Your Presence Is Mandatory
A Novel
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Your Presence Is Mandatory
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Narrated by:
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Sam Rushton
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By:
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Sasha Vasilyuk
About this listen
Bloomsbury presents Your Presence Is Mandatory by Sasha Vasilyuk, read by Sam Rushton.
A riveting debut novel, based on real events, about a World War II veteran with a secret that could land him in the Gulag, and his family who are forced to live in the shadow of all he has not told them.
Ukraine, 2007. Yefim Shulman, husband, grandfather and war veteran, was beloved by his family and his coworkers. But in the days after his death, his widow Nina finds a letter to the KGB in his briefcase. Yefim had a lifelong secret, and his confession forces them to reassess the man they thought they knew and the country he had defended.
In 1941, Yefim is a young artillerist on the border between the Soviet Union and Germany, eager to defend his country and his large Jewish family against Hitler's forces. But surviving the war requires sacrifices Yefim never imagined-and even when the war ends, his fight isn't over. He must conceal his choices from the KGB and from his family.
Spanning seven decades between World War II and the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, Your Presence Is Mandatory traces the effect Yefim's coverup had on the lives of Nina, their two children and grandchildren. In the process, Sasha Vasilyuk shines a light on one family caught between two totalitarian regimes, and the grace they find in the course of their survival.
Critic reviews
'At once a historical epic, an engrossing family saga, and an astute examination of morality, survival, hope, and love, Your Presence Is Mandatory is a stunning feat. The emotional impact of reading Sasha Vasilyuk's gripping debut is immense. I sat with the vivid characters Vasilyuk has created for hours after reading, and I continue to think of them. Your Presence Is Mandatory is a book to last generations, and one I won't soon forget.' (Lara Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of THE SECRETS WE KEPT)
'An absorbing historical drama that spans from WWII to the current Russian-Ukraine conflict. Vasiluk is tender and caring with her characters and her setting. Fans of All The Light We Cannot See will find the perfect historical novel with this book.' (Debutiful, "Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2024")
'Wonderfully written, elegiac and necessary, Sasha Vasiyuk uncovers the history behind the recent headlines with great skill and grace.' (Gary Shteyngart, author of OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS)
'An engrossing family saga and a secret key for anyone who wants to understand how history has brought Ukrainians and Russians to where they are today.' (Boris Fishman, author of SAVAGE FEAST)
What listeners say about Your Presence Is Mandatory
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
The Untold Story of a Soldier's Journey!
I loved how the author kept my attention through blocks of history, life changes, and a marriage story. The story flows through the difficult times of multiple characters, from the beginning of the Second World War to the start of the 21st century.
As a person who grew up with four grandparents who survived the Second World War, I imagined the filters they used to tell stories. Their stories never evolved, never deepened, as if they told only what they decided to share.
I recommend this book to anyone ready to be captivated by a history lesson, hidden journey, and beautiful flow of language.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stefan
- 05-16-24
Captivating narrative
Beautifully written, deeply personal story of horrors and absurdity of war and the soviet system. Masterfully painted dehumanizing struggle to survive and protect your loved ones from trauma, discrimination and persecution. This story is increasingly relevant due to senseless war in Ukraine and criminal totalitarianism revived by its high priest of deception and destruction Vladimir Putin.
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1 person found this helpful