Endling
"終結"單身: 烏克蘭新娘的反撲
內容介紹
在加里·施特恩加特(Gary Shteyngart)和喬治·桑德斯(George Saunders)荒誕文學傳統的影響下，誕生了這位被《大西洋月刊》譽為「她這一代後蘇聯作家中的佼佼者」(one of the leading post-Soviet writers of her generation)以及瑪格麗特·愛特伍(Margaret Atwood)稱為「值得關注的新人」(a new talent to watch)的首部小說，講述了三位烏克蘭女性和一隻極度瀕危的蝸牛在資本主義、外國入侵、浪漫和生存的考驗中所經歷的磨難。
2022年，烏克蘭。娜絲佳（Nastia）和她的妹妹索莉瑪亞（Solimaya）捲入蓬勃發展的烏克蘭新娘行業，受僱來烏克蘭參加「浪漫旅行」的西方男子，為他們尋找夢中情人提供娛樂。耶娃（Yeva）則是一位孤僻且特立獨行的科學家，她在作為實驗室的拖車裡嘗試培育出這個地區日益減少的蝸牛品種，但她總是失敗。
娜絲佳對找到失蹤母親的執著促使她展開了一場畢生難忘的旅程。她的母親是一位富有激情的抗議者，因多年公開反對浪漫旅行後消失無蹤。這段數百英里的旅途，帶著三個憤怒的女人、一卡車被綁架的單身漢，以及一隻名叫萊夫提(Lefty)瀕臨滅絕的罕見蝸牛，這是即將絕種蝸牛延續命脈的最後機會。
這段旅程和他們的夢想隨著俄羅斯的入侵戛然而止。在這部驚人且刺痛人心的後設小說中，《"終結"單身: 烏克蘭新娘的反撲》（Endling）以驚人的平衡手法將劇情推動的喜劇性張力展現得淋漓盡致，同時借鑒了作為烏克蘭外籍人士的瑪麗亞·蕾娃 (Maria Reva)的個人經歷：她被迫從遠方見證戰火，並追蹤家人在敵後生存的艱難掙扎。當小說與現實生活在書頁中交織，蕾娃探究了戰爭的殘酷真相：離開自己的家園和財產是什麼感受？反之，繼續留在軍事佔領下過著日常生活和工作的感受又如何？對於遠在海外觀望的我們，現實感如何改變？常態與安全能否恢復，還是這一切本來就是一種幻象？
《"終結"單身: 烏克蘭新娘的反撲》是講述一個充滿愛、失落、幽默與毀滅的故事，這只有瑪麗亞·蕾娃才能講述。
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作者介紹
瑪麗亞·蕾娃(Maria Reva)出生於烏克蘭，在加拿大長大。她擁有德州大學密奇納中心（Michener Center）的藝術創作碩士學位（MFA）。她的小說作品曾發表於《大西洋月刊》（The Atlantic）、《麥克斯維尼》（McSweeney's）、《美國最佳短篇小說》（Best American Short Stories）等刊物，並獲得國家雜誌獎（National Magazine Award）。
書評
Endling shouldn't be funny, but it is - very. Set in Ukraine just as Putin invades, it features three young women, on two different missions, in one vehicle. Structurally wild and playful, Endling is also heart-rending and angry. It examines colonialism, old and neo, the role of women, identity, power and powerlessness, and the very nature of fiction-writing. Maria Reva also tells a riveting, unique story; the shock is that this is her first novel. It's a book about the world now, and about three unforgettable women, Yeva, Nastia and Solomiya, travelling together in a mobile lab. The endling, by the way, is a snail ― Booker Prize
Maria Reva has made a fantastic novel. It's about so much and yet is laser focused. A scientist who funds her research with sex work, a wild and, at the same time, sensible and normal move. This novel turns corners and tables. I love works that are smarter than I am and this is one -- Percival Everett, author of Booker-shortlisted JAMES
In Maria Reva's all-around brilliant novel Endling, the fate of some snails serves as a harbinger for the fate of Ukraine. The book is funny and smart, full of science, longing and adventure, all the while reminding us what the world stands to lose, and what it has already lost. This is essential reading -- Ann Patchett, bestselling author of TOM LAKE
'A fierce and funny road-trip novel' GUARDIAN, the 50 hottest books to read right now
'Inventive and playful' SUNDAY TIMES
'A thrilling ride' FINANCIAL TIMES
'Brilliant and heart-stopping' LOS ANGELES TIMES
'Startling and ambitious' NEW YORK TIMES
'Animated by dark humor and cool fury' NEW YORKER
'Dexterous and formally inventive' MARCEL THEROUX, GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE DAY
得獎紀錄
* LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2025 *
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