The Invisible Saratov

A successful literary start for a poet in prose.

A vivid story about complicated relationships, parental challenges, and whims of fate happening in a small town where reality and magic intertwine closely.

Delightful writing style. A skillful blend of meanings and emotions, filled with tragicomic madness.

Mikhail Levantovsky, born in 1987 in Kazakhstan, is known as a poet and the author of poetry collections "The Ministry of Walking Snow" and "Atyatyat’". His works have been published in such journals and magazines as "Youth," "Siberian Lights," "Semitones," and "Fal’ter."

"Invisible Saratov" is the author’s first novel.

A student in eighth grade, Katya, receives a magical gift. At the same time, her parents are going through a crisis in their relationship and do not speak to each other. An ordinary morning in a small town turns into a story for adults. In this place, reality lives side by side with the incredible: silence is broken by love notes, and things find voices.

"This is one of the most original and interesting debut novels I have read in a long time. Exceptionally inventive and witty, it offers the reader a journey along little-known paths. In the plot, the main character turns into a hair clip so he can follow his wife everywhere—that’s a surreal setup which Levantovsky develops into an unexpectedly convincing story".

Anton Sekisov