A Constellation Of Vital Phenomena

A CONSTELLATION OF VITAL PHENOMENA
by Anthony Marra

 Award: National Book Critics Circle Winner 2013

Nominations: Carnegie Longlist 2014, Center For Fiction Finalist 2013, Dayton Literary Peace Finalist 2014, Dublin Longlist 2015, National Book Longlist 2013
Date Read: June 27, 2016

 This debut novel by Marra tells the story of Havaa, a small girl who witnesses her father being abducted by Russian forces during the conflict in Chechnya. She flees the town with their neighbor, Akhmed, who takes her to one of the only nearby functioning hospitals who is being run by one doctor, Sonja. These two flawed humans look after Havaa through impossible circumstances. 

 Once again, I am floored at how cruel humans can be to one another and how that cruelty knows no bounds, even towards innocent children. I was haunted by this novel long after I had read it and consider Marra a masterful storyteller. I would definitely read this again.

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