Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.
Members thought the book was an incredible accomplishment for a first novel and said that, despite the rather complex presentation, they did become interested in the main characters although the book got off to a slow start. The narrative centers around three residents of a rural village in Chechnya, caught up in yet another civil war. The two adults are determined to protect the recently orphaned 8-year-old Havaa, who has escaped the death squad sent to eliminate both her and her father. We discussed the effects, both physical and mental, of living in a constant state of war and the deprivations imposed by years of destruction and deprivation. In particular, the discussion focused on the moral choices people are forced to make in order for they and/or their families to survive. Members also talked about how fortunate we are in this country and that we cannot truly comprehend what people in other parts of the world are going through. As this title also centered around war and the victims of war, the group feels a bit "war-weary" but also more informed about some lesser known conflicts and their consequences on the people who lived through them.
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