15 worthwhile books by contemporary Russian writers

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

These novels not only hooked readers, but also received prestigious literary awards.

1. "Ostromov, or the Sorcerer's Apprentice", Dmitry Bykov

Daniel arrives in St. Petersburg in the mid-1920s, naively believing that he can start a new life there. Even before reaching his destination, he meets a man who pretends to be a magician. The hero, enchanted by the speeches of a stranger, enters his apprenticeship.

The book is based on the real history of the struggle of the authorities against the Freemasons, esotericists and other "anti-Soviet elements." And although there are some magical things here, they should not be taken seriously. These are rather hints and references to things more real. In 2011, the work received two awards at once: "National Bestseller" and "Big Book".

2. "Baptized with Crosses", Eduard Kochergin

An eight-year-old boy living in a loving family suddenly becomes a pupil of an orphanage. His parents are arrested and declared enemies of the people, and he himself is sent from Leningrad to distant Omsk. The hero does not want to put up with such a decision, runs away and goes home. The path drags on for six long years.

Eduard Kochergin is not only a writer, but also a famous theater artist. Much in the book is taken from the biography of the author himself. In 2010, the work "Baptized with Crosses" became a laureate of the "National Bestseller".

3. "Writer", Mikhail Shishkin

Young Volodya is sent to the war as a conscript in 1900. By his own admission, there were never any problems with this: every year, there was a new battle. He is sent to Beijing to suppress the uprising of local residents against the interference of foreign forces in the life of the country. Ironically, it is the foreign troops who are called upon to calm the riot.

The only way to communicate with beloved Sasha is to write letters to her from China. But they are sometimes lost, sometimes they come with a great delay. This is a novel about the difficulties of communication, love, loyalty and, of course, war. In 2011 he was honored with the Big Book Prize.

4. "My Lieutenant", Daniil Granin

The novel tells about the Great Patriotic War, as seen by those who were sitting in the trenches. He is devoid of romantic heroism and is not covered by patriotism. Fear, hunger and a subtle hope that soon all this horror will end here reigns here.

The author has erased the line between autobiography and fiction. The hero's name is D., hinting that this is an abbreviation for Daniel, but there is no clear confirmation. The writer talks about the feelings that filled the young soldier. Then Granin switches to the thoughts of an elderly person who shares memories of the same period. In 2012, "My Lieutenant" was awarded the "Big Book" award.

5. "Once upon a time there was an old man with an old woman", Elena Katishonok

Every grandparents has an interesting life story, and more than one. After all, they were not always old, and the adventures of their youth can be quite surprising. Matrona and Gregory tell how and what they lived, how they found themselves in a Baltic city far from their native Rostov, who the Old Believers are and what a test the war has become for their family.

The novel "Once upon a time there was an old man with an old woman" is written in a unique language. Original words and phrases are screwed into the text, giving out the regions where the heroes lived. In 2011, the book won the Yasnaya Polyana Prize.

6. "Lavr", Evgeny Vodolazkin

The herbalist, who could heal the most dangerous ailments, goes on a pilgrimage after a personal tragedy. He failed to save his beloved from illness and, heartbroken, he can no longer stay in his home. Having made a vow to heal everyone on his way, the hero thus wants to atone for the blame placed on himself for the death of Ustina.

This novel is a journey not only through Russia of the 15th century, but also through the spiritual torment of a person who is trying to come to terms with loss. In 2013, Lavr received two awards at once - the Big Book and Yasnaya Polyana.

7. "Wolves and Bears", Figl-Migl

In the near future, St. Petersburg has become a separate state. Its political system resembles a federation, where there are several districts with their own rulers. This is not at all the picture of the future that the science fiction writers drew. There are no high technologies and unrestrained science here.

New St. Petersburg is more reminiscent of the cruel Middle Ages, where corruption reigns, the authorities work together with bandits and, moreover, malevolent supernatural elements are divorced. The author, under the pseudonym Figl-Migl, talks about the future, but still a lot of this is happening now. In 2013, the book became a National Bestseller laureate.

8. "Three apples fell from the sky", Narine Abgaryan

High in the mountains of Armenia there is a small village in which several dozen people live. They are in no hurry and seem to exist outside of the worldly vanity. Information is obtained not from news, but from nature, not interested in what is happening outside of their habitat.

