memory of this ugly incident. Perhaps Torito, noticing that I had not yet returned, came out to meet me and heard something – one way or another, he hurried to the Birdhouse and managed to grab the bastard with his streams and throw him aside before he raped me. My aunts later told me about this, adding that Torito dragged him to the exit from Santa Clara and threw him in the middle of the road like a bag of potatoes, kicking him goodbye.

Two days later, police arrived to question local residents. In the reed beds on the banks of the river, two kilometers from us, fishermen found the corpse of a man named Pascual Freire, who manages a nearby estate owned by the Moreau family. He was easy to identify, he was known here; he had a notorious reputation as a drunkard and a brawler, and he already had trouble with the law. At first, everyone thought that Freire had gotten drunk and drowned, but lacerations were found on his neck. The police never found out; they engaged in the inquiry without any enthusiasm and soon left. Who blamed Torito? I will never know, nor will I know whether he was responsible for the man's death."

  • Violeta by Isabel Allende
  • © Alphabet

The Lone Wolf by Jody Picolt (ABC-Atticus)

In the new novel, Jodie Picolt again touched on the topic of family values, diluting the dramatic story with an abundance of scenes related to law, medicine and zoology.

The main character Luke Warren since childhood was fascinated by the animal world, ever since he saw a tiger in the circus and wanted to save it. Over time, Luke found his purpose - he devoted his life to the study of wolves. The hero was able to ensure that the animals accepted him into the pack: together with them he ate, slept in an aviary, followed their laws. Wolves were his family until his daughter Kara chose to live with her father instead of sharing a house with her mother, her new husband, and two babies.

Luke used to live with his wife Georgie, son Edward and daughter. The happy family broke up when Edward, not finding a common language with his father, decided to leave his parents' house forever. Soon the couple divorced. The Warrens thought they were unlikely to get together again, but fate decreed otherwise.

When Luke and Kara are involved in a car accident, Georgie and Edward arrive at the hospital. Luke's life hangs in the balance, and the children have to decide the fate of their father together and reveal old secrets.

In the novel, Jody Picolt paid a lot of attention to the description of a wolf pack, a demonstration of its life and a comparison of the relationship between animals and people. The reader will be able to look at the story from different points of view, since the narrative in the book comes from the point of view of each family member.

"I was wondering what was going on in this guy's head. Four months to sleep with wild animals... To do this, you must either suffer from a mental disorder, or really want to attract attention to yourself. The thought flashed by that he was targeting his own talk show on television. A lot of people did that in those days.

Aren't you afraid that wolves will attack you in your sleep?

Luke smiled:

- I won't lie, on the first night in the enclosure I was not at all up to sleep. But in general, wolves are much more afraid of people than is commonly thought. I let them teach me instead of commanding me, so for now the pack has accepted me as a junior member.

"Definitely a mental illness," a thought flashed through my mind.

- Then I'll ask the begging question: why?

Luke shrugged:

- I believe that observation from the outside is not enough to understand the essence of the wolf. Most biologists will disagree with me and say that it is possible to observe the interaction inside the wolf pack through the lens of the camera and draw conclusions based on what we know about human behavior. But isn't that flawed logic? If you want to understand the wolf world, you have to live in it. You have to speak their language."

  • The Lone Wolf by Jody Picoult
  • © Alphabet

"Songs of Joy, Songs of Sorrow", Vasily Raksha (MYTH)

The book by Vasily Raksha will primarily be of interest to fans of the Slavic epic. This is a rather original and unusual interpretation of the "Tale of Tsar Saltan" by A.S. Pushkin, seasoned with elements of various mythologies, including Greek and Scandinavian, as well as the atmosphere of "dark fantasy". Familiar to many heroes - King Saltan himself, his son Guidon, Tsarevich Elisha, Finist - the Clear Falcon, alkonost, sirin and gamayun, as well as many fairy-tale characters, gods and demigods - appear here in a completely unexpected form and quality. Intrigues are woven on all levels by mortal and supernatural entities, and love and death go hand in hand.

Raksha describes not the typical "Dark Ages", but a kind of symbiosis of different civilizations and their achievements. All this is intertwined in an incredibly colorful, but fascinating plot, from which it is difficult to tear yourself away.

Raksha himself notes that his work reflected the influence of the Byzantines, Persians, Scandinavians and other neighbors on the Slavic epic. At the same time, the Five Worlds are the universe of "Songs of Joy, Songs of Sorrow" - a world in which geography, technology and even the passage of time are not the same as on Earth.

