Three Apples Fell From The Sky

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inBooks in Translation, Fiction, From the OTR Archives, I'm Reading a Book, Narine Abgaryan, Reading Program 2020, Three Apples Fell From the SkyTags:, , , ,

I just finished reading Three Apples Fell From the Sky by Narine Abgaryan. My thanks go to Elisabeth Van Der Meer, from the blog, A Russian Affair, who recommended this book. Serendipity seems to bring books to me at the right time. From beginning to end, this book was an absolute joy.

Amazon’s overview provides a great introduction to the narrative, but it is in the reading that the lives of the villagers come alive, their stories tumbling from the pages into my life.

In an isolated village high in the Armenian mountains, a close-knit community bickers, gossips and laughs. Their only connection to the outside world is an ancient telegraph wire and a perilous mountain road that even goats struggle to navigate.

As they go about their daily lives – harvesting crops, making baklava, tidying houses – the villagers sustain one another through good times and bad. But sometimes all it takes is a spark of romance to turn life on its head, and a plot to bring two of Maran’s most stubbornly single residents together soon gives the village something new to gossip about…

Elisabeth Van Der Meer & Dave Astor on Why Should We Read the Books We Do Not Want to Read – Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

34 thoughts on “Three Apples Fell From The Sky”

  1. I wanted in fact follow your reading a further chapter of the Karamazov Brothers, dear Rebecca, when I saw your recommendation about “Three Apples fell from the Sky” and had immediately a bad conscience, because I have bought it some time ago, but not yet read! I very much hope that the heat is now bearable in your region!
    All the very best 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, Martina! I am thrilled to hear that you have the book “Three Apples Fell From the Sky”. I LOVED that book and I know that you will enjoy the read. I have found that books tell me when it is time to read them. I am enjoy the #KaramazovReadalong and knowing that I have friends from around the world reading with me. September has come and the heat has abated. This is my favourite season – a perfect time for tea and a book! Sending many hugs!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I very much enjoy your enthusiasm for this book, Rebecca, and I will read it as soon as I feel that the right time has come!!:) Unfortunately there is also Afghanistan about whose history I am trying to find out more!
        September has also for me always been prefered month, because the heat has become bearable. I therefore wish you, my dear friend,a pleasant time with all your activities!
        Many hugs your way

        Liked by 2 people

  2. I saw the podcast was included in this post, Rebecca. It was very interesting to listen to Elizabeth and Dave’s thought about books and reading. Like Elizabeth I have always read and I can’t imagine my life without them. I think this lockdown pandemic period would have been very different for me if I wasn’t a reader. I have derived so much comfort from reading and blogging over the past 18 months.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. You look so lovely in this video, Rebecca. This book has a very appealing first line and I am looking forward to the podcast. It is very rare that I don’t want to read a book. In fact, I want to read so many books I have 900 on my TBR. Every book I want, I buy and I am always reading.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Robbie – thank you so much for your comments and visits. You always give me a lift for the day, especially knowing that your stack of books has moved beyond ceiling level. Sending many many hugs your way!

      Liked by 3 people

  5. I have downloaded a copy of Three Apples and also The Aspern Papers – they both sound great! I loved listening to the three of you sharing reading stories and thoughts. Wonderful 👏🏻🌸💕

    Liked by 3 people

    1. You will enjoy both books, Liz! I had never read Henry James before. Dave’s suggestion of The Aspern Papers was an excellent introduction. There is an movie adaptation with Vanessa Redgrave (I do love her) and her daughter Joely Kim Richardson, which I have never seen, but from the trailer seems to add a bit a drama. https://youtu.be/NssUm89BXII

      “Three Apples” was my first novel in translation. It was an amazing way to be launched – thank you Elisabeth. I know you will enjoy this heartwarming story, Liz.

      Liked by 2 people

      2. The Redgrave Family is a brilliant acting dynasty. I did not know until I looked up this trailer that Joely Richardson was Vanessa’s daughter. I continue to learn.

