During the first stage, the “Espreso. Readers’ Choice 2020” book award received 165 applications from 38 publishing houses in Ukraine.
The organizing committee carefully checked all publications sent by publishing houses for compliance with the requirements. After that, Long lists of books for the competition were formed in three nominations: “Literature for adults”, “Literature for teenagers” and “Literature for children”
By the second stage, 97 editions from 29 publishing houses were included in the Long List of books in the “Literature for adults” category.
The third part of the list:
“Conversations about life and art”, Halyna Pagutyak (“Educational book – Bohdan” publishing house)
“Conversations about life and art” is a dialogue of famous writers on artistic, philosophical and socio-political topics. This is a fascinating conversation about the experience and knowledge that a person receives in the process of creative understanding of reality – during the writing of an artistic work. The book was written during the years 2014–2016, therefore, in addition to conversations about literature and creativity, it, as if in a diary, recorded important events of the Ukrainian present.
“Tremolo”, Lesya Bilyk (“Educational Book – Bohdan” Publishing House)
Life, like an accelerated drum beat, may seem monotonous to someone, but in fact it is music, original in its creation and in tune with human moods. Who among us does not like to share his soul with a random traveler? And in such involuntary confessions, you suddenly discover that you haven’t lost your lyricism yet, and everything is fine with your sense of humor, and the accumulated problems – they are, in general, a serious matter, but not so much that you capitulate to difficulties.
The name of the collection of short prose “Tremolo” is due to the nature of the individual style of the author, who behaves quite freely with the composition of the works, distinguishing three main sections: novellas-parables, novellas of mood and novels of everyday life.
“Spore Flower”, Taras Kokovskyi (“Educational Book – Bohdan” Publishing House)
Taras Kokovsky’s short prose is a variety of layers of existence. At the center of every novel or short story is a person, his thoughts, joys, sorrows, temptations and atonements, hopes and accomplishments, gains and losses… But everything is sanctified by love. We are God’s seeds, sanctified by her. As long as love is still life. We grow up and trample paths or roads. They are equal before His face, they are equally important, only it seems different to us. A tiny flower of a sedge — the lowest grass of Ukraine — is almost more valuable than the most luxurious rose. Because try to trample that spore! Try to destroy such a stable, such a hardy people.
This book is addressed to a wide range of readers, everyone will find in it something close, consonant with fate or soul.
“Blessed is he who goes: Peter, Paul”, Lesya Romanchuk-Kokovska (“Educational Book – Bohdan” Publishing House)
This novel is an authentic and fascinating journey into the times of early Christianity. It is read as an interesting historical chronicle or saga and at the same time as an inspired sacred work.
The author psychologically accurately conveys all the nuances of the behavior and actions of the characters: Romans, Hellenes, Jews…
In the third book of the novel, we will meet Teklya and Kliment, we will once again experience stormy adventures together…
But the actions and actions of the apostles will attract attention the most. We will feel their power, we will understand what leads the chosen ones to the age-old choice…
For a wide range of readers.
“Rope for a swallow”, Nadiya Humenyuk (“Nadstyrya” Publishing House)
The poet’s heart is a sensitive tuning fork that subtly reacts to even the slightest deviation in the harmony of the world, caused either by human pain, or by the interrupted flight of a bird, or by the cry of a stem, or by the silence of a dead river. Nadiya Humenyuk is a poet who hears both the rhythms and arrhythmia of time, and the breaths of human feelings. He hears and helps others to hear with His poetry. The new collection of the famous Ukrainian writer has a wide range of topics. However, the main theme of Nadiya Humenyuk’s work was and remains the theme of the human soul, the “cultivation” and preservation of which, according to her definition, is the main meaning of the existence of earthly civilization. Because only such a soul can withstand the onslaught of the newest hordes and save our imperfect but beautiful world.
“Vision of Ukraine 2030” Ukrainian Institute of the Future; according to V. Andrusiv, A. Amelin (“SUMMIT-BOOK” Publishing House)
Ukraine existed for 28 years without a vision of its future. We moved chaotically, without understanding where we were going, what we wanted to achieve and what our role in the world was. During all the years of independence, we did not have an understanding of what Ukraine is in the international market of the division of labor and what the product and brand called “Ukraine” is.
