I’d like to say that it is a bit unused to read the plays, but to be honest - the book is underlined by pencil. I set off the attractive phrases in order to savour then by reading again. Grishkovets is talented and it is a fact.

“That woman waits, who is need for you that she waits you. There are because those, who wait… And let them to wait!”

“… Coming, and there is a disposable soap, a disposable plastic cup, and you feel yourself as disposable, well, at the best, as two-disposable”

“You sit in some dirty bench, in which you would sit never without love”

“And how the soul can be drunk?!”

“The morning city, it is all black-and-white, detailed, and it is all very not far to eyes”

“But it is not specially to go into the shop for a book - it is not blinds at all”

Replicas from the play “Planet”, it is not all far that I underlined and not all far that I liked in this book. It was sincerely written without overdoing, how it is in truth.

It was begun all that I heard somewhere about this novel as an obligatory program for reading in France and that this "Picnic on ice" was recognized as the best book of year in Switzerland. I read 252 pages of this novel for two days. As usually, the events by Kurkov are happened very promptly and certainly, Kiev is again clearly.

Shortly about plot... The journalist, Victor Zolotaryov gets to circulation of unpleasant events without wishing. The editor-in-chief of one Kiev's newspaper lets have to the hero of novel to write the obituaries for live people.These people are rather appreciable: politicians, general directors of large factories, etc. The journalist is not absolutely from this world, therefore he can't to understand to the end what such activity may lead. There is one more touching hero of the novel - a royal penguin Misha. Victor Zolotaryov took care of him when the Kiev zoo gave out hungry animals for all who can support them. I liked the description of the picnics on ice: the penguin was took out to the frozen Dnepr, the holes were searched left after fishermen in order Misha could gambol in ice water which is so necessary for it.

Generally, the main hero is always under someone's pressure. Sometimes it is sincerely a pity, but such personages are enough in our world. In my opinion, Kurkov has more stronger things.

The story was written penetrating. It is not just bad for main hero, but the state in which he is difficult to describe in general terms. The "bad" adverb is not present practically in the text, but you understand clearly that it is not just bad, sad and ruefully to him, but even worse.

The girl of hero came under car and lied in coma about two weeks, and she has dead not coming into consciousness. He was unable to enter in resuscitation, because he was not relative and parents of the girl decided don't come at all when heard from a doctor that there is not hope. It isn't fit naturally in a head of Victor (main hero). He remembered often how quietly happy that their union has the safe appearance - even people on the streets don't pay any attention. They are neutral and blankly. Victor was sure that it should happend nothing bad with them.

Then, the possibility occurs to contact with Lenka (girlfriend of hero) with help of special phone card. After several such conversations, Victor decided to ask whether he has a chance to see her. It is not much time and she confirmed the meeting. She said it is necessary to take some ticket on the flight. Also, she asked to take her favourite sweater, because it is cold.

It is necessary to read about everything that occurrs further, because it is difficult enough to describe by words and there is no such necessity. I think that everyone will feel this text and emotions in one's own way.

This book was advised for me to read. It lay peacefully on the book shelf for a long time. The title has not impressed for some reason. Here yesterday, I have read up it. The beginning has not intrigued me. However, some comments have mentioned from the source: "Pool in the street" on a theme "What are you think about death?".

It became a bit more interesting further. An angel has chosen to himself of three wards and helped them throughout all their life. Since it was his first work, he tried certainly to grant all their desires. "Clients", thereby the names of the wards are called by angels, are used quickly to it. They are began to pray chaotically apropos and without cause, that was very much amused and in this time it was upset somebody in the sky. Then, his wards have met after death and the angel continued to defend them before the superior court of archangels.

There are fragments from the encyclopedia in the book on a theme: the point of view, a dilemma of the prisoner, a reality, a mutation, desires, breath, about importance of the biographer, the paradoxical offer and many other things. Surprisingly, but it is all "lives" harmoniously near to the art text.

Described in the book has forced me to think about many things, but I admit fairly, not for a long time: something has not sufficed still in this book.