Ivan and Phoebe

Oksana Lutsysyna

Jan 2024 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Allyson Voller

Audiobook

15 hr 9 min

Unabridged

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About this audiobook

Ivan and Phoebe chronicles the lives of several young people involved in the Ukranian student protests of the 1990's, otherwise known as the Revolution On Granite or the "First Maidan." The story bounces between politically charged cities like Kyiv and Lviv, and protagonist Ivan's small, traditional hometown of Uzhgorod. As characters come to exercise their rights to free speech and protest, they must also reevaluate the norms of marriage, family, and home life. While these initially appear to be spaces of peace and harmony, they are soon revealed to be hotbeds of conflict and multigenerational trauma. Married couple Ivan and Phoebe grapple with questions about family, trauma, and independence. Although Ivan tells the story, Phoebe's voice rings through the text as she divulges her own traumas through poetic monologues. The two reflect on the traumatic aftermath of revolution: torture at the hands of the KGB and each other. While Ivan refuses to talk about his pain, Phoebe describes her past through poetic monologues. Lutsyshyna's poetic form allows her to experiment with characterization and genre, creating her own category. Through her characters' vivid voices, Lutsyshyna creates a his- and her-story of Ukraine: a panoramic view of post-Soviet society and family life through social, political, and economic crises.

About the author

Oksana Lutsyshyna is a Ukrainian writer, translator, and poet, author of three novels, collection of short stories, and five books of poetry. She is currently an assistant professor of instruction in Ukrainian studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

Allyson Voller is a SAG-AFTRA actor based in Chicago. She's worked professionally for many years, in the Midwest theater, on-camera, improv, and voice-over community. Her work as a narrator has been recognized with finalist nominations in the Independent Audiobook Awards and the Audiobook Adrenaline Awards.

Nina Murray was born and raised in Lviv. She holds advanced degrees in creative writing (poetry) and English language and literature. In 2011, Nina launched her career as a translator with The Museum of Abandoned Secrets by Oksana Zabuzhko.

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