Sayaka Murata "Ceremony of Life" Moscow: "Popcorn Books", 2024

Sayaka Murata is distinguished by her unconventional perspective on everyday life and her penchant for literary provocation. She is observant, sharp in her assessment of contemporary society, and merciless toward her readers. "Ceremony of Life" is a collection of short fantasies about strange phenomena: for example, about a girl who finds herself in a land where people never sleep, about a rather peculiar cannibalistic tradition (the title story), or about two schoolgirls secretly caring for a human pet. The collection was translated by Dmitry Kovalenin, who once introduced Haruki Murakami to Russian-speaking audiences, and the translator's introduction is crucial here, as it helps us understand (and forgive) both the book's unique features and its contemporary context. 

"Particles of Yamamoto were spreading across the world—and, settling in other people's stomachs, they were transformed into the energy of their lives. The very thought of this delighted me."