A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

A Novel

By: Anthony Marra

Narrated by: Colette Whitaker

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • A searing debut about the transcendent power of love in wartime, hailed as “an absolute masterpiece” (Sarah Jessica Parker, Entertainment Weekly)—from the renowned author of Mercury Pictures Presents

“Extraordinary . . . a twenty-first century War and Peace.”—The New York Times Book Review

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE JOHN LEONARD AWARD WINNER • ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal

In the final days of December 2004, in a small rural village in Chechnya, eight-year-old Havaa hides in the woods when her father is abducted by Russian forces. Fearing for her life, she flees with their neighbor Akhmed—a failed physician—to the bombed-out hospital, where Sonja, the one remaining doctor, treats a steady stream of wounded rebels and refugees and mourns her missing sister. Over the course of five dramatic days, Akhmed and Sonja reach back into their pasts to unravel the intricate mystery of coincidence, betrayal, and forgiveness that unexpectedly binds them and decides their fate.

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, Chicago Tribune, NPR, Kansas City Star, San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian Science Monitor, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Kirkus Reviews

Read it to Know this Quote

I didn't love this book like everyone else did, but I do feel like I should have. I'm just not as big on the big interlocking short story book (meaning that this was a series of stories about the lives of the characters in this book, not pulling together the way they do in a big epic, but rather connected the way stars are, because we see the connection, we see the pattern even if it is random), and that is what this felt like to me. But I did love some of the thoughts that were universal, and not just applicable in war torn Chechnya, especially this one as it applies to the way we humans interweave and support each other or not: “Life: a constellation of vital phenomena—organization, irritability, movement, growth, reproduction, adaptation.” I am also glad I learned more about that conflict.

One of the best books I've ever read

I'm in love with this book! Marra is a top-notch story teller. I loved the way that the story jumped from different character perspectives throughout the decade-long story. Every sentence, every word was thoughtfully and beautifully constructed. The story is so sad and overwhelming and heartwarming and heart-wrenching all at the same time. A MUST READ! Im anxiously waiting for Marra's next book.

Mastery of images and characters

Marra weaves images into scenes, making a faraway land familiar. War does not make for a feel good story, but he methodically quantifies the lives of the characters and reveals their complicated value in start contrast to the negative sum game of the historical setting.

An Extraordinary Book

The story, the character development, just everything about this is richly conceived and beautifully meticulous. Be prepared for a powerful journey.

A Constellation of Beautiful Words

This is a beautifully written and narrated book. Unlike anything I've ever read or heard of. It follows the extraordinary and tragic lives of characters who are intertwined like the constellations in the night sky. There are some gruesome descriptions of tortures that took place, but it wasn't bad enough to make me stop listening. This book will stay with me forever, and I see myself rereading it several times.