Whenever I read / listen to a book in Russian, I have no idea what language to use to review it.
I remember seeing this book everywhere, starting from Marwin shops to shelves in independent book shops and spaces. I've been planning to read it long ago. Actually, I didn't even read it. I listened to an audiobook, which became an ordinary experience to me by now.
I think it's my first time reading contemporary Kazakh literature. All the Kazakh / Kazakhstan-related books that I read were (closest to modern times) written during the late Soviet era.
All this time, I didn't even know what this book could be about. Seeing the word "дата" and something on the palm, I thought maybe it would be close to sci-fi.
A simple and nicely done book on how we should value our lives and not wait till the "Date S" or "Day X" turns up and forces us to do things we've always wanted. Life is short, so live it without regrets. No matter the age! I think this is exactly the lesson we all should be taught. Execution is quite good.
I love how people were shown as flawed and anxious. I love how this was realistic. And I know cheating happens in real life, too, but I kind of got this normalization of cheating type of vibe from this book.
SPOILER AHEAD: What do you mean the woman in her 40s was fine with meeting up with a married guy who has problems with sex life? And WHAT do you mean the said guy was on dating apps and then proceeded to be seen as a "loving husband" who's "hopelessly in love with his wife"? Strange to me. Humans are flawed, yes, but this didn't feel nice. Maybe I'm just an idealist, or maybe I'm too young. Still, I think it's extremely weird, and I don't think I will change my opinion on that. Hella weird.
Nothing else to comment on. Nicely done.