The Ukrainian Museum sponsors author's evening for Irene Zabytko (10/15/00)

The Ukrainian Museum sponsors author's evening for Irene Zabytko

by Marta Baczynsky

NEW YORK - "We, as Ukrainians in this country need to tell the Americans and the world our stories. If we don't, someone outside of our collective experience will write about us, and they will usually get it wrong," said Irene Zabytko, the Ukrainian American writer and author of the popular novel "The Sky Unwashed" (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill).

She will elaborate on this statement, read excerpts from her book and autograph copies at an author's evening at The Ukrainian Museum scheduled for October 27, at 7 p.m.

"The Sky Unwashed" is Ms. Zabytko's first published novel and it is based on fact. The setting is a village, Starylis, situated near the nuclear power plant at Chornobyl. The story is about its people and what happened to them following the explosion at the plant in 1986.

At the beginning of the book the author frames the story with the trails and tribulations of one family of three generations who live under one roof. She then shows the reader a panorama of village life. The harshness of Soviet reality is the underlying influence everywhere, with its destructiveness effecting family life, moral values, traditions. The story continues with the shock of the nuclear disaster, its cover-up, and the mindless and heartless bureaucratically managed aftermath. But soon the story takes a turn for the unexpected and shows how a few very determined people stood up to challenge the rules.

Against a tale of hopelessness and despair, the author creates characters that are very real and shine with the wonderful achievements and shameful failures of which the human heart and mind are capable. They overcome adversity with courage and conviction, and face tremendous odds to make this story a triumph of the human spirit, love and endurance.

Ms. Zabytko's book is enjoying much success. Its appearance in the early part of the year was met with impressive reviews. Publishers Weekly said the story was "poignant" and "quietly insightful." The Denver Post critic called it a "first novel of surprising power and simplicity," and a "unique reading experience." The New England Booksellers Association (NEBA) and Barnes and Noble chose to promote "The Sky Unwashed" in their discovery selection category.

Ms. Zabytko feels very strongly that Ukrainian stories be told by Ukrainian writers. They are the people who may best present the Ukrainian experience to the American public. Although many Ukrainians have achieved much success and prominence in many notable professions in the United States, she says that little is known about us as a people, due mainly to the fact that we do not have "an identifiable and visible legacy of literature in this country.' "

The author says she searched for writers, Ukrainian Americans, like herself, but was able to find "only one other American fiction writer who has published a novel with an American publisher that focused on Ukrainian themes."

Ms. Zabytko laments the lack of fiction writers in the Ukrainian American community and is passionate about improving this situation. She envies other ethnic groups whose fiction writers have "done more in educating Americans and the world about their ethnicity and culture far better than any scholar or journalist because their stories and novels illustrate their particular culture and the universal human condition that transcend the ethnic ornamentation." She believes it is important for Ukrainians, that writers, particularly in the younger generation, produce literature that will accurately reflect who we are as a people.

Ms. Zabytko's novel will be available for purchase at the author's evening and in the museum's gift shop. "The Sky Unwashed" is priced at $22.95. If purchased by mail, please add $3.20 for postage and handling and New York State tax, where applicable.

For information contact The Ukrainian Museum: phone, (212) 228-0110; e-mail, [email protected]; website, www.ukrainianmuseum.org.

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