Gary Shteyngart

Super Sad True Love Story

a novel

Super sad true love story

Connie Meade

I took out my U.S. passport and held it in my hand, fingering its embossed golden eagle, still hoping it meant something. I remember how my parents would talk about the 

 of their having left the Soviet Union for America. Oh God, I thought, let there still be such luck in this new world.

They were inside the first-class cabin. About nine guys wearing grimy camouflage fatigues, in their thirties mostly (too old to serve in Venezuela, I'd guess), sweat stains underneath their arms, water bottles haphazardly stapled to their bulletproof vests, M-16s cradled against their torsos, no smiles, no words… I snuck a glance at the fat man’s tormentors, standing evenly around him, fingers on their triggers. Their uniforms were adorned with hasty insignia, a sword superimposed over Lady Liberty’s crown, which I believe denotes the New York Army National Guard. And yet I sensed these exurban white guys were from nowhere 

I noticed that some of the first class people were staring me down for having an open book. "Duder, that thing smells like wet socks." said the young jock next to me, a senior Credit ape at Land0'Lakes- GMFord. I quickly sealed the Chekhov in my carry-on, stowing it far in the overhead bin. As the passengers returned to their flickering displays, I took out my äppärät and began to thump it loudly with my finger to show how much I loved all things digital, while sneaking nervous glances at the throbbing cavern around me, the wine-dulled business travelers lost to their own electronic lives. 

John Manoogian III

Aubrey Hicks

I'm not sure about this novel yet. It took me a while to get into this- it was funny but in that very dark way as to feel uncomfortable. Very depressing. I'm not even sure how many stars to give it 3 or 4? I'll have to come back to this a write a real review.

Elizabeth Morris

My interest in the novel changed drastically with each 100 pages. At first I had no desire to read it, finding Lenny's obsession with Eunice and her youth both sickening and worrisome. The next 100 pages allowed me to delve deeper in the actual meaning of the novel, the issues in this dystopian world. The last 100 pages engaged me, and I found myself wondering how America would survive in the midst of a full economic collapse. Overall, I found it intriguing how the author was able to illustrate the disastrous issues in the world through the eyes of a protagonist who cared much more about his romantic endeavors.

Zoe Smolen

This has been my favorite piece by Shteyngart, by far. Shteyngart does an excellent job at creating two distinct narrative voices which tell a story of a dystopian America not too far in the future. Both Lenny and Eunice evoke emotion in me, with Lenny appealing to one part of myself, and Eunice appealing to the other.

Super Sad True Love Story

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