In the book, the experts of the Ukrainian Institute of the Future answer the questions: where will the world move in the next ten years, what new technologies and new trends will change the everyday life of a person, what problems will be relevant in 2030 and how will humanity cope with it. However, the main thing is the answer to the question: what place will Ukraine have in the new chaotic world.
For the first time, the authors have formulated a complete vision of what the Ukrainian economy will be like in 2030, what industry, infrastructure, education, tourism, medicine, the army and other sectors will be. Which specialties and professions will be in demand, and which will disappear, which skills should be mastered in order to become competitive in the modern world, and about many other aspects of the life of Ukrainians. The book is written from the future. Therefore, first imagine that you are in 2030 and you are watching the changes in the world and in Ukraine over the last ten years. So today is December 31, 2030…
“#Existence_and_me. One summer day” Lyubov Baz, Lyubov Yeremicheva, Vitaly Nishchymenko, Daniel Sviderskyi, Tetyana Sydorova, Nataliya Stepanchuk, Olesya Potarzhevska, Dipein, Ivan Ishchenko, Svitlana Belousova, Slava Serhiychuk, Yuliya Sheket, Larisa Dubas, Victoria Kryzhanivska (Motor Snail Publishing House)
A collection of short prose from members and friends of the informal literary community “#Екзыстенц_и_я” united more than a dozen authors to describe “One summer day”. The writers sought to “grab” one day from existence and show that it is also important, despite our haste to find ourselves in the dreamed distant future or the annoying habit of rushing into the past. Here it is, this day – in all its beauty, with an emotional palette (different for everyone), messages, lessons, adventures and even consequences. Who knows where it will lead us, but we are sure that we want to be totally present in it to fully experience all its subtleties.
“Flower from Manhattan”, Iryna Vlasenko (“CONDOR” Publishing House)
Strange, in many respects tragic tests befell the fate of a small pretty woman, a famous American vocalist, who in 1998 was named the most recognizable voice of the USA. Indeed, more than 20 billion people have heard her sing at least once, which is three times more than the entire population of the planet. The name of this singer is Kvitka Tsysyk. Whoever heard the voice of this singer even once will never forget it, as if she knew some secret common to every human heart. It is said that her voice has mystical power, mesmerizes and heals. Where did the magical Ukrainian flower that knew the secret code of the Ukrainian soul come from in a foreign land, in the very center of New York?
“Syndrome of the Embryo”, Iryna Vlasenko (“CONDOR” Publishing House)
Is it possible to invent rules of existence that would make you happy, even if the word “failure” is written on your forehead from childhood? A somewhat strange single mother of two children, who lives in today’s overpopulated Kyiv, is trying to do this. Having witnessed the suicide of an unknown woman, Lisa suddenly realizes that she is connected to her by an incomprehensible common fate. The diary of a suicide brings her to an orphanage and discovers the saving meaning of a strange genetic anomaly of humanity – embryo syndrome – a disease, the total infection of which can make us happy.
“LIBERO”, Rudy Martin (“CONDOR” Publishing House)
Mattheus arrives in the Capital City with a letter that he simply cannot help but deliver. Having reached the place, he still has no idea that his life changed the moment he took the letter in his hands. Mattheus had no idea that he, a serious football player and ex-wartime intelligence officer, would become a detective. And not at all because he wants to, but because everything turns out that way. Life pushes him further, to new secrets and adventures.
“All their demons”, Polina Kulakova (House of Chimera Publishing House)
A seemingly ordinary family lives in one of the apartments of the gray “Khrushchevka”. However, behind the closed doors of that house, disturbing events are taking place that their indifferent neighbors prefer not to notice. A woman who suffers from domestic violence; a teenage boy looking for understanding and support on the street; a lonely nine-year-old girl learning to live with the “demons” of her parents…
“All Their Demons” is an explosive social thriller about children deprived of childhood, alcoholism, indifference… and bloody murders in a small town.
