A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
{{short description|2013 novel by Anthony Marra}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}}
{{Infobox book|
| name = A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
| followed_by =
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.jpg
| caption = First edition cover
| author = Anthony Marra
| illustrator =
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| country =
| language = English
| series =
| subject = Second Chechen War
| genre = Literary fiction, Historical fiction
| publisher = Random House
| release_date = May 7, 2013
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print
| pages =
| isbn = 9780770436421
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}}
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena is a novel written by Anthony Marra, published May 7, 2013 by Random House. The book was a New York Times best seller{{Cite book|last=Marra|first=Anthony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IyQu95C1hWIC|title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|date=2013-05-07|publisher=Random House Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-7704-3641-4|language=en}} and received positive critical reviews. The work has also been referenced in academic journals, including War, Literature & the Arts{{Cite journal|last=Plichta|first=Katherine|title=The Most Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.wlajournal.com/wlaarchive/26/Plichta.pdf|journal=War, Literature, and the Arts|pages=1–6}} and The Lancet.{{Cite journal|last=Marchalik|first=Daniel|date=2015-06-13|title=Saving the professionalism course|journal=The Lancet|language=en|volume=385|issue=9985|pages=2346–2347|doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(15)61093-5|pmid=26088632|s2cid=36796285|issn=0140-6736|doi-access=free}}
Synopsis
Characters
Release
Reception
According to Book Marks, the book received a "positive" consensus, based on thirteen critic reviews: six "rave", five "positive", and two "mixed".{{Cite web |title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/a-constellation-of-vital-phenomena/|access-date=17 February 2024 |website=Book Marks}} On July/August 2013 issue of Bookmarks, the book received {{rating|4.5|5}} (4.5 out of 5) stars, with the critical summary saying, "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena--hailed as a masterpiece of 2013--is that rare novel, as important as it is compelling".{{Cite web |title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+Constellation+of+Vital+Phenomena.-a0342179855|access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Bookmarks}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-04 |title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.bibliosurf.com/Une-constellation-de-phenomenes-vitaux.html|access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Bibliosurf |language=fr}}
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena received starred reviews from Library Journal,{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/a-constellation-of-vital-phenomena|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Library Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223004215/https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/a-constellation-of-vital-phenomena |archive-date=2021-12-23 }} Publishers Weekly,{{Cite web|title=Fiction Book Review: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. Hogarth, $26 (400p) ISBN 978-0-7704-3640-7|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7704-3640-7|access-date=2021-12-22|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en}} and Booklist,{{Cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Joanne|date=April 1, 2013|title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/A-Constellation-of-Vital-Phenomena-Anthony-Marra/pid=5936050|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Booklist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014071856/http://www.booklistonline.com:80/A-Constellation-of-Vital-Phenomena-Anthony-Marra/pid=5936050 |archive-date=2016-10-14 }} as well as positive reviews from The New York Times Book Review,{{Cite news|last=Bell|first=Madison Smartt|date=2013-06-07|title=Prisoners of the Caucasus|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/books/review/a-constellation-of-vital-phenomena-by-anthony-marra.html|access-date=2021-12-22|issn=0362-4331}} World Literature Today,{{Cite journal|last=Hagen|first=W M|date=September–October 2013|title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1439796645|journal=World Literature Today|volume=87|issue=5|pages=60–61|doi=10.7588/worllitetoda.87.5.0060|id={{ProQuest|1439796645}} |via=ProQuest}} Kirkus Reviews,{{Cite web|date=February 18, 2013|title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anthony-marra/constellation-of-vital-phenomena/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Kirkus Reviews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702133911/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anthony-marra/constellation-of-vital-phenomena/ |archive-date=2013-07-02 }} Chicago Tribune,{{Cite web|last=Barron|first=John|date=June 28, 2013|title=Review: 'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena' by Anthony Marra|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-prj-0630-constellation-vital-phenomena-anthony--20130628-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Chicago Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203234925/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-prj-0630-constellation-vital-phenomena-anthony--20130628-story.html |archive-date=2020-12-03 }} The Washington Post,{{Cite news|last=Charles|first=Ron|date=May 7, 2013|title=Anthony Marra's 'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena,' reviewed by Ron Charles|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/anthony-marras-a-constellation-of-vital-phenomena-reviewed-by-ron-charles/2013/05/07/8c2dec20-b6bc-11e2-b94c-b684dda07add_story.html|access-date=2021-12-22|newspaper=The Washington Post}} NPR,{{Cite news|last=Wolitzer|first=Meg|date=2013-05-13|title=From A Debut Writer, A Polished, Passionate, Must-Read Book|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/180074991/safety-is-relative-a-moving-account-of-life-in-chechnya|access-date=2021-12-22}} San Francisco Chronicle,{{Cite web|last=Ausubel|first=Ramona|date=2013-05-03|title='A Constellation of Vital Phenomena'|url=https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/A-Constellation-of-Vital-Phenomena-4487202.php|access-date=2021-12-22|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}} Shelf Awareness,{{Cite web|last=Lavoie|first=Tom|date=March 6, 2013|title=Maximum Shelf: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/max-issue.html?issue=42|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=Shelf Awareness|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511112939/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/max-issue.html?issue=42 |archive-date=2013-05-11 }} The Economist,{{Cite news|date=2013-07-06|title=The crucible of war|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2013/07/06/the-crucible-of-war|access-date=2021-12-22|issn=0013-0613}} and Entertainment Weekly.{{Cite magazine|last=Parker|first=Sarah Jessica|date=May 9, 2013|title=A Constellation of Vital Phenomena|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/05/09/constellation-vital-phenomena/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109200348/http://www.ew.com/article/2013/05/09/constellation-vital-phenomena |archive-date=2015-11-09 }}
The New York Times{{Cite news|last=Garner|first=Dwight|date=2013-05-07|title=The Horrors of Chechnya, With Humor|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/08/books/a-constellation-of-vital-phenomena-by-anthony-marra.html|access-date=2021-12-22|issn=0362-4331}} and The Boston Globe{{Cite web|last=Freeman|first=John|date=2013-05-13|title='A Constellation of Vital Phenomena' by Anthony Marra - The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2013/05/18/book-review-constellation-vital-phenomena-anthony-marra/UDwZkSosSFCExUuPcbkZZI/story.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-22|website=The Boston Globe|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608162306/http://www.bostonglobe.com:80/arts/books/2013/05/18/book-review-constellation-vital-phenomena-anthony-marra/UDwZkSosSFCExUuPcbkZZI/story.html |archive-date=2013-06-08 }} provided mixed reviews.
= Literary awards =
References
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