"I’m not sure what drew me to reading a Russian text in translation in the fog of my grief after losing my son mid-pregnancy (for someone who read nothing but mental mashed potato books for the entirety of 2020’s stress and turmoil, this is� unprecedented) but it turned out to be exactly what I needed. What a hopeful, beautifully written book. Still waffling between 4-5 stars.

“There’s life everywhere,� marveled Valinka […] “There’s death everywhere, and life too.�"

"Haigh can write a story I generally wouldn't be interested in and make me love it."