Livebook/Gayatri, an up-and-coming publishing house specializing in "unusual" books, has issued a novella by Goralik, titled "Agata Vozvrashchayetsya Domoi," or "Agatha Returns Home." A week ago, the book was presented by the author, publishers and critics at an event in one of Moscow's central bookstores.
"Agatha" is a short tale about an 8-year-old girl whose parents regularly go to a fertility clinic for treatment. Bored at being left at home on her own, Agatha ventures into the forest next to her house and eventually meets the devil. It is worth noting that Goralik deliberately places her heroine in a generic world that is definitely neither Russian nor West European nor American.
The book is illustrated by Oleg Pashchenko -- also known under his Internet nickname "cmart" -- one of the leading designers at the legendary Artemy Lebedev's design studio. For the story, he drew a series of pictures, both scary and touching, in which the determined Agatha, her demons, and the mysterious forest where she meets them, come to life.
Maya Kucherskaya, the Vedomosti critic and the author of a novel where the spiritual life of the characters is the main theme, heralded "Agatha" as the first book in a long while where the problems of conscience and sin come to the fore. "Goralik speaks about temptation and the devil in a fairy tale, because it would have been unfashionable in a regular novel," she wrote.
In a sense, it is true, although one can hardly forget Dmitry Bykov's "Evacuator," whose only concern is the issue of moral choice. Admittedly, that novel was also dressed up as fantasy. For me, though, the main idea of Goralik's story centers on addiction, rather than temptation. But that's the problem with parables, even the ones that are relatively clear-cut, as in the New Testament: It's very easy to weave an intricate web of meanings and interpretations around them. It's also, without doubt, a part of their fascination.
In any case, it's not the first time that I felt rather distant from the concerns of Goralik's characters but was completely enthralled by the language. Simple and unpretentious, it works on such a visceral level as to leave a lasting aesthetical impression. And that, for me, is the meaning of the tale.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.