Book Overview
"No summary can do justice to the strange appeal of this unusual, short book, which is at once a crime novel, a comic novel and a serious political satire on contemporary Ukraine." --Anne Applebaum, The Wall Street Journal
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, newly-free Ukraine is a shell-shocked land . . . In poverty-and-violence-wracked Kyiv, unemployed writer Viktor Zolotaryov leads a down-and-out life with his only friend, Misha, a penguin that he rescued when the local zoo started getting rid of animals it couldn't feed. Even more nerve-wracking for Victor: a local mobster has taken a shine to Misha and wants to borrow him for events. But Viktor thinks he's finally caught a break when he lands a well-paying job at the Kyiv newspaper writing "living obituaries" of local dignitaries--articles to be filed for use when the time comes. The only thing is, the time always seems to come as soon as Viktor finishes writing the article. Slowly understanding that his own life may be in jeopardy, Viktor also realizes that the only thing that might be keeping him alive is his penguin.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, newly-free Ukraine is a shell-shocked land . . . In poverty-and-violence-wracked Kyiv, unemployed writer Viktor Zolotaryov leads a down-and-out life with his only friend, Misha, a penguin that he rescued when the local zoo started getting rid of animals it couldn't feed. Even more nerve-wracking for Victor: a local mobster has taken a shine to Misha and wants to borrow him for events. But Viktor thinks he's finally caught a break when he lands a well-paying job at the Kyiv newspaper writing "living obituaries" of local dignitaries--articles to be filed for use when the time comes. The only thing is, the time always seems to come as soon as Viktor finishes writing the article. Slowly understanding that his own life may be in jeopardy, Viktor also realizes that the only thing that might be keeping him alive is his penguin.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1935554557
ISBN13:9781935554554
Release Date:June 2011
Publisher:Melville House Publishing
Length:240 Pages
Weight:0.54 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 5.5" x 8.2"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Kurkov is a master....my Favorite Book EVER!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This is my #1 favorite book. Historical, in part, and humorous, sad, zany, and unexpected. I can't wait to read the follow-ups to this. It is translated form the Russian. If you love penguins, pre-21st century Russian lit, or maybe you are an obituary writer or love, this is the book for you.
Fun and (don't wince) cute!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I was assigned this book for a college course. I have to say that I've never enjoyed an assignment quite so much. I loved how quirky and human-like Misha the penguin behaved, his endearing relationship with the humans around him, and the delightful way Misha and his humans met with a brave face and not a look back the seemingly endless stream of troubles that came their way. I also absolutely adore the way Kurkov writes and the tone he uses. I read this book in a single weekend, and next weekend I plan to make equally quick work of the sequel!! A delight, I definitely recommend!!
Calmly Absurd
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This is one of my favorite books. The story follows Viktor, a struggling, unambitious Ukranian writer as his life forms around him. No matter how surreal the events that take place (the adoption of a sickly pet penguin, getting involved in political murders) Viktor remains calm and detached until the very end of the novel, when he is finally shaken out of his apathetic state. This book is a hilarious satire that does an excellent job of describing the depressing monotony of everyday life, even when it is anything but.
Surprising
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I literally just finished reading the book. The ending took me by surprise which is unusual these days. I thought I knew what was going to happen. A very easy read and an enjoyable story. Highly recommended.
A Fascinating Book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Death and the Penguin is an excellent novel that gives you a first hand look at a collapsing society. We are taken to a world where zoos sell exotic animals because they cannot afford to keep them, where paramedics need to be bribed to find room for a dying man in a hospital and where gang warfare is commonplace.I was especially pleased to discover that Misha, the penguin of the title, is a real character in the book as well as having important symbolic purpose. The other characters are not as vividly drawn as in some novels, but that seems appropriate for the setting in which they find themselves. I was slightly unsatisified by the ending, but overall this book was well worth reading, even if you do not often gravitate to foreign fiction.
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