‘A paean to hope and home, written with such gentleness and deep adherence to emotional truth that to me its words become a fierceness to cast against harm, hardship and hurt. I loved it and it will haunt me for a long time.’ Helen Macdonald, the author of H is for Hawk
‘[A] poignant, gently unfolding . . . elegant family narrative of myriad characters traumatized by the deep-seated Russia-Ukrainian struggle. . . Throughout this powerful text, readers will encounter numerous satisfying layers.’ Kirkus Review
‘The familiar village symbol of a rooster on the roof hides a dark secret in Victora Belim’s marvellously vivid and often heartbreaking account of a personal quest, one that leads us deep into the complexities that lie behind news headlines while introducing us to an unforgettable group of characters. I read it in a single enthralled sitting.’ Miranda Seymour, author of I Used to Live Here Once: The Haunted Life of Jean Rhys
‘Wild Swans for Ukraine … rich and magnificent.’ Bookseller
‘A compelling, beautifully written and researched family memoir that weaves together the personal and the political and gives the reader an insight into the complexity of Ukraine’s history. Belim demonstrates that by drawing together the lost and confused threads of the past, you can find some peace in the present.’ Meriel Schindler, the author of The Lost Café Schindler
‘A haunting quest — beautifully told, with stunning momentum — travelling through place, history, and private memory on the fraying edge of Europe. I loved this book: the voice, the determination, the pace, the characters, the insights into exile and belonging, into remembering and forgetting. A book where the search for truth shines so brightly, The Rooster House feels like an instant classic: an essential book in these darkening times.’ Sophy Roberts, author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia
I’m grateful for these early reviews of my book The Rooster House, which tells about my quest to solve a family mystery. It’s a story about Ukraine, but also about family ties and personal journeys. I wrote my book before the Russian invasion of 2022, and yet re-reading it now, I find echoes of the coming war that strike me as eerie. Above all, however, I hope to bring my readers to my Ukraine and to show them the place that enchanted me when I returned in 2014 after a long absence. The book has been translated into 17 languages and is now available in Spanish, German, Dutch, Catalan, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish. Other translations are coming out later this year. You can find more information on these editions via My Book page. It’s been a pleasure and honor to speak about Ukraine and explain its history and culture to readers around the world.
I hope that when the war is over, we can travel together to Poltava, and in the meantime, I wanted to share that the English version of my book (the original) is now available for pre-order. The UK edition will come out in May and you can buy it at Virago and Amazon.co.uk. The US version will come out in June and is sold at Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Thank you for your support!
48 Comments
Donna: So looking forward to reading it! April 7, 2023 at 9:11am
Victoria: I hope that you enjoy it! April 7, 2023 at 10:34am
carole: I can’t wait to read it-coming to Canada around the same time as the US. Loved the H is for Hawk book, too-how amazing she wrote a review of your book 🙂
Thank you for being you, Victoria. I hope 2023 brings you good health and that your beautiful country gets to return itself, too. Always seems trite to try and put complex feelings into words-but I hope for the best for you, and for your country’s people. April 7, 2023 at 9:19am
Victoria: I was really moved and honored by Helen Macdonald’s review. It means a lot to me, considering how much I admire her work.
Thank you for your warm wishes. I also wish you much beauty and happiness this year. April 7, 2023 at 10:34am
Caitlenn: Glad to see the book is on the way! Am so looking forward to reading it. Best as ever, Caitlenn April 7, 2023 at 1:17pm
Victoria: Very happy to hear it! April 11, 2023 at 4:39am
Iuliana: Finally!!! Cannot wait to read it! 🤗🤗🤗 April 7, 2023 at 9:26am
Victoria: I cannot wait for you to read it! April 7, 2023 at 10:33am
Iuliana: It will be my first « real » book for a while (I generally buy on Kindle), but it just seems the « right » way to do it (for me), especially since I can feel how special it will be 🤗! April 7, 2023 at 10:47am
Victoria: Aw, thank you! 🙂 April 11, 2023 at 4:38am
Anastasia: Great news! It looks beautiful! April 7, 2023 at 9:51am
Victoria: Thank you so much, Anastasia. April 7, 2023 at 10:33am
AndreaR: Brava, Victoria!!! April 7, 2023 at 10:14am
Victoria: 🤗🤗🤗 April 7, 2023 at 10:32am
e: I had my library order it. April 7, 2023 at 10:15am
Victoria: Thank you so much! April 7, 2023 at 10:32am
Maya: Yay! Just hit “buy” on Amazon. I purchased the Kindle version- assuming that too will be available in June?
