All That Is Solid Melts into Air audiobook

All that is Solid Melts into Air tells the story of the Soviet Union in 1986. A nine year-old piano prodigy continuously falling victim to bullies, a surgeon throwing himself into his work to avoid the emotion pain of a failed marriage, a former dissident struggling to free herself from political constraints. Everyday Russians trying to make life work in this repressed state; that was until a disaster in Ukraine changes things.Most people who know me know that I am a fan of Russian literature and books set in Russia. The Cold War years are of particular interest to me, the social and political unrest makes for a haunting backdrop for great story telling. When I head that All that is Solid Melts into Air was this year’s answer to A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, it was all I needed to buy this book. While reading the book I found out the novel centred around the Chernobyl nuclear accident which just gave that extra element to turn this into a new favourite.I have never read a novel about the Chernobyl disaster before and I am struggling to think of other books that focus on this historical event. So I was pleased to have a new insight on a situation I hope to never experience. This was a beautiful and haunting tale of Russians living life and the connections they make along the way. However little gems like the controversial idea of implementing safety measure pre-disaster and the Soviet Union’s efforts to cover the accident up really helped make this novel great.The title is taken from a line in The Communist Manifesto, which is quoted before the novel kicks off. This is an interesting quote to add, not just to give a reference to the title but the implications of what to expect within the novel. As Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels theorise in their political manifesto, “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”.“All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.” – Karl Marx (The Communist Manifesto)While this is a strong character driven novel, it is not the personal but political transgressions that stood out for me. All that is Solid Melts into Air is set in a time where the Iron Curtain is beginning to collapse; things are drastically changing and then the disaster involving the Chernobyl Power Plant throws the people into civil unrest. While the book focuses on a few characters the overall theme is one of class struggles. The Russian people struggling against the Soviet government; the fear and repression rules stronger than the radioactive atmosphere. An interesting concept considering the communist society that Marx wrote about was nothing like the political government at the time.I am a little sad to see this gem has remained under the radar; All that is Solid Melts into Air deserves so much more attention. Despite that horrific setting, this is a novel of great beauty with visceral portrayals of both people and places. The struggle the people go through is handled with tender care and empathy. It is hard to believe that Darragh McKeon is a debut author; much like Anthony Marra, I am eagerly awaiting his next novel. All that is Solid Melts into Air is a new favourite and you can expect it to be near the top of my ‘best of 2014’ list.This review originally appeared on my blog: http://literary-exploration.com/2014/...

Wow. This was an incredible read: lush, lyrical prose on a sentence-by-sentence level, with breathtaking imagery and description. The stories of the four main characters were introduced separately but woven together like a fine tapestry.I can’t say enough about this book. In fact, I don’t know why it didn’t garner higher acclaim and far more reviews than it did. For me, it was THAT good and shed such a necessary light on a topic that is still covered up today, despite its lasting repercussions: the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.I was in the eighth grade when the event occurred in 1986, so – naturally, as a 13-year-old interested mostly in boys, it wasn’t on my radar. Of course, I’d heard about it, but even years later, the name would pop up -- yet with no real conversation of the horrors resulting from the event (mostly because its realities had been purposely hidden/disguised from public consciousness). This fictional novel exposes those realities and had me running to the Internet to look up every possible documentary and You Tube video about its subject. That, readers, is testament to an author who has done his job. After my own research, I am still in shock about the things I didn’t know…This book also delves into the oppression of living under Communist rule and takes place three years before the Berlin Wall comes down; it sheds light on the political unrest (and the impact of politics on personal lives), but does so without being preachy or text-booky (I'm not hugely political). I’ve said it before, but I will repeat myself: historical fiction like this should be mandatory reading in high school classrooms. What a fabulous way to introduce significant historical events and political ideologies… in an engaging BOOK with fully developed characters, its own love story, a story of family relationships, a story of duty to/fear of country and dreams. It’s all about dreaming big, as well.My only regret: that it took me so long to get to this book, which has been on my shelf since it came out in 2014. I can't wait to see what this author writes next! I am off to one heck of a start with my reading this year. Three cheers!

