Two conjoined babies are born at the intersection of two social worldviews. The girls are named Faith and Hope. After spending their childhood in a foster home and obtaining a basic education, they come to realise that they are different from other people in many respects. The problems of their upbringing are only made worse by the constant humiliations they suffer at the hands of society.
Eventually, fortune smiles on them, by seemingly opening up the door to happiness: a separation surgery that can theoretically be performed in the capital. Thus begins a journey fraught with difficulties and obstacles for the sisters. Will they be able to get past the wall of public cynicism, together with the internal conflicts they have among themselves? Will they find a justification for their existence and learn to accept it? The search for the answers to these and many other questions constitutes the essence of this novel.
One-Two is a psychological drama, the main events of which unfold in the 1980s and 1990s in Russia. The novel reflects on how difficult it is to be a human and how important it is to stay human until the end. It is a message full of empathy and kindness addressed to all people.
The book was awarded:
- New York City Big Book Award – General Fiction – 2018
- The BookViral Millennium Book Award – 2017
- The Independent Publisher Book Awards – Europe: Best Regional Fiction – 2017
- The International Book Award – Fiction: Multicultural – 2018
- The International Book Award contest Readers’ Favorite in Cultural Fiction – 2017
[real3dflipbook id=’90’]
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Author
Igor Miroshnichenko (born 12 March, 1977 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia) is an English-language writer, novelist, and essayist; he writes under the pen name Igor Eliseev, his mother’s maiden name.
Igor graduated from the Don State Technical University, where he studied engineering procedure, in 1999. He also studied at the Moscow University of Industry and Finance, graduating in 2009 with a degree in the management of commercial activities.
He first tried his hand at writing sketches and scripts for a radio show. He also found himself particularly drawn to portrait and fashion photography. Some time later, he became one of the most in-demand photographers in Moscow. His photos brought him a lot of attention and a taste of financial freedom, but ultimately, literature remains his true and only calling.
Igor Eliseev began his literary activity in 1999 with a number of short stories, essays and a film script. Later, the plot of the script developed into a literary novel – the most important project of his life and one that has not yet been completed. In 2015, however, he finished his second novel, which, by a twist of fate, became his debut novel. One-Two, a book that is dedicated to the memory of his mother, tells the story of two conjoined sisters born in the era of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
He has been interested in oriental martial arts ever since he was a child and practices Judo, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu and Chinese Wushu; he worked as a martial arts instructor for several years.
Endorsements and Review Quotes
“One-Two is a different kind of book, in parts strange, in parts repulsive, but one that holds reader attention in evoking a rarely seen world. It is worth reading for that alone.” Yelena Furman, East-West Review
“Conjoined twins are not typically the topic of a novel about social consciousness and its evolution, but One-Two is packed with surprises on many levels, and only one of them has to do with their physical connection as twins Hope and Faith make their way through an uncertain life.” Donovan’s Bookshelf, Midwest Book Review
“Eliseev, a native Russian, injects a uniquely Russian way of viewing language, influenced by a culture and context far different from that of the average Brit or American. I love books written by authors of different countries whose native language isn’t necessarily English for just that reason.” J. Aislynn d’Merricksson, Manhattan Book Review
One-Two is “a highly original book which I can thoroughly recommend.” John, The Modern Novel
“The style is at first disconcerting, being told from an alternating first and second person, but in the end feels like the perfect choice. A psychological drama, the novel reflects on how difficult but also how important it is to remain human.” Allison’s Book Blog
“One-Two is a harrowing book, as Faith and Hope travel a difficult road. The history of 1980s and ’90s Russia unfolds in the background, and there’s a sense that Eliseev is reflecting this in the personal story of his protagonists.” David Hebblethwaite, DAVID’S BOOK WORLD
“Beautifully written, extraordinarily powerful, One-Two proves a rare gem of a read and is recommended without reservation.” BookViral
“Igor Eliseev has a deceptive and seemingly simple writing style not usually used for such works that nevertheless manages to weave an intricate tapestry of narrative and engaging dialogue with skill that makes it a pleasure to read. His portrayal of Faith and Hope is vivid and stark without descending into the darkness of morbid minds.” Stefan Vucak
“It’s heart-breaking to think of children being denied even their own names…” Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers
“Thought provoking and well-executed; characters are truly in turmoil and a metaphor for the human condition. The reader is left a little heartbroken yet hopeful at the end.” BookLife
“An original, painful tale of youthful isolation.” Kirkus Reviews
“This is a genius novel, a psychological literary drama that shall pull at all your heartstrings. But don’t let that detract you from enjoying it as there are beautiful moments within, all the way to such a realistic ending ” Mark Benjamin
“As I read One-Two, I was reminded once again why I’ve gravitated towards the great Russian authors throughout my adult life. And reading One-Two, I felt again in the presence of greatness, a word that’s often trivialized yet so apt here. I delighted in the glimpses of Gogol’s humor present in the nicknames and descriptive imagery that flourish throughout this work: the strange little man who seems like a flat pumpkin, and the supervisor, Compass Legs, who enslaves the twins.” Jack Magnus, Readers’ Favorite
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.