So excited.
Thank you! April 7, 2023 at 10:25am
Victoria: Yes, it will be available in June. Thank you! April 7, 2023 at 10:32am
Marina Needham: Just placed the order at Bookshop. Cannot wait to read the book! April 8, 2023 at 10:39pm
Victoria: Thank you so much, Marina. In general, pre-orders help authors in a big way, so that’s an important support. April 11, 2023 at 4:42am
Bregje: Congratulations!
What an accomplishment,writing a book. I’m so proud of you and i can’t wait to read it. April 7, 2023 at 10:36am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Bregje! April 11, 2023 at 4:38am
Alyssa Harad: Wonderful, V! What a stunning blurb from Helen M! Very much looking forward to your US triumph so I can modestly incline my head and murmur that I knew you when. April 7, 2023 at 10:52am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Alyssa! It means a lot coming from you. April 11, 2023 at 4:38am
Jordan River: Also available now as a preorder on amazon.com.au for readers Down Under.
Down Under = Australia amd New Zealand – down under the equator. April 7, 2023 at 1:39pm
Victoria: Wonderful! Thank you, Jordan. April 11, 2023 at 4:39am
Gabriela: Absolutely marvellous. I will definitely purchase a copy. Congratulations, you deserve it! April 7, 2023 at 1:49pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Gabriela!
(Btw, your package should be arriving soon, if it didn’t already.) April 11, 2023 at 4:39am
Satuskibare: May I ask which of your many languages you wrote the original in, Victoria? Very much looking forward to reading the English version! April 7, 2023 at 5:10pm
Victoria: I wrote it in English, so that’s the original version. There will also be a Japanese edition. April 11, 2023 at 4:40am
Satsukibare: Wonderful: thank you for letting me know! April 11, 2023 at 7:01am
SoSuSam: This is so exciting! I’ve been enjoying the snippets of reviews you’ve shared on IG and have been looking forward to getting a chance to read it myself. So glad that time as come! I’m off to preorder it now. Congrats on this glorious accomplishment. April 7, 2023 at 5:43pm
Victoria: Thank you very much for your kind words! April 11, 2023 at 4:40am
rickyrebarco: I ordered a copy and I’m really looking forward to reading it. I want to get a Spanish copy also. Need to practice my Spanish reading skills more. April 7, 2023 at 10:37pm
Victoria: I’m so happy to hear it. Thank you! April 11, 2023 at 4:40am
Klaas: Congratulations Victoria! I’ll buy the English version at my local bookstore here in Amsterdam. I’ll ask them to order copies 😃 April 8, 2023 at 6:39am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Klaas. April 11, 2023 at 4:40am
Alexander Greene: Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it again April 8, 2023 at 9:01am
Victoria: Thank you once again! I can’t wait to share with you the published version. April 11, 2023 at 4:41am
Joan Rosasco: I have been looking forward to reading this book! I saw it on John Sandoe’s spring list this morning. April 8, 2023 at 9:18am
Victoria: How wonderful! Thank you. April 11, 2023 at 4:41am
Mel: Just ordered on Amazon – available on June 27 here in the States. I’m so excited to read it! Congratulations, Victoria!!! April 10, 2023 at 10:48pm
Victoria: Thank you so much, Mel! April 11, 2023 at 4:45am
Wara: FELICIDADES!!!! Querida Victoria!!!!
Barnes and Noble is putting a big pre order request!!! Told them about your great work and they support UKRANIA💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛 April 13, 2023 at 11:02pm
Victoria: How wonderful! Thank you very much. April 14, 2023 at 6:34am
Amy McLaughlin: I have enjoyed your writing here for so many years, and can’t wait to read your book. My paternal grandparents were from Ukraine, but I have never been there and feel very cut off from the culture and traditions. I look forward to learning more in what I am sure is a beautifully written book. April 21, 2023 at 1:27pm
Jordan River: The Rooster House has arrived in New Zealand. May 17, 2023 at 3:33pm
Katherine Morrison: I finished the English version of The Rooster House last evening and it truly is a gem!
The writing is beautiful. I loved how the story unfolded and I appreciated the various points of view of the historical situation.
Thank you and best wishes in Frankfurt September 29, 2023 at 1:05pm