“Well,” said Manya, “that’s classic. The wife nurtures, the husband grows. Then he grows up and exchanges his old wife for a new one.” “Fatal Gift” by T. Ustinova
Dear friends, our last lit salon was dedicated to the works of Tatiana Ustinova. More precisely, we explored elements of psychotherapy in her novels.
As is well known, Tatiana Ustinova is not only a detective novelist but also a television presenter. Many have watched her programs and noted her knowledgeable approach to interviews: she asks questions skillfully, avoids awkward situations, and tries not to embarrass her guests.
“Only someone wholly dedicated to their work and aware of its importance, or a failure trying to prove their fictitious significance to others, would dig into trash,” she said. “The Myth of the Ideal Man” by T. Ustinova
Most salon participants prefer classic serious literature. Ustinova’s novels, however, belong to the light detective genre: read, relax, and forget.
It is light in the sense that, despite the detective component and the resulting outcomes, T. Ustinova’s books are easy to read, with engaging plots that avoid the heavy weight of “committed crimes,” as is the case with Agatha Christie’s novels, which are also detective stories but far from light.
Life is like a book with uncut pages, thought Mitrofanova as she ran down from the sixth floor to her fourth. Part of it has been read, passed, and some places memorized by heart, but what lies ahead is a mystery. The pages aren’t cut! And they can’t be cut in advance – that’s the deal; that’s how this very book is designed! “Uncut Pages” by T. Ustinova
It so happened that each participant read “their own” book. This made sharing opinions and plots even more interesting.
“I didn’t find a strong detective component. In my opinion, the detective aspect is almost incidental. Ustinova’s main focus was on interpersonal relationships, giving each character a chance for personal happiness,” said a reader who read two of the author’s works: *”An Angel Came”* and *”Personal Angel.”*
“I miss classic descriptions. The language is very simple,” said another reader. She read *”Shakespeare is My Friend, but Truth is Dearer.”* She immediately added: “Simple, but not primitive.”
So, learn already!… You have to start sometime! Otherwise, life will pass, and you will never know how wonderful it is to wear things beautifully. “Destiny by the Book of Changes” by T. Ustinova
“I’m not quite in agreement about the lack of descriptions,” the third reader chimed in. She read *”Expect the Unexpected.”* “Frankly, I wanted to close the book after the first few pages; the characters were described so negatively. I could vividly imagine a plump girl in a floral dress to the floor, an awkward old woman with a handbag from the early 1900s, and a bald man in sweatpants, a terrible T-shirt with slogans and faces. Brrr. But this wasn’t the author’s vision. The author viewed all these passengers on the cruise ship through the eyes of one of the novel’s characters – Ksenia’s eyes.”
When asked if such literature is necessary, everyone agreed: “Yes, it is. It wonderfully distracts from everyday life and worries.”
In conclusion, it can be said that Ustinova succeeded in her role as a psychotherapist.
The next lit salon will be devoted to serious prose: the work of the unique Kyrgyz writer and former diplomat, Chingiz Aitmatov. Read his works and join us. Stay tuned for announcements.