Yesterday, I finished reading ALL THAT IS SOLID MELTS INTO AIR. Today, I already miss the people in the book terribly. Yes, I know they are fictional characters; that is the magic that fuels this novel. Darrogh McKeon has created full-bodied, living, breathing, feeling characters – mistreated, yet resilient; impassive, yet loyal; flawed, yet perfect. Add to that the author’s beautiful prose, his amazing talent for descriptive storytelling, and this is a book that will linger in my mind for years. If you’re looking for a thrilling page-tuner or a happily-ever-after story, this is not the book for you. It explores the impact not only of the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in 1986, but also the horrible repercussions of an oppressive Soviet regime on its people. In the paperback edition, the author also includes a closing essay that details the continued and tragic health and quality-of-life consequences suffered by the people of the region more than 25 years later.This is a book that will make you cringe, and weep, and think, and worry. It is sad. It is terrifying. And yet, it is exquisite in so many ways. As a reader, I was blown away by its beauty and depth. As an author, I was envious as hell. McKeon has raised the bar for my future reading and writing.

I realize that I had left this review out when I was doing my updates.All That is Solid follows the aftermath of Chernobyl - the story is beautifully written with imagery that encompasses the atmosphere of Soviet Russia at the time. The character-driven narrative really shines through with how these families have dealt with oppression and the fallout.It is surprising this is both the debut novel and the only novel that Daragh McKeon has written (since 2014), as it shows a true testament to a great author in the making.3.8/5

Un libro notable.El desastre de Chernóbil y la descomposición de la Unión Soviética le sirven al autor como excusa y escenario (nunca cómo protagonistas) para hablar de cómo las personas gestionamos la soledad, el individualismo, el abuso de poder, los sueños rotos, el sálvese quien pueda, el sacrificio redentor...Su poso es más complejo y profundo de lo que parece mientras la lees, y casi todos sus personajes tienen muchos matices.Por otro lado, la prosa es buenísima, rica, detallista pero no pesada. Me ha encantado la manera de escribir del autor, no parece en absoluto una primera novela, está pulidísima....En la solapa dice que el autor la escribió a lo largo de 10 años, y creo que su único "pero", y de ahí la caída de la quinta estrella, es un pequeño bajón de ritmo y argumento alrededor de la página 200, y que dura unas 60 páginas, en las que al autor, puede que por ese dato de su escritura prolongada en el tiempo, deambula, y parece perdido, sin saber donde llevar la historia. Su prosa sigue siendo excelente pero la historia se le atasca un poco. Más allá de eso, muy buen libro. De nuevo Alba en su linea "Contemporánea" acierta completamente con mis gustos literarios (también lo hizo con "Un buen tipo" y con "Todo lo que no te conté"), seguiré explorando su catálogo.

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...I received this ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication is March 11th 2014.I am a big fan of stories that take place during periods of historical significance and this story did not disappoint. I admit that I do not possess a great wealth of knowledge about Russian history or the events that occurred at Chernobyl as I was too young to be interested in the world outside my door. This is the main reason I was prompted to read this book. What I liked about this novel is that I was able to learn more about this place in time without it feeling like I was reading a history lesson. The story was told through the characters and their journeys as opposed to just a descriptive narration of the events that occurred. I was able to feel what each of the characters was feeling and experiencing even though my life has not been remotely similar to theirs. I particularly enjoyed the story surrounding both Grigory and Maria. The remaining characters and stories while interesting in how they added an extra dimension to the book were not the main drawing points.Those that are familiar with my reviews know that I do not like to give away any aspects of the plot however with the subject matter of this story it is obvious that this is not a happy go lucky read. These were dark times in a place where people were still struggling under the rule of the Soviet empire and add to that the disastrous events that occurred at Chernobyl that we still hear about to this day. Anyone looking for a story that is wrapped up neatly by the end of the read would be disappointed. This book instead was realistic and honest in it's portrayal of this time and I am thankful for that. Anything else would have been an injustice. I also thought that the conclusion to the story was exactly as it should been in keeping with the theme of the novel.It is my understanding that while McKeon has written several short story that this will be his first published novel. As someone who has read numerous upon numerous novels from both experienced and novice writers I found that this was a very impressive read regardless of experience. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction and not afraid of a read that is a little bit of substance.