“The Ice Carousel”, Oleg Polyakov (“House of Khymer” Publishing House)
Her name is Khrystyna, but in fact she is a chrysanthemum – like a late autumn flower, which is not afraid of the first frosts and snows. She is looking for her Ukraine on the Maidan in the whirlwind of revolutionary events, and ends up in a scary and at the same time beautiful place, where an ice carousel spins like a giant record. And the whimsical carousel will metaphorically circle until it turns into a ruthless roulette that decides the destinies of little chrysanthemum people. Who and why set the ice trap on the river ice and in the souls of people? What invisible force turns this merry-go-round? And will it be possible, in the end, to stop her from going crazy?
“The Book of Invented Non-Beings”, Evgeny Lear, Kshisya Fedorovych (“House of Chimer” Publishing House)
For your attention, a whimsical non-fiction – a trickster’s guide called “The Book of Fictional Non-Creatures”. It’s an exploration of strange creatures that should live in Dreamland, but live everywhere. It is what leads you into the deepest dreams, catches you in the middle of bright noon, looks behind you and lurks in the corners of your eyes.
A fantastic illustrated bestiary of mythical spaces subconsciously familiar to each of us.
“Abyss”, Vlad Sord (“House of Chimera” Publishing House)
“The Abyss” is a collection of incredible and at the same time surprisingly honest stories brought by the author from the war, which he saw with his own eyes and lived for four years in field trenches, in an abandoned mine, in forests that are constantly being shot at.
There is no heroization of “our own” or demonization of “foreigners”, it is simply a war that fell to the lot of our generation. And the war does not choose words and does not spare bullets, the war continues, like each of these stories, which, sprouting from reality, acquire bizarre metaphysical meanings in the likeness of the Black God and the primordial horror that always waits for us beyond the boundaries of time and space.
“Robbers of forest dumpsters”, Vlad Yakushev, Andriy Lototskyi (“DIPA” Publishing House)
“Forest Dumpster Robbers” is the second book of a trilogy about the incredible adventures of the godfathers, who have been searching for treasure with a metal detector for years. The name of the trilogy is “Two with a shovel”, because, in fact, there are two godfathers. In addition to the main characters – Yasha and Bata – readers will again meet their favorite characters: San Sanych, Doctor and Galkin. And again adventures, and again searches, and again immersion in the history of each found thing and the story of how exactly it ended up in the place where it was found by searchers.
This book is about true male friendship, love for the homeland and the secrets of the native land, which are hidden right under our feet.
The book is based on real events.
“Clavus Domini”, Serhii Baturyn (“Fabula” Publishing House)
In his new novel, the famous Ukrainian writer Serhii Baturyn joins the cohort of those who are still searching for answers to the ancient question: who was the “robber Barabbas” mentioned by all four evangelists? Did he really know Jesus, and why did the Jerusalem mob insist on pardoning him, and the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate had to “wash his hands”? There is a lack of historical evidence. And it is possible that everything happened exactly as the author of the book tells about it. And before the reader unfolds a bright and truly convincing panorama of the Roman world and barbarian Europe at the beginning of the first millennium of the new era.
“Open Here”, Maria Kozyrenko (“Fabula” Publishing House)
The “Open Here” book is an emergency exit if you’re the last person on the planet or standing trapped by a hundred bodies in a subway car; fell in love for the first time, or hid his heart in a fireproof safe and buried it at a depth of three meters; choose among a thousand roads or lean against an endless wall; you feel everything on the verge of pain or cover yourself against your will with stone scales; are you desperately looking for it or have you already found it and don’t know what to do with it? “Open here” (in any situation).
“Forbidden”, Artemiy Kirsanov, Serhii Dzyuba (“Fabula” Publishing House)
A former graduate student, who worked on a dissertation on the life and work of the outstanding poet Vasyl Stus, and now, by the will of circumstances, became a nurse, was offered to take care of a woman who was dying of a serious illness. As it turned out, the seriously ill woman was a KGB colonel in the past and met Stus many times, especially in the last days of his life. In the novel, the poet’s life in his native Donetsk region, surrounded by friends, teachers and writers, and in a concentration camp – where prisoners of conscience were kept, were blamed for their beliefs. A lot of attention is paid to the novel and the fate of the poet’s last handwritten collection. On September 5, 2019, the premiere of the film of the same name “Forbidden: The Story of the Life and Struggle of Vasyl Stus” took place in all cinemas of the country.
