THE CONCERT TICKET by Olga Grushin

Like a composer turning a single tune into a complex orchestral piece, Grushin takes a simple incident and presents it from many different facets.  A rumour that an exiled composer will return for a single concert; a kiosk where tickets might be sold; and a line of people waiting, just in case – day after week after month.  The story centres on one family: Anna and Sergei plus their son Sasha, who each have their own reason for wanting to buy a ticket.  We see their lives, hear their hopes and watch their dreams – of what was and what might be.  Other characters appear randomly, with no apparent relevance, but gradually connections become clear.

This is Grushin’s second novel and it is full of atmosphere and description.  It captures perfectly the mind-set and behaviour of twentieth-century Russians; beaten down by oppression, wary of authority but supported by great national and cultural pride.  It presents the same scenes from different perspectives, reminding us that our view of ourselves is not always the one others see.  This is a book about how people think and what makes them act as they do. 

This is not a fast-paced or action-packed book.  It is a gentle, thought-provoking read with moments of disappointment, moments of tragedy and moments of hope.  An enjoyable read, all the more so considering it is based on a real incident.

(The Concert Ticket was provided by Totnes Bookshop)

DOG BOY by Eva Hornung

This is the story of Romochka, a young boy adopted by dogs when his family abandons him. We live with the dogs for three or four years; through beautiful summers and terrible, harsh winters. We never hear what happened to his first family. Somehow, it doesn’t matter. Through the eyes of the boy we share life with the dogs, experiencing the joy of new puppies, the gut-wrenching hunger of mid-winter and the terror of being stalked by hungry wolves or vicious policemen.

To anyone who has never visited Russia, this book might appear to be set in a fictional future. Tiny references, like the bars on the windows and the ‘subtle din of birdsong, electric-cable buzz and distant highway’ give it authenticity. Eva Hornung expertly captures the atmosphere of a disintegrating society and presents it dispassionately through the eyes of a child whose main frame of reference is the family of stray dogs with whom he is living and growing. The child doesn’t question what he sees and hears, he just adapts to it and uses it to his advantage.

The details of the dogs’ life are all the more shocking for the simple, child-like way in which they are presented. This is not a comfortable read, but I found it a compulsive one. It is based on a familiar theme, but without the usual sentimentality. The ending is sudden, unexpected and, with hind-sight, completely inevitable.

(Dog Boy was provided by Totnes Bookshop)