"Sleep didn't go. Guidon loomed, rolling over from side to side. And how to fall asleep when tomorrow the fate is decided - not only his one, but also the whole Buyana kingdom?! Ah, if only it were up to him!..

Insomnia won: his throat dried up, and Guidon went up to drink. The water in the carafe was completely tasteless, and the prince could not quench his thirst, swallow after sip drying the glass vessel. When he got back to bed, he noticed new letters in a transparent tube above the bed. For him, this notification system was unfamiliar and unusual, and he did not even realize that all the owners of such mail became dependent on it: the first thing in the morning was to check if they had reported anything important, whether they had been called for a conversation. On walks, servants were regularly sent to see if there were any new envelopes. And each such letter caused alarm: you never know if good news will be told to you. Guidon had time to get acquainted with this feeling: it was in the glass tube, before going to bed, that he found a message instructing him to appear tomorrow at noon in the hall for secret meetings. And from that moment on he lost all desire to sleep, even though fatigue sent him to sleep."

  • "Songs of Joy, Songs of Sorrow", Vasily Raksha
  • © «MYTH»

The Story of a Life-Changing Cat: A Declaration of Love by Laura Agusti (ABC-Atticus)

Laura Agusti presents an autobiographical illustrated book about her childhood, love for animals and relatives and her connection with the Siamese cat Oye.

Since childhood, the writer was surrounded by animals, someone always lived in their family: rabbits, turtles, hedgehogs, cats, dogs. Therefore, an adult Laura could not imagine life without a pet. She took a small Siamese kitten with blue eyes and gave it the name Oye, which means "listen" in Spanish. Since then, the girl and the cat have become inseparable. Laura tells how their relationship grew every year, and Oya helped her cope with sadness, illness, gave peace and harmony.

This is a touching story about the importance of love for pets, about responsibility and how a cat can change a person's life and give happiness.

There are many interesting facts about cats in the book. For example, Agusti prepared tips for those who want to have a small kitten, and also told how best to reconcile a dog and a cat who are not ready to share the territory and attention of the owner. In addition, the reader will be able to learn the "language of cats" from the illustrations of the writer, as well as learn the history of the origin of Siamese cats.

Another interesting element of the book is the author's drawings, which decorate each page. Among them there are images of different cats, dogs and other animals, as well as sketches of the house in which Laura Agusti lived, and his and her sister's favorite places to play in childhood.

"The passage of time is very reflected in animals, because, unfortunately, they live little compared to people. In the case of Oye, external changes were noticeable, since the coat of Siamese cats darkens greatly with age.

The changes in his character were gradual, but nevertheless profound: he began to show great affection for the people who visited us, and gradually became very dependent on me. He no longer liked being alone, and he was constantly looking for affection as if it was somehow calming him down, and it was getting harder and harder for me to find someone to take care of him other than Nacho when I was away for a few days.

I rarely get sick, but all these years the best medicine when I was feeling bad was to snuggle up to Oya. They say that animals feel when we feel bad, and instinctively try to help, in cats this is especially acute. Every time I was sick, Oye didn't move a step away from me. When I felt overwhelmed and tears streamed down my cheeks, Oye hurried to lick them because he knew his pink rough tongue would be enough to make me forget about everything for a moment."

  • The Story of a Life-Changing Cat: A Declaration of Love by Laura Agusti
  • © Alphabet

"Random Gods. On People Who Unwittingly Became Deities", Anna Della Subin (AST)

The book "Accidental Gods" includes several stories from different times and corners of the world, united by a common feature - the "transformation" of a person into a deity, as, for example, Columbus appeared to the natives. The text explores the theme of "divinity" and its achievement in various religious and cultural traditions, and also talks about the perception by a person and his environment of the idea of reincarnation into a supernatural being. Historical, chronicle evidence, fragments of the first Gospels, legends and folklore - this is what became the basis of this literary work.

From ancient times to the present, the writer explores the evidence and prophecies of the manifestation of "divinity" and explains them on the pages of her book, putting together the socio-political, cultural and social situation in a particular locality or country. Thus, Anna Della Subin demonstrates how the prerequisites for the creation of cults appeared.

"Random Gods. About People Who Unwittingly Became Deities" was called the book of the year edition of The Telegraph, Esquire and The TLS. Anna Della Subin was included in the list of the 50 best thinkers in the world in 2022 according to Prospect Magazine.

