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Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers' Favorite
Saved by the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy by M.J. Neary is the story about one woman's life in Belarus before, during, and after Chernobyl in the 1980s. Antonia is a pianist for the Gomel Music Academy and she loves flirting and fooling around with the baritones. She has one particular admirer, Nicholas the tenor, whom she is very interested in, but she is also tied to Joseph, her composer husband, and her daughter Maryana. Maryana is a gymnast and described as ugly, so the mother and daughter do not get along very well.
Unfortunately, when Chernobyl explodes, Antonia finds herself on an evacuation journey, saddled with Maryana. Their escape is filled with many outrageous episodes. Antonia returns to her old ways of using sex to get what she wants and flirts with Afghan veterans, but that just reminds her of home. She desperately wants to return to her glamorous life at the Gomel Music Academy. But when she returns home, she realizes that she has been replaced and is no longer the Academy's queen. Unsatisfied with this replacement, Antonia decides how far she is willing to take her revenge to reclaim her rightful throne as goddess and queen.
I liked the sarcasm and wit in this story. It was told with a definite air of extravagance. I think readers will enjoy the descriptions of the characters and why they felt they deserved what they had (and wanted what they didn't). Different readers will relate to different characters better, whether it is the queen in Antonia wanting to return to her rightful throne or sweet Maryana who is overlooked because of her lack of outward beauty. Definitely a relatable and interesting story.
