5 books by young Russian writers that may surprise you

1. "Angry Boy", Valery Pecheikin

Contemporary Russian writers: "Angry Boy", Valery Pecheikin

The debut book of the playwright of the Moscow theater "Gogol-Center" Valery Pecheikin is the golden mean between fiction and journalism. It is a collection of essays, stories, and observational sketches that will make you feel as though you are watching a theatrical play. But life itself turns out to be the director.

Just like the best representatives of classical literature, Pecheikin manages to discern the essence of human existence in funny, and sometimes frankly funny situations. And it does not always turn out to be funny, because laughter often hides small and large tragedies.

2. "Rif", Alexey Polyarinov

Contemporary Russian writers: "Rif", Alexey Polyarinov

Alexei Polyarinov has only two major works on his account, but his light style and well-aimed reasoning have already turned the writer into a new star of Russian literature with his loyal audience.

"The Reef" is called a novel of growing up, and a vivid example of an eternal plot about the irreconcilable struggle between fathers and children, and even one of the most exciting stories about sectarianism. Be that as it may, the book will appeal to even the most sophisticated reader. The Reef will intertwine the lives of Kira, an inhabitant of a northern Russian town, an American student, Lee, and a documentary filmmaker, Tanya. The multi-layered nature of the "Reef" will take you to incomprehensible worlds, where everything is not what it seems. And the author's humor and style will not let you get bored.

3. "Life of Leo", Natalia Repina

Contemporary Russian writers: "The Life of Leo", Natalia Repina

Librarian Leo, raised by his mother and grandmother, has always been different from others. Sensitive and gentle, he knows how to see and feel more than others. The young man is worried about the fate of the poet Kliment Syzrantsev, an undeservedly forgotten acquaintance and colleague of Mandelstam. Leo devotes all his time and efforts to a person who once lived in the center of old Moscow, and now has sunk into oblivion. But what if a hero from the past never existed?

Repina's novel is a vivid example of high-quality modern prose in the best traditions of the literature of Evgeny Vodolazkin and Guzeli Yakhina. As you read The Life of Leo, you will reflect on the simple truths that are so often lost behind pressing problems and eternal haste.

4. "Six Days", Sergey Vereskov

Contemporary Russian writers: "Six Days", Sergei Vereskov

Young journalist Sasha Negin buried his mother and is just learning to deal with the loss, which seems so premature. The hero of the novel will have to think carefully about the days gone by, and about the future, which after the loss of loved ones seems to be fragile and meaningless.

"Six Days" is a piercing and touching monologue of a person who has met with disaster face to face. And also a story about a forced growing up, which does not start with a number in a passport.

5. "Volunteer playlist", Mrshavko Shtapich

Contemporary Russian writers: "Volunteer Playlist", Mrshavko Shtapich

They are called heroes and saviors, but few people know what the seamy side of the life of the search squad volunteers is. Eternal fatigue, inability to spend time with loved ones and, finally, doubts about the correctness of your choice. After all, sometimes the search for a missing person ends in a completely different way than everyone would like.

Mrshavko Shtapich is an experienced volunteer. He saved more than one life, and his memory keeps many stories, which sometimes you want to forget about. In the “Volunteer Playlist,” the author tells how dedication, courage and willingness to sacrifice ourselves for our neighbor sometimes cost us dearly.