Anatolia, who is not even 60 years old, is about to die. Before doing this, she needs to complete her household chores. The garden requires watering, poultry will not last long without food, and who knows how soon the lifeless body of the hostess will be found. In general, there are so many things to do that death can wait. In 2016, Three Apples Fell From the Sky entered the long list of the National Bestseller and won the Yasnaya Polyana Prize.

9. "Jacob's Ladder", Lyudmila Ulitskaya

Theatrical artist Nora finds her grandfather's letters in the attic. This is the beginning of the family saga of the Osetsky family that spanned the entire XX century. Ulitskaya shows the life of several generations, and through them tells about how our country has changed.

In each separate period, family members have their own drama and their own joys. Reading about how and what her ancestors lived, Nora understands herself better. In 2016, the novel received the Big Book award.

10. "Winter road", Leonid Yuzefovich

During the Civil War, opponents meet face to face in snowy Yakutia. They see the future of their country differently. White Guard Pepeliaev is trying to figure out how to get life back on track and calm down the rebellious people. And the red commander Strode is eager for change.

For the Winter Road, Yuzefovich built a solid foundation from archival documents and diaries of that period. The result is a historical novel, according to which one can study not so much battles as the mood and experiences of people. In 2016, the work won the Big Book and National Bestseller awards.

11. "City of Brezhnev", Shamil Idiatullin

The main character Arthur is an ordinary Soviet teenager who falls in love for the first time in a summer camp and finds an idol there who seems honest, strong and fair to him. But the beauty turns out to be windy, and the pioneer leader Vitalik, from whom Arthur takes an example, turns into a confused person, ready for meanness and betrayal.

The first life crisis for a teenager coincides with what is happening in the country. The United States is imposing sanctions on the USSR, oil prices are falling, and a spirit of discontent is in the air. In 2017, City of Brezhnev received the Big Book award.

12. "In memory of memory", Maria Stepanova

Some things can bring back long-forgotten memories. It seems that they were hidden somewhere very deep and it is no longer possible to find them. But a photograph, an old letter or a painting comes across, and the events of the past immediately surface.

It is about such things and what they awaken that the novel-essay "In Memory of Memory" tells. The author travels to cities and at the same time to the past, trying to reconstruct the history of his family. Together with this, she unearths significant milestones of bygone times, describing an entire era. In 2017, the novel was celebrated with the "Big Book".

13. "The Petrovs in the Flu and Around It", Alexey Salnikov

Good bright holiday New Year is overshadowed by illness. One by one, the members of the Petrov family are knocked down by a vile virus. In a flu-like delirium, the world seems completely different from what it really is. But it is at this time that the most hidden secrets and fears of the heroes begin to emerge.

The novel consists of several layers that unfold as you read it. At first it seems like a simple story about an ordinary family. Then it acquires notes of phantasmagoria and, finally, comes to its mystical conclusion. In 2018, the book "The Petrovs in and around the Flu" won the National Bestseller.

14. "Long Jump", Olga Slavnikova

The life of the young athlete Oleg was divided into before and after the terrible event. On the one hand, it was heroic and saved the life of his neighbor. On the other hand, this incident deprived the hero of everything, to which he went for a long time and with which he connected his future. Having pushed the boy out from under the wheels of the car, Oleg loses both legs and cannot continue his sports career.

This book is not about great victories in international arenas, but about the life of a disabled person. The hero practically learns to live anew and begins to see what he did not notice before. In 2018, the book won the Yasnaya Polyana Prize.

15. "Finist is a clear falcon", Andrey Rubanov

The novel is based on a folk tale about a young man who knew how to turn into a bird. But this is not a retelling, but one of its versions. Three good fellows fell in love with Marya, who loves only Finist - a clear falcon. She goes in search of him, and the guys burning with longing talk about their lives and sufferings.

The book is written in the genre of Russian folk fantasy. The heroes meet characters familiar to everyone from childhood: kikimors, goblin and Baba Yaga. And, as in any fairy tale, there is a hidden meaning and lesson here. In 2019, the novel received the National Bestseller Award and a nomination for Yasnaya Polyana.