Books 2014: The Gardener from Ochakov

Earlier this year I was so lucky as to be invited to a library event in Moscow. I got invited on a very short notice, and there was quite a few practical arrangements that needed to be taken care of, most importantly the visa. But there is more to life than practical matters, so before I left, I decided to prepare myself for Russia, by reading a Russian novel. A colleague of mine suggested I read something more modern than the usual classics, so I downloaded a novel by Andrey Kurkov to my beloved Kindle.

It turned out Kurkov is apparently a Ukranian author who writes in Russian! In the light of political events over there these days, some will probably claim I made a deadly mistake there! That's not really important in this connection, however. The book turned out to be well written (translated) and very entertaining. I finished the book before my 3 day stay in Moscow was over, in spite of a full programme of library and touristy events. It is the kind of book that makes you feel happy! There should absolutely be more books like this.

Part of my joy came from knowing nothing at all about the story in the book, so I don't think I will reveal too much. The main protagonist is Igor, a young, unemployed man who lives with his mother outside Kiev. His life changes dramatically when his mother takes in a lodger/gardener, Stepan, and we follow Igor as he tries to find out more about Stepan's past through several trips to Ochakov, the town where Stepan's father lived.

I know this doesn't sound too interesting, but believe me, it's a great book! It should appeal to both male and female, young and old, literature-lovers and joy-readers.

Kurkov, Andrey (2013). The Gardener from Ochakov. London: Harville Secker.