“This is a book about love. The next 338 pages are dedicated with that cloying Russian affection that passes for real warmth to my Beloved Papa, to the city of New York, to my sweet impoverished girlfriend in the South Bronx and to the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This is also a book about too much love. It’s a book about being had. Let me say that right away: I’ve been had. They used me. Took advantage of me. Sized me up. Knew right away that they had their man. If “man” is the right word.”
This book is absurd and brilliant. The stereotypes are spot-on; the filthy newly rich Russians, the multicultural girlfriend from Bronx, the American investors in Absurdistan, the various Absurdi ethnic characters and the rest of the characters. I also liked how Gary Stheyngart had put himself in the book. I also loved the description of St. Petersburg (made me miss the city) and New York. He also did a great job making up an entire country and describing the every day life in the capital. And I finally learnt some new Russian swearwords!