Čtyři ženy a jeden pohřeb – Abgarjanová Narine (2023)

In the Armenian town of Berd, the best local bricklayer and roofer Simon has died, known not only for his skill but also as a notorious womanizer. Along with all his relatives and neighbors, his former lovers come to say goodbye – each with her life story, each with a cherished memory from the past. Their fates are tragic, marked by toxic relationships from the past. Simon passed through the lives of these troubled women like a life-giving force, restoring their confidence, joy, and the feeling that the world can be beautiful despite all its suffering. The author depicts the transformation of female protagonists against the backdrop of the traumas of the twentieth century: the Armenian genocide, civil war, two world wars, and Soviet domination, with sincerity and gentle humor. A powerful story about strong women, nominated for the prestigious literary award Bolšaja kniga, will once again convince readers of the unpredictability of life, that happiness comes when we least expect it. Above all, it tells a story of love – the kind that is often unattainable, but when we finally find it, it stays with us for a lifetime.