It's a love story set in a dystopian America in the not-too-distant future, where technology is part of life thanks to everyone's äppäräti, which reveal everything from credit ratings to romantic history to the last film someone has watched. The fashion of the day is translucent jeans called 'onionskins', privacy is taboo, and youth is lionized. The story is a postmodern Romeo and Juliet but the setting is glorious, frightening, and completely believable. I can't stop thinking about this story, and wish I could discuss it with someone - it's that kind of book. Shteyngart's event next Saturday is sure to be a corker.
3 comments:
It sounds brilliant. I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy!
I enjoyed it a lot, especially the setting, which is hilariously imagined but found the characters largely cartoonish. Nevertheless, I do certainly recommend it.
He was so interesting on Saturday. Quirky, intelligent, charming - I'd love to have him for a professor.
Sam, I'll agree that the narrators are rather cliche, but it worked for me since the world wasn't. You are right that the setting is the star though.
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