 |
Super Sad True Love Storyby Gary Shteyngart |
Arlene Almas: This outrageously funny but moving story takes us
to tomorrow, when corporate America has taken over our country and created the
American Restoration Authority (ARA), and everyone seems to live their lives through
their digital gadgets (or are we there already?). Lenny, son of Russian immigrants, meets
Eunice, daughter of Korean immigrants, and the rest is indeed a super sad love story. He's
39, she's 25; they come from different cultures; they each have family issues; but somehow,
through all their troubles, something draws them together. There is a growing movement
against the autocratic government, and Eunice especially becomes involved through
her sister; Lenny is more apolitical. One of the unhappily funniest lines in the
book is this message from the ARA, which appears with slight variations in emails and
on signs: "By reading this message you are denying its existence and implying consent."
Talk about messing with people's minds! Give yourself a ride on this manic roller
coaster - I've never laughed so much while fearing for our future.
Rating: ****