“Chernobyl: sketches from nature”, Oleg Veklenko (“Fabula” Publishing House)
A book of memories of Oleg Veklenk, a participant in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl NPP, artist, professor of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, about his personal feelings experienced during his stay in Chernobyl in May–June 1986. The author tells about the daily life of the liquidators in the camp near the station, about the primitive means of protection and about the fact that the awareness of the real danger came much later. Sincere stories about those days are written in vivid language and supplemented with author’s drawings and photographs.
“Power and Pleasure”, Andriy Maklakov (“Fabula” Publishing House)
Andrii Maklakov’s book is controversial and sobering, which breaks the boundaries of perceived political correctness and forces the reader to look at many aspects of modern civilization in a completely unexpected perspective. What is a society that is like a sponge soaked in narcissism? What are the real motives of the powerful of this world? Is pleasure dangerous, and what are its consequences? Does everything in this world really revolve around money and power? The author managed to put together the disparate “puzzle” of our reality in a new way and offer original approaches to the most diverse spheres of social life: economy and politics, Western philosophy and culture, science and religion, glamorous environment and secret societies.
“Chancellery of the Crusades”, Ostap Ukrainets (“Fabula” Publishing House)
The author transports the reader to the Stanislavs of the 17th century, the action of the novel takes place on the eve of the global reconstruction of the fortress and the expected attack of the Ottoman Empire on Europe. Three different men arrive in the city in three different ways, each of whom has his own plans and interests. The story moves forward, leaving only a series of questions, so that from a distant perspective it may seem that these three are pursuing a common goal. Or that there really is no purpose.
“Those Who Are Not”, Andriy Klimov, Svitlana Klimova (“Fabula” Publishing House)
A real disaster befell fourteen-year-old Marta: after a long absence, her mother’s brother returned, settled in the same apartment and began to pursue the young girl, pursuing her. Not finding understanding and support from her parents, Marta dares to do a desperate act bordering on crime – and at the same time learns that she is an adopted child, and the name of her real mother is a secret. A series of dramatic events, as it seems to Marty, leads her loved ones and herself to a dead end… “Those who are not” is a book about psychological violence and resistance to it, capricious forms of queer sexuality, problems of adopted children and generational conflicts that are still affected by the “scoop” reality. The novel takes place in the summer of 2013. In Ukrainian, “Those Who Are Absent” is published for the first time in its full version.
“Repyakhi”, Serhii Martyniuk (“Fabula” Publishing House)
The magnetic lines of his poems echo with love for a woman, for a mother, for nature, for life, for the world… They settle on the teeth with a gritty, but so gentle, nostalgia. His poetry resounds as a refrain through revolutions, through seasons, through our souls, roads and cities. Each word flows through the fingers like cool mountain water and clings to hearts and minds like… burdock. Not giving any chance to forget them. His poems are a concentration of truth, sadness, universal love and all the magical worlds that found their place in Serhiy’s life. We know how long you all have been waiting for it! And here it is, a poetry collection
“Night on Venus: 113 female writers who shine in the dark”, Hanna Ulura (ArtHuss Publishing House)
113 women writers: famous, known, forgotten. There are also unknown ones.
Each of them did something first in literature or did something better than others.
Each of them has an unusual biography. Their stories are about giving up something: for each of them, something was very important at the start and gradually lost its importance during the writing process.
These are stories of sacred sacrifices and mystical rituals.
This is a utopia of female solidarity and the continuation of tradition. 113 women writers write to each other. They read each other. They coexist side by side beyond the boundaries of time and space.
And shine in the dark.
“Creation of the world. Seven days with Taras Prokhasky”, Tetiana Teren (“Pabulum” Publishing House)
On the pages of this book, this interview-book, journalist Tetiana Teren and writer Taras Prokhasko create their own map with seven important destinations. They think about the creation of themselves, about the landscape, the country and the world that shapes us. They look closely at plants, animals and people. They try to understand and explain creativity. During this seven-day journey into themselves, they go through each of the stages of the Act of Creation, trying to understand (at their level) the Creator’s plan.
Before us is the most complete portrait of one of the most famous Ukrainian writers of our time.
