Arrival is an exploration of the ripple effects of domestic abuse. The story follows a young woman fleeing her home country and trying to rebuild her life, after she has suffered domestic violence at the hands of an alcoholic father.
Prompted by her therapist, the unnamed protagonist starts processing the abuse experienced in her childhood while also pondering what it means to be a mother when consumed by trauma. The novel bends form to accommodate the narrator's scattered mind and her attempt to assemble a version of herself through fragments and stitches of memories, borrowed conversations and minutiae that linger and haunt.
Infused with love and determination and interwoven with folk tales and rituals, Arrival depicts the ways in which we are resilient, capable of carving our own paths and reimagining our lives.
'A powerful tale about love, domestic violence, mother-hood, escape, and arrival.' - Naja Marie-Aidt
'Sensual, languid, feline.' - Marina Benjamin
Praise for Four Minutes:
'A heartrending debut...' - Publishers Weekly
About the Author :
Nataliya Deleva was born in Bulgaria and now lives in London. Her debut novel, Four Minutes, was originally published in Bulgaria (Janet 45, 2017), where the book was awarded Best Debut Novel and was shortlisted for Novel of the Year (2018). It has since been translated into German (eta Verlag, 2018), English (Open Letter Books, 2021) and Polish (Wydawnictwo EZOP, 2021).
Nataliya’s short fiction, reviews and essays have appeared in Words Without Borders, The Fence, Asymptote, Empty Mirror, Granta Bulgaria, and the anthology Stories from the 90s (ICU Publishing, 2019) among others.
Review :
What to read in 2022: 10 Books from Eastern Europe to embrace the world more closely
‘Deleva’s story is not told in neatly packaged chapters, but shards of flashbacks, memories, and observations, in prose that is languid and inquiring.’
https://www.calvertjournal.com/features/show/13383/memoirs-novels-and-poetry-from-eastern-europe-to-look-forward-to-in-2022
The new book releases you need in your life in 2022
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/g38664811/best-books-2022/?slide=12
For the Record by Nataliya Deleva
https://www.lunate.co.uk/fiction/for-the-record-by-nataliya-deleva
How Nataliya Deleva Became An Internationally Acclaimed Writer
https://www.writerscollegeblog.com/how-nataliya-deleva-became-an-internationally-acclaimed-writer/
‘Deleva has struck again, this novel had me entirely captivated me from start to finish! Its vulnerable, honest yet meditative & optimistic. Just breathtaking!’
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSgsPzr8zG/?hl=en
‘l took my breath away. From the moment I read the first page, I was mesmorised by Deleva’s prose.’
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfQa6-fLVoZ/?hl=en
‘Arrival is remarkable. The prose is lush and beautifully written.’
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce53iuCLhDE/?hl=en
‘A heartbreaking but beautiful story about domestic violence and its effects.’
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdL6rGrL-pk/?hl=en
‘Beautiful characters, a love letter to youth, optimism and of living in London, vulnerable and honest, and containing such raw hope for the future, an incredibly affecting read! 5 stars’
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaW8cDyL9k_/?hl=en
