I do read a lot of Russian authors, and I'm not sure how that came to pass. I think it began with Solzhenitsyn. This is the first Trifonov I've read and it's actually two books but both were quite good.
The House On The Embankment was the better of the two and as with all translations I have to wonder if translator Michael Glenny added any magic to the text, but by reputation alone I think we can trust that the core of the best parts do originate with Trifonov.
"Suddenly I understood why the old man no longer wanted to recall the past. The rooks made a deafening noise as they circled and circled over our heads in great anger. It was as if we had invaded their kingdom."
