Thirst

By: Andrei Gelasimov, Marian Schwartz - translator

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Masterfully translated from its 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, Kostya spends weeks on end locked inside his apartment, his sole companion 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. It is through this search for his missing friend that Kostya is able to find himself.

©2011 Andrei Gelasimov (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Not as good as it could have been.

War as it affects people is always difficult to portray. In this case, a maimed character is surrounded by cases of booze in the beginning but his life and thoughts on life are not really examined then or later. He reunites with war-time friends to find a buddy but the search reveals little about him or those searching. The narration is good, protraying a man who speaks with broken face, but the story is too sparse.

Great Performance

Gelasimov has a very conscious flow or something to his work. Its not odd to be lost, confused, understanding and continuing. This book is no different, when you get lost, embrace it and keep moving, you won't regret it.