Mariam Petrosyan is an Armenian writer living in Russia, who has written only in Russian so far. She began writing “The house in which …” in 1991, and it was published at the end of 2009. That’s 18 years from beginning to publication. They started talking about the book as soon as it was published and the novel soon brought the author a prestigious Russian Prize.
The House in Which … is an unusual book. Critics have attributed its genre to magical realism, although it is also a novel of education. In my opinion, it’s one of the best books in Russian I read in the last 20 years. In the most general sense, this is a novel about a group of disabled children’s life at a boarding school. They’re treated and taught from 6 to 18 and that last year in the school is described. The main problem is that graduates are scared to leave their home and find themselves in life, which they call “Outside”
I once bought this house … and a year later I realized that I was afraid of volume. Basically, I was afraid of being disappointed and wasting time. So in the end, I gave this brick. And now I regret it, I sincerely regret it, because for the first time in my life I wanted to mark interesting moments with a pen, emphasize my favorite phrases, mark my favorite chapters. There were many memorable quotes in this book and that’s why now when I’m reading one of them it evokes the thoughts and emotions from earlier on. It was truly an incredible.
Home is a strange place, it isn’t quite limbo but also isn’t the real world. It has so many different meanings and none of them are really true. You can’t even really call it a place, all you know is that you’re not outside, but you know nothing else about what home is like. A hous has so many elements that it’s hard not to be in awe of. A house is a place, it’s sounds, people, feelings. It can be like a song or dance – time or game: but above all else it’s life. I have no doubt that you can find yours too – because every one deserves this happiness.
The characters in this story are so bright that it’s hard to believe. They each have their own story and spark of magic. Even the most bizarre situation is something these characters can handle with ease. In reality, it’s true that the last thing you think about is someone who has no arms or legs. Someone else might be blind, have an injury – and so on. Personally, what I tried to understand was age: How old is anyone? It’s not always clear but it used to be something much more relevant in a world where people stayed at home until they. The confusion in the children’s and adults’ ages amused me. It just made this quest so much more intriguing. But, I’m getting a little off topic here. Let’s get back to the question of differentiation at hand… When you read about people with disabilities, who have lost legs or arms etc., it’s often hard not to feel pressured and sad, but as a finale of their stories the author will mention something good that happened. You might seem to be doing something quite different, with your characters that are much more active than what we see in half of the successful series. You’re not feeling this pity that so many creators have, and you even envy some of them. That they are so lively and energetic, how they never get stuck or feel sorry for themselves. And also many of them. You’re reading along for when they might finally talk about the Sphinx and he Blind Man, but alas there’s no mention of either. Seems like all they talk about is the Wolf. It’s like coming to tea only to hear how much grass someone has mowed.
When reading this saga though, I wasn’t always convinced. The success of the author was shown in the entire work, until finally the reader realizes that at the end of every single volume everything is turned upside down. Towards the end of Vol. 1 it’s not hard to accept that the House is as ordinary as it could be, and all this is just a “game” anymore. You need to urgently clean yourself up, but there is no help to be found nearby. You are dismayed and regret this.
Sometimes when I’m reading, I want to be there with the colourful characters in this book and discuss the events with Jackal, to be silent by Sphinx’s side, to get irritated with human antics of Lord and think about Seagull, There are so many things I want to experience. Just imagine breathing in the Forest with the Blind, being at least once at the Crossroads and drinking a strange drink from the Vulture’s hands, visiting the Coffee Pot for a couple of cigarettes and living as much as possible!
At first I had a hard time fitting in the House, but once I finished the book I felt at home in it. It’s sad when books like this end. I’m eagerly awaiting the day I can return to my old home and just curl up with a good book.
I expected the ending and was afraid because I didn’t want reality to catch up, even for a moment. The house had vanished under its own weight, nearly impossible out eventually to tear myself away from it.
Reading the book for different people can stay the same page, but every person that reads it will have their own interpretation. When you might read the book over and over again more un-charted depths become open in your mind, to which you start to delve more into how really certain moments make you feel.
Sadly, not everyone can read and understand this book. It is fascinating how differently people are able to read the same text and make different interpretations.
The book is beautiful, even after all this time. Time doesn’t change the depth of opinion and inspires people to long discussions.
All her fans will agree – Mariam Petrosyan’s book, “The House in which…”, is one of the most beloved books. It has a magical atmosphere and wonderful characters.