A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
First edition cover
AuthorAnthony Marra
LanguageEnglish
SubjectSecond Chechen War
GenreLiterary fiction, Historical fiction
PublisherRandom House
Publication date
May 7, 2013
Media typePrint
ISBN9780770436421

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena is a novel written by Anthony Marra, published May 7, 2013 by Random House. The book was a New York Times best seller[1] and received positive critical reviews. The work has also been referenced in academic journals, including War, Literature & the Arts[2] and The Lancet.[3]

Synopsis

The novel begins in 2004 during the Chechen War, with the abduction of Dokka, a villager accused of aiding Chechen rebels, by Russian soldiers. His eight-year-old daughter, Havaa, flees into the woods carrying a suitcase. She is discovered by Akhmed, a neighbor and unsuccessful village doctor, who resolves to protect her. Akhmed brings Havaa to a hospital in a nearby city, where only one doctor remains: Sonja, a gifted but overworked surgeon haunted by the disappearance of her sister, Natasha.

The narrative spans five days while using extensive flashbacks covering the previous decade. With shifting perspectives, the book uncovers the lives of its central figures as well as those of certain villagers, collaborators, soldiers, and refugees.

The title of the novel derives from a medical dictionary definition of life: “a constellation of vital phenomena—organization, irritability, movement, growth, reproduction, adaptation.” This phrase shows the book’s exploration of resilience and the persistence of humanity during conflict.

Characters

Release

Reception

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena received starred reviews from Library Journal,[4] Publishers Weekly,[5] and Booklist,[6] as well as positive reviews from The New York Times Book Review,[7] World Literature Today,[8] Kirkus Reviews,[9] Chicago Tribune,[10] The Washington Post,[11] NPR,[12] San Francisco Chronicle,[13] Shelf Awareness,[14] The Economist,[15] and Entertainment Weekly.[16]

The New York Times[17] and The Boston Globe[18] provided mixed reviews.

Literary awards

Year Award Result Ref.
2013 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, Fiction Winner [19][20]
Booklist Editors' Choice: Adult Books Selection [21]
California Book Award for First Fiction Winner [22]
Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction Nominee [22]
National Book Award for Fiction Longlist [1]
National Book Critics Circle Award, John Leonard Prize Winner [23]
New York Times Notable Book of the Year Selection [24]
Prix Medicis Winner [25]
2014 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction Winner [26]
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction Longlist [27]
Athens Prize for Literature - Περιοδικό (δέ)κατα Winner [20]
Carla Furstenberg Cohen Fiction Award Winner [23]
Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Fiction Finalist [28]
Indies Choice Book Award for Adult Debut Winner [29]
Notable Books Selection [30]
PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize Shortlist [31]
Young Lions Fiction Award Finalist [32]
2015 International Dublin Literary Award Longlist [23]

References

  1. ^ a b Marra, Anthony (May 7, 2013). A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7704-3641-4.
  2. ^ Plichta, Katherine (2014). "The Most Vital Phenomena" (PDF). War, Literature, and the Arts. 26: 1–6.
  3. ^ Marchalik, Daniel (June 13, 2015). "Saving the professionalism course". The Lancet. 385 (9985): 2346–2347. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(15)61093-5. ISSN 0140-6736. PMID 26088632. S2CID 36796285.
  4. ^ "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena". Library Journal. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "Fiction Book Review: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. Hogarth, $26 (400p) ISBN 978-0-7704-3640-7". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Wilkinson, Joanne (April 1, 2013). "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena". Booklist. Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Bell, Madison Smartt (June 7, 2013). "Prisoners of the Caucasus". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Hagen, W M (September–October 2013). "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena". World Literature Today. 87 (5): 60–61. doi:10.7588/worllitetoda.87.5.0060. ProQuest 1439796645.
  9. ^ "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena". Kirkus Reviews. February 18, 2013. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Barron, John (June 28, 2013). "Review: 'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena' by Anthony Marra". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  11. ^ Charles, Ron (May 7, 2013). "Anthony Marra's 'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena,' reviewed by Ron Charles". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Wolitzer, Meg (May 13, 2013). "From A Debut Writer, A Polished, Passionate, Must-Read Book". NPR. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Ausubel, Ramona (May 3, 2013). "'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena'". SFGATE. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  14. ^ Lavoie, Tom (March 6, 2013). "Maximum Shelf: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "The crucible of war". The Economist. July 6, 2013. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Parker, Sarah Jessica (May 9, 2013). "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 9, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  17. ^ Garner, Dwight (May 7, 2013). "The Horrors of Chechnya, With Humor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Freeman, John (May 13, 2013). "'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena' by Anthony Marra - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  19. ^ "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena: A Novel|Paperback". Barnes & Noble. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "2018 JCO Finalists". The New Literary Project. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  21. ^ Hooper, Brad (January 1, 2014). "Booklist Editors' Choice: Adult Books, 2013". Booklist. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena". Goodreads. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  23. ^ a b c "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena – DUBLIN Literary Award". Dublin Literary Award. September 3, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  24. ^ "100 Notable Books of 2013". The New York Times. November 27, 2013. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Anthony Marra". Whiting. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  26. ^ "Winners". Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  27. ^ "2014 Winners". Reference & User Services Association (RUSA). October 20, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  28. ^ "2014". Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  29. ^ "ABA Announces 2014 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners". the American Booksellers Association. April 15, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  30. ^ "Notable Books: 2014". Booklist. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  31. ^ "KGB Reading: 2014 Bingham Finalists". PEN America. September 29, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  32. ^ "Young Lions Award List of Winners and Finalists". The New York Public Library. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
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