Gradina de sticla. Roman

An orphan leaves a village home for children. She moves to Chisinau, a city of many cultures. A single woman with high hopes takes her in. Yet no one knows why she does so. Does she want to give the girl a better future? Or does she want to use the child for work?

Tatiana Tibuleac’s novel follows the girl as she grows up. She lives between two languages and two cultures. Borders and systems of rule shift as she grows. The book looks at what it means to be a mother. It explores love held back, the harm this causes, and guilt.

The novel sees cruelty with a keen eye. It also shows care for those who suffer. Its world lies between Russia and Europe. It sits between struggle and giving in, order and collapse. One girl’s life also shows a whole generation of women. Telling stories offers a way to face pain, illness, and betrayal. It does so while keeping life’s beauty in view.