Julia Phillips - "Disappearing Earth"

Thirteen loosely interlocking stories, starting with the disappearance of two girls. We follow their mother, loose acquaintances, almost random people, but all connected. Situated in Kamchatka, far removed from Russia, with their own native people I never heard of before. I had trouble following the connections between the chapters (each chapter another group, another main character). As such, it was not as gripping as I hoped it was. The doctor came close enough that they could smell each other: the doctor sharp with antiseptic wipes, cold circulated air, the waxed fruit flavor of lip balm tucked underneath, and Valentina slippery with nervousness. Everyone looked better at a distance. Everyone sounded sweetest when you did not have to hear them talk too long. After her husband hung up, Natasha skated past her brother at the wall, their mother cleaning her glasses beside him. Loving someone close-up - that was difficult. He let out a goose's hiss at that, kkkh, air forced from the back of his throat. She had no time to pause and take her panic in hand, so instead she rode it, shock turned to speed in her legs. No one in this world cared enough about what Oksana treasured, but only Anton's disregard ended up feeling like love. It hurts too much to break your own heart out of stupidity, to leave a door unlocked or a child untended and return to discover that whatever you value most has disappeared. No. You want to be intentional about the destruction. Be a witness. You want to watch how your life will shatter.