Living happily ever after.

Andrey Kurkov. He’s a writer. A Russian/Ukranian. I discovered him. Recently. Picked up one of his novels. ‘Death and the Penguin.’ I’ll read more. I like him. His style. He’s imaginative. The protagonist is Viktor. And he’s got a pet. A penguin. Yes, a King Penguin named Misha. Obtained after the local zoo in Kiev gave away its animals to those who could support them.  Viktor and Misha relate quite well. Because both are out of their elements. Anyway, Viktor is a writer. He’s hired by a newspaper. To write obituaries about certain Kiev VIPs. Before they’ve died. And they all soon begin to start dying. It’s a complicated and mysterious plot. Leading to danger. For Viktor. He discovers his own obituary.   Not a good omen. Viktor gradually goes from a paranoid appraisal of his dangerous position. To a serene and almost childish peace of mind.  The story has a happy ending. Linked to Viktor’s relationship with Misha the penguin. They’ll both end up living in Antarctica. Away from the real perils of life. Maybe that’s what we all should do. Find  our natural elements. The world/environs that make us truly comfortable. At peace. Thereby living happily ever after. –Jim Broede