Review
“Gelasimov’s narrator stumbles through the rubble of a life unlived, its often harsh language full of elegiac mourning. Gelasimov never wastes a word--Thirst brings forth an entirely new toughness, clarity, and elegance.” --Der Spiegel
"Gelasimov’s spare prose and pointed dialogue make this tale of drinking, disfigurement, and self-discovery a memorable one." --Booklist
"Each and every episode is very well executed, highly expressive, realistic and to the point." --Beauty is a Sleeping Cat
"Andrei Gelasimov's vivid, concise, penetrating stories are... full of the anguish, longing and pain of the world. Yet also pierced by hope and insight. And humanity." --Russian Life
Product Description
Masterfully translated from the original Russian by award-winning translator Marian Schwartz, Thirst tells the story of 20-year-old Chechen War veteran Kostya. Maimed beyond recognition by a tank explosion, he spends weeks on end locked inside his apartment, his sole companions the vodka bottles spilling from the refrigerator. But soon Kostya’s comfortable if dysfunctional cocoon is torn open when he receives a visit from his army buddies who are mobilized to locate a missing comrade. Through this search for his missing friend, Kostya is able to find himself.
