A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

Humanity. Prepare yourself to be disoriented if you decide to read Anthony Marra’s finely written debut novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. The beginning of each chapter provides an excellent orientation in time by highlighting the year during which a chapter’s narrative took place. The overall setting is Chechnya during war. Each chapter reveals something new about the characters and their struggles. Marra captures the horrors and injustice of war, while revealing the ways in which our humanity can survive and thrive. I found myself reading this novel quickly, trying to pay attention to time periods so I could piece things together. Marra’s fine prose redeems the structure of the novel, and many critics have considered this among the best books of the year. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase A Constellation of Vital Phenomena from amazon.com.