Maria Jo Jo থেকে Azinozero, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russja, 164266
A novel set in a boys' reformatory in the early 1960's is not generally in my preferred reading genre but I'm glad I gave this one a read. By noting that the setting is a boys' horse ranch/reform school one would naturally expect that there is tragedy, drama, and wicked villains (and there is) but there is also love, courage, friendship, and humanity aplenty. The author's writing style is reminiscent of one of my all-time favorites Wallace Stegner, with a side dose of Hemingwayesque terseness and simplicity that really adds to the story. This would make a great movie by the Coen Brothers! Urge anyone who laments the lack of decent contemporrary fiction (and I'm one) to hunt this onw down and read!