«Покойнику совсем необязательно полагалось быть праведным, добродетельным или высоко ценимым в качестве героя: обоготворение не было результатом моральных оценок. В жизни они нередко были персонажами жестокими, низкими и уж в любом случае далёкими от всякой святости, но при этом сами немало страдали. Для почитателей культа каждого из них обожествление представляло собой не возможность воздать им почести, но средство опосредованно завладеть их силой, дабы оказать влияние на личные и коллективные судьбы. Обратить в Бога смерть означало превратить наше вселенское поражение в победу. К тому же коллективные ритуалы — когда люди собирались вместе, возводили алтарь, исполняли песни и танцы, — позволяли отыскать в зыбком земном существовании красоту, увидеть в жизни смысл, несмотря на её жестокость и бессмысленные разрушения, которые после прихода Ост-Индской компании приобрели ещё более массовый характер. Топча ботинками землю и сотнями тысяч продвигаясь по всему субконтиненту, англичане просто стали последними, кто самым волшебным образом отправлялся на небеса, испустив дух. И в то, чему было суждено случиться потом, они вкладывали свой собственный смысл».

  • «Случайные Боги. О людях, невольно ставших божествами», Анна Делла Субин
  • © АСТ

«О дивный тленный мир», Хейли Кэмпбелл (МИФ)

Чтобы написать эту книгу, журналист и писательница Хейли Кэмпбелл в течение трёх лет путешествовала по миру и общалась с людьми, которые выбрали весьма необычные профессии. 

Кэмпбелл с детства была знакома со смертью. В её доме к этой теме относились спокойно. Отец девочки рисовал страшные комиксы и часто для правдоподобности срисовывал органы с реальных прототипов, купленных на чёрном рынке. 

По мнению Кэмпбелл, люди боятся не самой смерти, а неизвестности. Мало кто знает, как действительно выглядит тело умершего человека и какие этапы подготовки оно проходит, прежде чем оказаться в земле или в печи для кремации. Писательнице тоже было интересно узнать все детали, увидеть своими глазами, что такое смерть.

Автор книги общалась с патологоанатомами, агентами похоронного бюро, гробовщиками, бальзамировщиками, студентами медицинского университета и могильщиками. Но разговорами дело не кончилось, девушка принимала участие в их деятельности: переодевала труп, проводила вскрытие мозга, вычищала крематорий от костей и даже помогала детективу расследовать убийства. Историями о своих приключениях и о жизни людей, чья профессия напрямую связана со смертью, Кэмпбелл поделилась с читателями. 

This book is for those who, like the author, want to find a cure for the fear of death, learn what it looks like, and accept its inevitability.

"Jerry was 24 at the time. If he had been asked such a question at that time, he would have said that he was a supporter of the death penalty: if you took someone's life, you should take away yours. He recalls that at the age of 14 he was at a party and in front of his eyes the criminal came and shot the girl. Jerry was always embarrassed to talk to her. This injustice did not come out of his head, so he agreed. He was promised a cash prize for each execution carried out. When I ask how many dollars an executioner is entitled to for a completed task, he says he doesn't know and has never asked. He did not charge any payment for his actions, as this would change the purpose of his participation.

"My job was to save people," he says. "Do you know how many times I had to risk myself to save a prisoner or an employee?"
"During a fight?"
"Um... hmm... Knife attack and all that. There have been times in the facility."

Jerry doesn't know who else the boss was proposing, but one evening he and eight other people who had given consent met in the basement of the prison and vowed not to tell anyone. No one outside the team knew who was in. Jerry didn't even tell his wife — she didn't know the whole time he held the position."

  • Brave Perishable World by Hayley Campbell
  • © «MYTH»

"Red Sky. Non-fictional stories about earth, fire and a flying man", Vasily Avchenko (AST)

In his new book, Vasily Avchenko writes about the Far East and aviation. "Red Sky" covers many historical themes - from the Civil War of the early XX century and the boom of aviation after it to the space race of the USSR and the United States.

A separate line through the plot is the story of the military pilot Lev Kolesnikov, which is intertwined with all the listed events, pitting him against many other people - famous and not so famous.

Avchenko also talks about those who usually remain "behind the scenes": about the second numbers, wingmen, doubles and other aviators, whose names do not stand on a par with Maresyev or Chkalov, but deserve a mention.

