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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Just read Super Sad True Love Story

Aye Write is next weekend in Glasgow, and I was delighted when I saw Gary Shteyngart on the schedule. This book has had huge press in America, and I've read some snarky, hilarious interviews with him. He doesn't take himself seriously, but takes his writing seriously. I always try to know the work of the people I go to see, and I'm so very glad I picked this book up.


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:

Francesca said...

It sounds brilliant. I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy!

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed it a lot, especially the setting, which is hilariously imagined but found the characters largely cartoonish. Nevertheless, I do certainly recommend it.

Kristin Pedroja said...

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.