The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena—dazzling, poignant, and lyrical interwoven stories about family, sacrifice, the legacy of war, and the redemptive power of art.
This stunning, exquisitely written collection introduces a cast of remarkable characters whose lives intersect in ways both life-affirming and heartbreaking. A 1930s Soviet censor painstakingly corrects offending photographs, deep underneath Leningrad, bewitched by the image of a disgraced prima ballerina. A chorus of women recount their stories and those of their grandmothers, former gulag prisoners who settled their Siberian mining town. Two pairs of brothers share a fierce, protective love. Young men across the former USSR face violence at home and in the military. And great sacrifices are made in the name of an oil landscape unremarkable except for the almost incomprehensibly peaceful past it depicts.
In stunning prose, with rich character portraits and a sense of history reverberating into the present, The Tsar of Love and Techno is a captivating work from one of our greatest new talents.
This stunning, exquisitely written collection introduces a cast of remarkable characters whose lives intersect in ways both life-affirming and heartbreaking. A 1930s Soviet censor painstakingly corrects offending photographs, deep underneath Leningrad, bewitched by the image of a disgraced prima ballerina. A chorus of women recount their stories and those of their grandmothers, former gulag prisoners who settled their Siberian mining town. Two pairs of brothers share a fierce, protective love. Young men across the former USSR face violence at home and in the military. And great sacrifices are made in the name of an oil landscape unremarkable except for the almost incomprehensibly peaceful past it depicts.
In stunning prose, with rich character portraits and a sense of history reverberating into the present, The Tsar of Love and Techno is a captivating work from one of our greatest new talents.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra
329 pages
What’s it about?
This is a collection of short stories that are so interrelated, the book reads almost like a novel. Most of the stories revolve around Kirovsk, an industrial mining city, located in Siberia. A place I hope never to go. The stories span from the 1930's to present day Russia. As time moves forward the Chechen war also plays a role in the book.
Anthony Marra's, "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena" was one of my favorite books a couple of years ago. I seem to be on a phase of revisiting author's I have appreciated. So far I have not been disappointed.
What did it make me think about?
This is a great book, and like all great books, it made me think a lot! How did a political ideology that was begun to help the masses, end up being so cruel to all but a few? Anthony Marra gives us a glimpse into this world of communism and what has been left in it's aftermath. It was a harsh existence, and it leaves behind a legacy.....
Should I read it?
I am sure this book will garner tons of awards and recognition. However I would recommend it because it is a beautiful book. Somehow Anthony Marra is able to show humor and love in the worst of situations.
Quote-
"We wanted to become gangsters, but who could we look up to? Where are our heroes? Our fathers drove gypsy cabs, washed dishes, and pumped gas, their blood so timid a guillotine couldn't make them bleed. They longed for the old days, not because their lives had been better, but because there had been an equality of misery back then. We were the sons and we wanted more."
If you liked this try-
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Girl at War by Sara Novic
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra
329 pages
What’s it about?
This is a collection of short stories that are so interrelated, the book reads almost like a novel. Most of the stories revolve around Kirovsk, an industrial mining city, located in Siberia. A place I hope never to go. The stories span from the 1930's to present day Russia. As time moves forward the Chechen war also plays a role in the book.
Anthony Marra's, "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena" was one of my favorite books a couple of years ago. I seem to be on a phase of revisiting author's I have appreciated. So far I have not been disappointed.
What did it make me think about?
This is a great book, and like all great books, it made me think a lot! How did a political ideology that was begun to help the masses, end up being so cruel to all but a few? Anthony Marra gives us a glimpse into this world of communism and what has been left in it's aftermath. It was a harsh existence, and it leaves behind a legacy.....
Should I read it?
I am sure this book will garner tons of awards and recognition. However I would recommend it because it is a beautiful book. Somehow Anthony Marra is able to show humor and love in the worst of situations.
Quote-
"We wanted to become gangsters, but who could we look up to? Where are our heroes? Our fathers drove gypsy cabs, washed dishes, and pumped gas, their blood so timid a guillotine couldn't make them bleed. They longed for the old days, not because their lives had been better, but because there had been an equality of misery back then. We were the sons and we wanted more."
If you liked this try-
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Girl at War by Sara Novic
The Tsar of Love and Techno is an inventive and accomplished collection of interwoven short stories by the author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena (my favorite read of 2015). The stories take place in the war-torn areas of Russia, Chechnya and Siberia, have characters, places, items and/or storylines in common, and span the years between 1937 to 2013.
An artist responsible for removing people from history. Two ballerinas separated by a generation. A quietly defiant man in love with a scarred and blind woman. Two Russian prisoners of war. Two young brothers living in a forest of metal. A woman who was responsible for the execution of her own mother. Young men seeking to avoid the war, and a father who will save his son by any means. These are the characters that make up these stories.
My final word: I've become a huge fan of author Anthony Marra! His writing is top notch, the characters well developed, the storylines are fresh and innovative. His stories are full of strong characters, and his writing is overflowing with sensitivity and barrenness. There's a beauty in its desolation. Please read anything you can get your hands on written by this author!
Follow my reviews on https://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com (Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World)
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.