Winners of the Yasnaya Polyana Awards were announced today. Fazil’ Iskander received the “Contemporary Classic” prize for his three-volume Сандро из Чегема (Sandro of Chegem). Sandro of Chegem was a popular book among NOS-1973’s online voters earlier this year. Perhaps this is the sign I need to finally buy and read Sandro after enjoying some of Iskander’s Chik stories earlier this year (previous post).
Elena Katishonok won the “XXI Century” prize for Жили-были старик со старухой (Once There Lived an Old Man and His Wife) (excerpt); Katishonok’s novel was a 2009 Russian Booker finalist.
At least some of Sandro of Chegem is available in translation, as are Iskander’s Chik stories. A description on Amazon.com says Katishonok’s book is a family saga about Russian Orthodox Old Believers set in the first half of the twentieth century.
Жили-были старик со старухой on Amazon
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Hi Lizok - I'm happy to have found your blog (and must admit I'm one of the many who found it through a "Russian Booker Prize" search). I wasn't aware Iskander won the award . . . Sandro of Chegem is a fantastic book but the only one of his that I've read. Time to look for more.
ReplyDeleteSorry - Lisa, not Lizok :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, Emily! I'm glad you found the blog, and I'm glad to hear your thoughts on Sandro of Chegem. I just bought it--well 798 pages of selected chapters--and hope to read some of it this winter. I read a few of Iskander's Chik stories and enjoyed them very much so would definitely recommend them.
ReplyDeleteLisa-Lizok