In anticipation of Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili’s appearance as part of our Music & Healing series (Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 7:30PM), we invite you to read and reflect together on Hard by a Great Forest, a novel that echoes the political and emotional terrain at the heart of her event.

Set in the aftermath of war in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia—a country still grappling with the consequences of Russian occupation and aggression—Leo Vardiashvili’s debut novel explores the legacy of conflict through a deeply personal lens. When a father disappears after returning to his homeland, his sons embark on a journey that confronts the wreckage of history and the longing for home.