The Essence of the Thing

The brilliant mathematician Lisa makes a living by cleaning. She doesn’t quite understand the motives and actions of people, but the things that have lived with people tell Lisa everything about their owners. Even things she would rather not know.
This... book can be read in different ways: as a detective story, as a coming-of-age novel, as a philosophical parable, even as a discussion on the unity and opposition of music and mathematics. But however you read it, fragile yet stubborn and fearless Lisa will forever hold a place in your heart.



3 reasons to buy this book
1. The book is read in one breath, it’s almost a thriller, yet it makes you think about what it means to be human. 2. Everyone will find something of their own in the novel; it combines different genres, making the story multi-faceted and captivating. 3. Alyona Alekina very accurately conveyed the feelings and subjective experiences, doubts and anxieties of an ordinary person confronted with evil and injustice.