Andrey Kurkov

Advantages: Tragi-comic brilliance and Ukrainian socio-realism - how can you say no?
Disadvantages: A little short

...Despite some occasional critical bashings, A Matter of Death and Life is perhaps Ukranian Author, Andrey Kurkov's most accessible novel. Closer in length to a novella (a mere 111 pages), A Matter of Death and Life is a read in one sitting work and was released in the wake of his two successful Penguin novels (Death and the Penguin and Penguin Lost - both excellent). Kurkov himself has had a colourful career. Trained as a translator, he worked as such for the KGB and the Military Police prior to the fall of the Soviet Union. Just as the old USSR crumbled his first novel was published. He has also worked as a screenwriter and cameraman, but it seems to be fiction where he has found his niche. Kurkov has his own style, a mix of grim, sometimes brutal poetic-socio-realism and some considerable surrealism. There is always a lot... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It's a book
Disadvantages: Dull, uninteresting writing and characterisation

...a former classmate turns up at the kiosk and extols the virtues of working in advertising offering to provide Tatarsky with an introduction to the industry. Tatarsky joins a company where he prepares pitches for foreign companies not yet in need of advertising but in the future, who knows? A bit like Kurkov's "Death and the Penguin" where the character writes obituaries for people who may yet have many years to live. The more Tatarsky gets into the role, the more he realises that the advertising moguls are not just controlling the agenda, political and otherwise, but actually creating the politicians whose actions and agendas they then, as a form of soap-opera, control for their benefit whilst pretending to the general public that everything is for real. The parallel plot concerns Tatarsky's drug-inspired search for knowledge... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great storyline, strong characters, tantalising
Disadvantages: Some people get annoying

...him.. often). He’s a big headed, know-it-all kinda guy. I guess he means well but Clancy portrays him in a way to make you hate him. Elizabeth Elliot National Security Advisor to the President (and a little more as it turns out). She’s had a run in with Ryan before and hates his guts. She’s a complete bitch and Clancy makes you hate her even more. Dan Murray Ryan’s counterpart at FBI. He’s always described as ‘an honest cop’ and that’s what he is. He’s practically a twin to Ryan. Sergey Golovko Ryan’s counterpart in the Russian KGB – Sergey is another honest guy, in a dangerous kind of way. He’s very intelligent and respectful of Ryan. He’s the voice of reason in Russia. Andrey I’llch Narmonov Russian President. Supported by the west in his role... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful