The article discusses a novel revolving around Yeva, a rogue ecologist in war-torn Ukraine, who collects endangered snails. Amidst her struggles, she becomes entangled in a plot orchestrated by her friend Nastia, who aims to kidnap foreign bachelors in a controversial PR stunt to raise awareness about the exploitation of Ukrainian brides. As Yeva grapples with her writing and its clichés about her homeland's trauma, multiple storylines converge, showcasing the challenges of war and identity, all while highlighting the often-overlooked importance of species like snails in conservation efforts.
Snails weren't pandas - those oversize bumbling toddlers that sucked up national conservation budgets - or any of the other charismatic megafauna, like orcas or gorillas.
Yeva, a rogue ecologist, faces the shame of writing clichés about Ukraine amidst war, while orchestrating a complex kidnapping scenario involving foreign bachelors.
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