Vasya

Vasilisa, who is referred to as “Vasya” throughout the narrative, is the book’s central character and protagonist. The story of her life begins with events shortly before and shortly after her birth (during which her mother dies), continues as she grows into her adolescence, and ends with her having reached a point of young adulthood. At that point, she seems to have accepted her destiny and her identity, both of which are defined by her experience of being something of an outsider. In that sense, the book’s story is essentially that of a “coming of age,” a narrative of a young person’s movement away from childhood, with all its implications of innocence, into adulthood, with all its implications of various types of knowledge.

That journey of transformation for Vasya is closely aligned with her experience of having a strong closeness and sensitivity to various aspects...