The Days of Miracle and Wonder

The Days of Miracle and Wonder / Irene Zabytko
Wheat Street Productions, c2020.
143 p.

I was pleased to recently find this book in my library's ebook collection. Zabytko is an American writer of Ukrainian descent, and this is a collection of stories, many of which are set in Ukraine or deal with Ukrainian characters. I really enjoyed it. 

I read one of her first novels years ago, and didn't really warm to it, but this collection shows the development of her writing, at least I think so. I found the variety in theme interesting, and there were some great settings and characters who came to life in just a few pages. There are 9 stories, most dealing with post-Soviet Ukraine, so not cheery tales overall (although one about a cowboy was quite funny!). But many of them reflect the bitterness of political upheaval, as seen in individual lives. There are a range of characters, from an embittered cosmonaut, an Elvis impersonator, or a former swimmer, to the trick rider already mentioned, and even the Devil himself. Most are realistic or slightly hyperbolic stories, often told by a narrator who is an observer, just outside of the main action. And this technique feels immediate, like someone is talking right to you, telling you stories about things that really happened - or that they want you to believe really happened! I liked this style. 

The one story that stands out as a bit different is The Midwife's Tale, an historical piece about a Slavic midwife who ends up helping Mary deliver Jesus. I thought this was well-paced, engaging, a wonderfully creative re-imagining of the Christmas story, and of course very seasonal, which was a pleasant surprise to find here! I believe this story has also been published as a standalone, which would be great to reread around the holidays each year. 

I thought this was an excellent collection and I would definitely reread it. Such a great find.