The Russian Debutante's Handbook

by Gary Shteyngart

Book Overview

NAMED ONE OF THE ATLANTIC'S GREAT AMERICAN NOVELS OF THE PAST 100 YEARS

A visionary novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Super Sad True Love Story and Little Failure.

The Russian Debutante's Handbook introduces Vladimir Girshkin, one of the most original and unlikely heroes of recent times. The twenty-five-year-old unhappy lover to a fat dungeon mistress, affectionately...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573229881
• ISBN13: 9781573229883
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 498 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.1" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Shteyngart is a word smith indeed

Although Shteyngart's novel weaves an incredibly entertaining story, bordering on the insane, it is his writing that deserves 5 stars. Both his vocabulary and his sentences are rich and expressive--as a reader I find myself re-reading passages just to let his style sink in. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys creative writing on all levels, not just on plot and character alone.

Shteyngart knows the location of America's cultural pulse

Vladimir Girshkin, aged 25, doesn't know who he really is, who he wants to be, or what he will become. He is, however, painfully aware that he's a Russian immigrant, a naturalized American citizen, and a Jew. These three qualities give Girshkin a painful inferiority complex, one which alternates between hilarious and disheartening. Instead, Girshkin does know he needs more money than he could ever earn acclimating Russian citizens to America in order to support his new, nouveau riche lifestyle in New York City, flittering among TriBeCa's inner circles and cliques. So, he travels to Prava-the glittering and grimy capital of Eastern Europe in the early `90s-to cavort with the Russian mafiaso and pull off the pyramid scheme to end all pyramid schemes. There, he works under the shadow of communism, literally; an immense statue of Stalin's foot occupies much of Prava's main square, serving as a grim reminder of the Soviet way of life and, more specifically, 1969.Once in Prava, Girshkin quickly establishes himself as the Hemmingway of the 30,000-plus strong expatriate community, where everyone is a Fitzgerald and parties like they'll never return home. This novel is infused with Gary Shteyngart's perception of Americans and their culture and his reflections on what it is like to be without a country. Through Shteyngart's witty phrases and dialogue, he proves he knows his adopted country better than most native-born Americans; phrases like "And Vladimir, young and tiny but already a child of America, said, `Aren't there pills she can take?'" make the reader cringe with a chagrined acceptance.

shteyngart is a natural comedian

I have had a similar upbringing as the author. I came to New York when I was young from Russia, and had a similar kind of education and I have to say the author gets the whole thing down right. Not only is he a great writer he has the kind of comic timing that only a good comedian has. The jokes come fast and furious and you just speed through the novel on the humor alone. Not everyone can get this comedy I'm sure but for those who have an open mind this is a trip worth taking (see for example the funny false naturalization ceremony for immigrants, the bonfire of Soviet clothes, etc.) This is the beginning of a great talent worth watching. The last few pages are an intersting way to finish the book because they show us just how sad the hero's story is beneath the laughter.

ingenious and political

I couldn't stop laughing and loving each crazy ingenious sentence. Shteyngart writes like no one else writes. I like especially how he show us the arrogance of both Russian and Americans in his novel and how this is really a novel for the 21 century when only one power is left in the world. Hero Vladimir Girshkin can not find a home for himself and this creates many funny situations in America and Europe both. The scenes in Prava/Prague are the funniest as Vladimir tries to teach russian gangsters how to be american. A brilliant book which is perfect for anyone who likes to laugh and think.

the funniest book of the year

Even in a movie, surrounded by enthusiastic laughers, I tend to think, "Hmm. That was amusing." But Gary Shteyngart's book had me laughing out loud hysterically -- inlcuding once on a plane to the dismay of neighboring passengers. Shteyngart re-invents the English language and creates a cast of uniquely weird and hilarious characters, which he mercilessly satirizes while somehow managing to portray them tenderly, with empathy. The [love] scenes between his hero Vladimir and his American girlfriends are painfully sad and comic at once and the hero's parents both crack you up and break your heart. Russian Debutante is an amazing and brilliant creation. Watch this guy's career. He's going to be one of the top writers of his generation.