Marina Stepnova is the author of the loudly acclaimed novel “The Women of Lazarus” (the “BIG BOOK” prize; translated into many European languages), the novel “The Surgeon,” and a series of excellent short stories written for the magazine “Snob.”
The main character of her new book “Atheist Lane,” Ivan Ogarev, from childhood has tried to build his life against the grain—against his parents, the familiar way of living for a place that is still a city’s outskirts, and the given circumstances: school—army—work. A tragic incident pushes him toward a choice of profession—he becomes a doctor. But once again, everything turns out much like it does for many: medical institute—private clinic—devoted wife… Ogarev accepts the rules of the adult game, but… life once more hands him something unexpected: love for a strange girl for whom the main thing is freedom from everything and everyone—even from life itself…