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A review by brassaf
Sobornost by Austin Wimberly
5.0
Several years ago some very good friends of mine adopted children from Russia. Until I read this novel I had knowledge of only a tiny fraction of what they experienced--emotionally, psychologically, logistically, and even financially--in order to adopt their precious children, two of whom are my godsons. Now, after having read this book, I feel I understand, and am more deeply connected, to this journey they undertook. Bravo to Mr. Wimberly for pouring into this novel the essence and emotions of his own family's adoption journey so that others might experience it. But the novel doesn't just trace one American family's adoption adventure. Wimberly also gives a realistic, believable and emotionally wrenching view into the culture of poverty, sadness and moral dilemma that many Russian women must suffer for there to be such a prevalent orphan and orphanage epidemic and industry. At the same time the story peers into the religious beliefs and experiences of the characters from both countries, and shows how these solemn elements shape their decisions and color their journeys. For me this was an important dimension to what might otherwise be an incomplete exploration of the adoption journey.
The characters of the story, both American and Russian, creep out of the pages as the story develops in a dynamic way, using both first person and third person narrative blended across two ultimately connected but separate stretches of time. The switch of perspectives and scenes keeps the story engaging and held this reader's attention as I loaded into my reading memory the journeys of the adopting couples as well as the various Russian mothers who for different reasons gave up their children for adoption. As I reluctantly read Sobornost's denouement--reluctantly because I knew the story was ending and I wasn't ready to say good-bye to all of the characters in this story, there in the end are sad, shocking and joyful surprises, as well as some emotional, thought-provoking, and plot-finishing details that I didn't know I would necessarily get out of the story's final pages.
I seriously recommend this novel to anyone either considering international adoption, or who is connected by family or friend to an adoption-enhanced family, as I am connected. You will thank yourself for having picked up this novel and once you put it down for the last time you will appreciate your family or friends' real-life adventures which this novel lovingly explores. You will also start to ponder the idea behind the book's title, what that concept means for the people in the story, and how it might connect you to their story and the lives of people around the world.
The characters of the story, both American and Russian, creep out of the pages as the story develops in a dynamic way, using both first person and third person narrative blended across two ultimately connected but separate stretches of time. The switch of perspectives and scenes keeps the story engaging and held this reader's attention as I loaded into my reading memory the journeys of the adopting couples as well as the various Russian mothers who for different reasons gave up their children for adoption. As I reluctantly read Sobornost's denouement--reluctantly because I knew the story was ending and I wasn't ready to say good-bye to all of the characters in this story, there in the end are sad, shocking and joyful surprises, as well as some emotional, thought-provoking, and plot-finishing details that I didn't know I would necessarily get out of the story's final pages.
I seriously recommend this novel to anyone either considering international adoption, or who is connected by family or friend to an adoption-enhanced family, as I am connected. You will thank yourself for having picked up this novel and once you put it down for the last time you will appreciate your family or friends' real-life adventures which this novel lovingly explores. You will also start to ponder the idea behind the book's title, what that concept means for the people in the story, and how it might connect you to their story and the lives of people around the world.