Overview

Two conjoined babies are born at the intersection of two social worldviews. The girls are named Faith and Hope. After spending their childhood in a foster home and obtaining a basic education, they come to realise that they are different from other people in many respects. The problems of their upbringing are only made worse by the constant humiliations they suffer at the hands of society. Eventually, fortune smiles on them, by seemingly opening up the door to happiness: a separation surgery that can theoretically be performed in the capital. Thus begins a journey fraught with difficulties and obstacles for the sisters. Will they be able to get past the wall of public cynicism, together with the internal conflicts they have among themselves? Will they find a justification for their existence and learn to accept it? The search for the answers to these and many other questions constitutes the essence of this novel. One-Two is a psychological drama, the main events of which unfold in the 1980s and 1990s in Russia. The novel reflects on how difficult it is to be a human and how important it is to stay human until the end. It is a message full of empathy and kindness addressed to all people.

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9781911414230

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Reviews

Innovative style breaks the rules to create a deeply moving story By Tantra Bensko on August 3, 2016 Anyone checking out the beginning of this book could be surprised by the unorthodox style, at least as far as contemporary novels in English. It might take a little while to get used to the way it breaks so many traditions, such as with its propensity for telling rather than showing, for backstory near the beginning, and for language quite sophisticated to be a non-priviledged young person. The narrator speaks the book to her sister yet we don't see the sister ever respond, or even get the sense of whether any of it is spoken out loud; she tells her sister all that occurred in the past, though her sister was there. But give this book the benefit of the doubt, don't worry about the rules, and keep reading; you will most likely find yourself delighted and moved by this tale and highly impressed by this genius author. The narrator's language seems to be to be a kind of an avant-garde theatrical portrayal of the author's imagination of rarefied thoughts of the stronger of the twin girls. If I look at it that way, also perhaps realizing there may be drastic differences in the Russian way of speaking, I find it to be a brilliant performance unlike anything I've ever seen. It's an innovative literary style that takes chances, and I feel, succeeds. The language allows beautiful poetry, advanced insights, surprising analogies, vivid images and complex philosophy that could be considered to come from the best part of the girl's expanded mind. The story is touching, and I cared about the twins as they went through so many experiences, and I was completely surprised by the realistic ending. An Allegory By RPSpeakes on May 20, 2016 One-Two is a punch sequence in boxing, a description of a binary star system, a basic element of computerization, a symbolic dance depicting the relationship of self (or of countries - USSR and US) and simply a name given to two conjoined twins, together, Faith and Hope, as one. It's a story that takes place in the USSR at the time of Perestroika and the break-up of the Soviet Union, written by a Russian in English, and by the very foreignness of the language to the English reader it provides a poignant, almost child-like, distance to view the nature of being and of personal/national identity, as well as watching the evolution of a writer. To suggest correcting grammar, usage and syntax would be a violation of the spontaneity of this work. It's a worthy allegory, these conjoined twins, for understanding and existing in a tough world. The twins' plight is heart-rending to read about yet at the same time the book is a delight to read. Psycoligical thrill By Simonreader on May 6, 2016 Although the description is intriguing, I started reading it with caution. But the deeper I got into this book, the more interested I became. The first half of this book gives you the feeling that you are brought to an isolation ward at a hospital, which is filled with a bunch of freaks and their stories. This part is about the physical and mental side of man and his soul, his body. The second half of the book walks you through the devastation, and then continues on its way through the steps to self-reflecting and self-perfecting. Many of the scenes in this part are heartbreaking. The end of the book is the story of an aspiring contemporary novelist who may be writing a good story.

"""One-Two is a different kind of book, in parts strange, in parts repulsive, but one that holds reader attention in evoking a rarely seen world. It is worth reading for that alone."" Yelena Furman, East-West Review ""Conjoined twins are not typically the topic of a novel about social consciousness and its evolution, but One-Two is packed with surprises on many levels, and only one of them has to do with their physical connection as twins Hope and Faith make their way through an uncertain life."" Donovan's Bookshelf, Midwest Book Review ""Eliseev, a native Russian, injects a uniquely Russian way of viewing language, influenced by a culture and context far different from that of the average Brit or American. I love books written by authors of different countries whose native language isn't necessarily English for just that reason."" J. Aislynn d'Merricksson, Manhattan Book Review One-Two is ""a highly original book which I can thoroughly recommend."" John, The Modern Novel ""The style is at first disconcerting, being told from an alternating first and second person, but in the end feels like the perfect choice. A psychological drama, the novel reflects on how difficult but also how important it is to remain human."" Allison's Book Blog ""One-Two is a harrowing book, as Faith and Hope travel a difficult road. The history of 1980s and '90s Russia unfolds in the background, and there's a sense that Eliseev is reflecting this in the personal story of his protagonists."" David Hebblethwaite, DAVID'S BOOK WORLD ""Beautifully written, extraordinarily powerful, One-Two proves a rare gem of a read and is recommended without reservation."" BookViral ""Igor Eliseev has a deceptive and seemingly simple writing style not usually used for such works that nevertheless manages to weave an intricate tapestry of narrative and engaging dialogue with skill that makes it a pleasure to read. His portrayal of Faith and Hope is vivid and stark without descending into the darkness of morbid minds."" Stefan Vucak ""It's heart-breaking to think of children being denied even their own names..."" Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers ""Thought provoking and well-executed; characters are truly in turmoil and a metaphor for the human condition. The reader is left a little heartbroken yet hopeful at the end."" BookLife ""An original, painful tale of youthful isolation."" Kirkus Reviews ""This is a genius novel, a psychological literary drama that shall pull at all your heartstrings. But don't let that detract you from enjoying it as there are beautiful moments within, all the way to such a realistic ending "" Mark Benjamin ""As I read One-Two, I was reminded once again why I've gravitated towards the great Russian authors throughout my adult life. And reading One-Two, I felt again in the presence of greatness, a word that's often trivialized yet so apt here. I delighted in the glimpses of Gogol's humor present in the nicknames and descriptive imagery that flourish throughout this work: the strange little man who seems like a flat pumpkin, and the supervisor, Compass Legs, who enslaves the twins."" Jack Magnus, Readers' Favorite"

Author Information

Igor Eliseev (Igor Miroshnichenko) (born 12 March, 1977 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia) is an English-language writer, novelist, and essayist; he writes under the pen name Igor Eliseev, his mother's maiden name. Igor graduated from the Don State Technical University, where he studied engineering procedure, in 1999. He also studied at the Moscow University of Industry and Finance, graduating in 2009 with a degree in the management of commercial activities. He first tried his hand at writing sketches and scripts for a radio show. He also found himself particularly drawn to portrait and fashion photography. Some time later, he became one of the most in-demand photographers in Moscow. His photos brought him a lot of attention and a taste of financial freedom, but ultimately, literature remains his true and only calling. Igor Eliseev began his literary activity in 1999 with a number of short stories, essays and a film script. Later, the plot of the script developed into a literary novel - the most important project of his life and one that has not yet been completed. In 2015, however, he finished his second novel, which, by a twist of fate, became his debut novel. One-Two, a book that is dedicated to the memory of his mother, tells the story of two conjoined sisters born in the era of the collapse of the Soviet Union. He has been interested in oriental martial arts ever since he was a child and practices Judo, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu and Chinese Wushu; he worked as a martial arts instructor for several years.

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