        Liked by 2 people

  6. Thank you to the three of you for this inspiring, encouraging, educational and challenging conversation. It was profitable in every way. There was mention of being outside a comfort zone which drives us, in a way, to dare to look into new writings and books. I remember some decades ago when I first attempted to read Russian literature, the stories themselves were challenging and amazing, making me determine to finish them, even though they were far from my comfort zone, I still profit from the experiences. Thank you to all three of you for your kind words, I feel encouraged to read those things which you discussed, for to me, they are challenging. I have Three Apples Feel from the Tree written down in a safe place with the author. That is my next read

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I am delighted you listened in to this podcast. You will enjoy Three Apples Feel From the Sky. There was so much love that came through, even in the most difficult of times. I will be rereading it again. You have always inspired me with your reading, Frances. You dare to read books that challenge our beliefs and values. I am heading into a readalong – so stay tuned for more. The only hint I will give you is that the book is by a Russian author! Hugs!

      Liked by 3 people

  8. I got a kick out the image of Elisabeth poring over her bookcase and Rebecca scurrying across the internet to be able to contribute to the conversation on Dave’s blog. I do both as well! Listening to the three of you discuss the many facets of reading literature prompted the memory of one of the absolute joys of my college education, which was developing the ability to read fiction on three different levels: story, interpretation, and craft. I started with reading for story and character, as I always had; then I learned to read for interpretation, and then for craft. Then the day came when I realized that I had developed the ability to read on all three levels simultaneously. What a thrill!! I’ll never forget it. I remember exactly where I was: sitting in the hand-me-down Morris chair in the little house on Phelps Place with the blue and white wallpaper and the sun shining through white net curtains.

    Liked by 7 people

    3. Thank you, Rebecca, for the shout-out! The little saying at the beginning of Three Apples says it all; you know that this is going to be a wonderful story in the old tradition of story telling. You expect tradition, superstitions and mystery. And it certainly delivered, a great discovery and a huge joy to read. I’m so happy to hear that I have inspired you and through you others to read this treasure.

      Liked by 2 people

    4. I do love poring over my bookcase, and I always have 😉 What a gift to be able to read on three levels – could it be one for the storyteller, one for the listener and one for the eavesdropper? (Couldn’t resist! 😉)

      Liked by 2 people

  10. “Three Apples Fell From the Sky” is definitely on my to-read list, Rebecca. And your blog posts, videos, and podcasts are always on my to-read/watch/listen to lists. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I know you will enjoy 3 Apples. Sometimes books come at the right time as if by magic. Thank you so much for your heartwarming comments. Your encouragement of TTT has invigorated Don and me from the very beginning when we first started out. I’m so excited by our most recent podcast. Don can hardly wait to get back to post-production. He is on the road to recovery!

      Liked by 4 people

      2. I agree with you and Dave; this is good news indeed! Maybe it’s time during your heat wave to revisit some of those Russian novels with lots of snow and ice, which Elizabeth so wonderfully analyzes for us. 🙂

        Liked by 3 people

      6. The heat is heating up!! We are drinking lots of water, and staying indoors. This news came from Edmonton, which is well-known for its cold winter climate. (Canadians are not used to this kind of heat, especially in the North West Territories. Canadians knows how to drive in winter conditions, but this week, we are learning how to deal with heat wave.) https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/headshaking-heat-wave-set-to-shatter-high-temperature-records-in-western-canada-1.5487110

        “EDMONTON — Much of British Columbia, Alberta and parts of Yukon and the Northwest Territories are sweltering under a “heat dome” that is set to shatter historic high-temperature records over the next week. Three provinces, including B.C., Alberta, and parts of western Saskatchewan, as well as two territories are under heat warnings this weekend, with temperatures set to soar above 40 C in many regions of B.C. Parts of northern Alberta may also see temperatures near the 40 C mark by next week, including Fort McMurray, which is predicted to reach an unheard 37 C by Tuesday. It’s a record-clobbering kind of heat wave that has surprised many, even Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips.”

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you Elisabeth. Your support and encouragement has been life-affirming. Thank you for “Three Apples” – it came at a pivotal moment of decision for me. This story reminded me that miracles do occur more frequently than I imagined.

        Liked by 1 person

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