"When Evgeny Pepeliaev was invited to the United States by veteran aviators in 1995, he was asked about the losses. " Asked... with a twist, since most of those sitting in the hall believed that their aviation was invincible and in the Korean War had complete dominance in the air, that the ratio of victories of American aviation over the enemy was 13: 1. They could not imagine, it did not fit in their heads, that the 196th Aviation Regiment of the Russians in air battles with their compatriots ... had a winning ratio of 10:1. In their favor. More than a hundred aircraft were shot down, ten MiN-15bis aircraft were lost." It is not surprising that "did not fit" - too much was said and written in the United States by that time about the fantastic "shooting" of American aerial snipers in the Korean sky. So Tom Wolfe in his journalistic book about the conquest of space by the States "The Right Thing" (1979) wrote: "Among the pilots who flew mainly on the F-86, there were aces who managed to shoot down five or more aircraft during the time it took the Koreans and Chinese to lift their Soviet MiG-15 into the air. By the end of hostilities, 38 ace pilots had 2995 enemies killed. Only 56 F-86s were shot down. Nice guys!"

  • "Red Sky. Non-fictional stories about the earth, fire and man flying", Vasily Avchenko
  • © AST

Vices and Obsessions by Vikram Paralkar (MYTH)

"Vices and Obsessions" by Vikram Paralkar is a mystical novel-collection of fictional diseases, a satire on the vices of modern society.

According to the plot, the pharmacist Maximo gets a job in the library, and on the first day he gets a chance to get acquainted with the only copy of the Encyclopedia of Medicine, which contains all the diseases and torments that have ever overtaken a person. Maximo learns about such ailments as Diabolical immortality, in which the patient is always healthy, because he is able to transfer his sores to others by the power of thought, the Cyclic form, the patient of which at noon is physically perfect, and at midnight turns into an ugly hunchback, as well as Bernard's disease. It makes people who have never seen wealth remember and desire mansions, silks, butlers and hate their poor lives.

With each page, the reader becomes more and more clearly aware of the main intention of the author - Paralkar reveals a picture of the struggle of human desires with the possibilities of physical existence.

"The symptoms of Corpus fractum in each case are unique. A wealthy young woman originally from Scandinavia was diagnosed with Corpus fractum after she, much to her dismay, woke up with dark skin and a square chin like a governess from the shores of the Mediterranean: she raised her many years ago and died in poverty. The aging knight, to his chagrin, found that his eyebrows had become bushy, like those of a peasant whom he had once pierced with a spear in a fit of drunken rage. The priest was agitated when his lips became chubby, like the girl with whom he spent a sinful night, and when her stomach began to grow, he fled the town.

Usually the ailment is not limited to a single change, in severe cases the patient is like a patchwork blanket: the eagle nose of the patron whom he betrayed, the low-set ears of a friend whose gold he stole, the drooping cheeks of a grandmother he did not care about, the bald patches of a moneyless tenant whom he threw out into the street. The disease does not disfigure - in any case, no more than the natural varieties of the human race can be considered ugly. For every girl whose graceful nose is replaced by a hooked one, there will be one who will receive high cheekbones and eyebrows in an arc. "

  • Vices and Obsessions by Vikram Paralkar
  • © «MYTH»

Confusion by Richard Powers (ACT)

Richard Powers' new work was recognized as the book of the year on Amazon, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the finale of the Pulitzer Prize. The rights to the film adaptation of "Confusion" have already been acquired by Brad Pitt's production company Plan B Entertainment.

The plot is based on the story of astrobiologist Theo Byrne, who alone brings up a son after the death of his wife. Nine-year-old Robin seems to be a quiet child - he spends hours drawing animals and writing poetry. But it's not so simple: the boy suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and Asperger's syndrome. Because of this, he periodically faces uncontrollable outbursts of anger.

One day, Robin beats his friend badly and because of this almost falls under expulsion from school. Theo decides to try out the latest treatment method on his son: neural feedback, thanks to which the child interacts with a model based on the image of the emotions of his late mother. As a result, Robin's condition improves, and the ability to self-control increases.

The story of the father-son relationship, which preserves the clarity of reason thanks to the neural copy of the deceased mother, is complemented by dramatic events unfolding in society. As a result, Theo's long-term scientific research is abandoned, but this loss against the backdrop of a dramatic denouement is not the most significant.

"The news forced him to get out of bed. He stared at me and the light of stars was born in his eyes.

- They have... mom's brain?! Did she participate in the experiment?

I replied reservedly, like an adult, but it didn't matter. He almost pounced on me.

- Holy Sausages, Dad! Why didn't you tell me sooner?

He took my face in his palms and made me swear solemnly that I wasn't lying. It was as if the two of us had stumbled upon a video that no one knew existed, pulled the veil of secrecy off the record, hidden forever. Robbie was put on peace, as if now everything will be fine in any scenario. He turned his head to look out his bedroom window at the summer rains. In the eyes of his son shone a calm determination, a readiness for everything that the world could bring down on him. He will no longer allow himself to be knocked out."

  • " Confusion" by Richard Powers
  • © AST