Three Apples Fell from the Sky
The International Bestseller
-
-
4.3 • 17 Ratings
-
-
- $0.99
Publisher Description
The Russian bestseller about love and second chances, brimming with warmth and humour
In the tiny village of Maran nestled high in the Armenian mountains, a place where dreams, curses and miracles are taken very seriously, a close-knit community bickers, gossips and laughs, untouched by the passage of time. A lifelong resident, Anatolia is happily set in her ways. Until, that is, she wakes up one day utterly convinced that she is dying. She lies down on her bed and prepares to meet her maker, but just when she thinks everything is ready, she is interrupted by a surprise visit from a neighbour with an unexpected proposal.
So begins a tale of unforeseen twists and unlikely romance that will turn Maran on its head and breathe a new lease of life into a forgotten village. Narine Abgaryan's enchanting fable is a heart-warming tale of community, courage, and the irresistible joy of everyday friendship.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Abgaryan's grim, fantastical debut, the dwindling residents of a tiny Armenian mountain village look back on a series of disasters drought, famine, a massive earthquake and find strength in supernatural visions. Anatolia, at age 58, is the youngest of the town's 50 residents, the others having perished in the series of disasters or fled. Having survived a childless marriage after the death of her abusive husband, Anatolia believes she's dying because she's suffering intense vaginal bleeding. After the bleeding subsides and Anatolia recovers, the widowed village blacksmith, Vasily, convinces Anatolia to marry him. Grief, beliefs, and comforting customs, such as receiving visions and responding to dream interpretations, unite the villagers, and Abgaryan grounds the book's magical details by showing their power over the characters ("the Maranians were a rational superstitious people who nevertheless believed in dreams and signs"), such as an auspicious appearance of a peacock after the birth of a child, and the surprising explanation for Anatolia's bleeding. Abgaryan impresses with finely phrased descriptions of daily activities and homes with "chimneys that clung to the hem of the sky," and indelible details of complex, humble characters. This magical tale transcends familiar mystical tropes with its fresh reimagining of Armenian folklore.
Customer Reviews
Amazing book but Armenian not Russian
To call this book Russian is an insult to Armenians everywhere. Although it was originally written in Russian, it is a tale of Armenians living in a village. The book uses Armenian names and even Armenian language throughout. It’s quite common to erase our culture, and by calling this book Russian, it caters to a specific audience. If you name it Armenian, it will find its right clientele. I loved this book as an Armenian and I’m so glad I looked passed when it said “Russian.” This is a beautiful book and I will share it with my Armenian community, where it belongs.
enchanting & restorative
like getting tucked in at bedtime