“Lessons of the king of horrors: How to write horror”, Rostyslav Semkiv (“Pabulum” Publishing House)
Why did Stephen King get the title “King of Horror”? How did he become a millionaire with millions of copies and the most screened author in world literature? What is the secret of his phenomenal writing productivity? After all, what can we learn from King? Rostyslav Semkiv tells the most interesting details from the writer’s life, shares the history and laws of horror. The author analyzes the creative techniques, writing principles and marketing moves that King uses and that others should use.
In one book, the practical advice that King gives in his On Writing, Danse Macabre and other texts, and the creative tools that “the King” kept quiet about, but they definitely work. The book will be useful to novice authors, king lovers, and anyone interested in the ins and outs of the literary process.
“Duel for the truth. Mustafa Nayem’s interview rules”, Mustafa Nayem, Tetiana Teren (Pabulum Publishing House)
Mustafa Nayem has been in journalism for over ten years. In this book, he collected the most important things from his experience — the rules and techniques of interviewing. How to properly prepare for a conversation, build a strategy, how to ask and interrupt. How to properly start and end a conversation, how to adhere to journalistic ethics and not turn the interview into a speech from the podium. The author tells about all this with detailed examples.
The book will be useful for journalists and bloggers who want to develop in the interview genre. And to everyone who is ready to improve their own communication skills. After all, every conversation is a small interview.
“Excursions to Transcarpathia”, Roman Ofitsynskyi (“TIMPANI” Publishing House)
“Excursions to Transcarpathia” are aimed at all fans of the westernmost region of Ukraine – a region with a multifaceted past. In the introduction, the history of Transcarpathia is briefly described. The five sections of the main part are arranged according to the problem-thematic principle. The first chapter “Historical Milestones” describes possible routes along the roads of opryshks, heroes of Carpathian Ukraine, World War II (Arpad Line). The second chapter “Cultural space” tells about Transcarpathian castles, Austro-Hungarian architecture and wine cellars of the region. The third section “Museum treasures” is devoted to ethnographic and museum exhibits of Transcarpathia. “Sacred architecture” is the name of the fourth chapter, which talks about notable Transcarpathian churches and monasteries. In the fifth section “Unique natural attractions” mountain and water-healing routes are presented. The appendices contain reference materials about falling meteorites, musical organs, Transcarpathia in feature films.
“Nation of vegetables? How information changes the thinking and behavior of Ukrainians”, Oksana Moroz (Yakaboo Publishing)
This is a guide from a practicing manipulator on how to resist the information viruses that infect us every day. They are conduits for thousands of harmful claims. They kill consciousness and turn their victims into an obedient herd. They prey not only on us, but also on future generations. In the book, the author gives recommendations on how to protect yourself, children and loved ones from the virus industry, explains what information viruses are and how to recognize them and how they have already changed each of us.
“You can do it! 7 components of a healthy lifestyle”, Darka Ozerna (Yakaboo Publishing)
This is a guide to a conscious attitude to life and improving health. It contains recommendations on diet, normalization of body weight and sleep, physical activity and medical examinations. All theses and conclusions are based on modern scientific data, medical recommendations and diagnostic and treatment protocols. The author easily and in detail explains how to take a balanced and conscious attitude to one’s health and lifestyle, not to go to extremes, not to believe in magic pills, magical thinking and not to resort to strict restrictions. In addition, the manual is written for and about modern Ukrainians, with a deep understanding and empathy for their daily challenges.
In the second stage, each expert will choose five candidate books from this list, which they will place in order of ranking.
Accordingly:
1st place (5 points) — winner and further
II place (4 points),
III place (3 points),
IV place (2 points),
V place (1 point).
The organizing committee, by counting points, will determine 3 books in each of the nominations, which will go to the third stage of voting. These finalist works will be presented at the discretion of readers in libraries almost throughout Ukraine. During this voting, the final winner will be determined.
Book prize “Espreso. “Readers’ Choice” was founded by the NGO “Demforum” and the TV channel “Espreso”. Its presentation took place on May 18, 2017 as part of the “Book Arsenal” in Kyiv.
The award is designed to celebrate the best Ukrainian modern literary novelties of the year, to support the interest of Ukrainians in reading domestic authors. To help readers choose interesting books, and publishers to find a way to readers. The winners of the Award will be announced at the end of November 2020 on the air of the “Espreso” TV channel, on the “Espreso.TV” and “Demforum” websites.