Gorgeous. If there was one word to describe this book gorgeous would be it. After I read a book, I like to wait a day or so before I review it to let what I've just read sink in. I finished this novel last night, and I cannot stop thinking about it. All That Is Solid Melts Into Air by Darragh McKeon is one of those books that will stick with you, impact you emotionally, and cause you to spend hours researching Chernobyl. This novel is the closest to perfection that I have read in a long time. McKeon's prose is beautiful, his phrases color the pages and create an exotic environment that thoroughly enthralls the reader. The novel mostly takes place in 1986 in the Soviet Union. One storyline is set in Moscow while the other follows the destruction of Chernobyl, and the people who lived near there and the people who were sent to clean it up. The two storylines are intertwined beautifully, connected by one brave doctor who isn't afraid to speak his mind. One of the highlights of this novel is McKeon's grounding of his plot and setting. As someone who was one year old when the Chernobyl nuclear disaster happened and who remembers the Soviet Union as the thing that was breaking apart but competed as the Unified Team in the '92 Olympics, McKeon gives just enough background and information for the reader to fully understand the environment the story takes place in. At first I was puzzled by what I assume functions as a prologue in the novel. It's a short scene where (view spoiler)[ Maria reminisces about Grigory. I didn't know who the characters were or what was going on. However, upon finishing the novel, the prologue becomes something amazing in that it causes the novel to have a cyclical structure. The prologue is really the closure of Maria's storyline. Perhaps borrowing a bit from Finnegans Wake, the cyclical structure makes you want to end reading with the beginning or continuing on and rereading the entire novel. (hide spoiler)]As with any good literary novel the characters are the ones driving the novel. Each character is different and well developed. My favorites are Zhenya, Artyom, Grigory, and Maria. Okay, so that's like the majority of them. I adored Zhenya's relationship with his aunt (Maria). He is closer to her than he is his own mother. Zhenya is really the bookend character. The main narrative starts and ends with him. The reader sees this nine year old struggle with the talent he's given. Zhenya has to make the choice of whether he will dedicate himself to learning the piano or not, and McKeon shows the struggle beautifully. Zhenya is faced with choosing the piano or a "normal childhood," complete with the temptations and influences of other kids. While I wasn't nearly as talented as Zhenya, his struggle reminded me of my own childhood, and my choice to give up gymnastics for a chance to experience life as a normal kid. (view spoiler)[ At the end of the novel, Zhenya realizes he is meant to play the piano, and the scene where he enters his piano teacher's apartment and plays his heart out was one of the best scenes in the novel. I could practically hear Zhenya throwing himself, hear the piano notes in my ear even though I didn't know the piece he was playing. (hide spoiler)]As a sort of parallel to Zhenya's character is Artyom. The child on the cusp of growing up lives near Chernobyl and must face forced relocation and everything that comes with it. He and his family must navigate their new life, learn to live with their new reality. Artyom is an interesting character who grows throughout the story. However, the one issue I have with the novel is with his storyline. (view spoiler)[ I felt like McKeon never gave Artyom and his family a proper conclusion. I wanted to know what had happened to them. I kept hoping he'd pop up at Zhenya's performance at the end of the novel. (hide spoiler)]The bridge character, Grigory, is one of strength. When he leaves for Chernobyl he knows how unlikely it is that he'll return. He shows bravery in the face of the crisis. He's an unsung hero. (view spoiler)[ His end in his death is predictable, but I can't see it any other way. He was too close to the reactor for too long to not die. His downward spiral tugs at your heart. He worked so hard, and in the end he doesn't even get to deliver his side of the story. Grigory's character made me wonder how many real life Grigory's there were at Chernobyl. How many were silenced by the Soviet regime? (hide spoiler)]I received this book as a first reads giveaway, and I am so happy I won this book. The novel reminds me of what literary fiction can and should be. This book deserves recognition, and I hope it gets lots of attention once it's released. The biggest disappointment I had was that the novel ended and it's McKeon's first novel, meaning I can't rush off to read any of his other books. I would recommend this novel to anyone (16 and up) who wants a satisfying read. The novel isn't difficult, but I think younger readers won't fully get the impact of this story. It is not the lightest in tone, but it is beautiful all the same. POV: 3rd person, multipleTense: Present, but don't let it scare you off. I hardly noticed it was in present rather than past.

Beautifully written, dreamlike novel centered on the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and its impact on a cast of characters with intertwining paths at the end of the Soviet era.