when i read the flavorpill post recommending little failure as a must read for january, i hadn't read anything by gary shteynart, (i still haven't read anything by him other than this, my plan to read super sad true love story prior to this was spoiled because this book was due last tuesday. yup, it cost me about $3.50 to read this book!) but with that cute cover and clever title, i decided to check it out.
even with my lack of familiarity with shteyngart's works, i was still able to enjoy his memoir. plus it still revealed to me the not so shocking truth that shteyngart's fiction is primarily made up of his life (like all authors). since i have read a couple chapters of super sad true love story, i have to admit i did become confused between what i had read about lenny's parents and shteyngart's actual parents, which make sense because they are one and the same. it was interesting to see that eunice was based on the korean school girls of his youth, prior to learning this i found her an odd character. and now with this new background knowledge, i do look forward to reading the rest of shteynart's work, knowing who some of the characters are based on.
the book was entertaining, it might be as flavorpill claimed, the best memoir i read this year but mostly because i might not read any other memoirs this year. shteyngart is a great storyteller, very funny and witty. for those of you that are unfamiliar with his background, shteynart is russian and jewish and immigrated to america with his family at a young age. his memoir shares: his family history, his memories of russia, his education (from jewish grade school to a prestigious math and science academy to oberlin college), his works, how he became an writer and a family trip back to russia. i enjoyed the stories of his youth more than i did his tales from college and breaking into the literary world. i have to admit that he truly was horrible during his return to saturn phrase (but than again who isn't) but i can not believe how one-sided his relationship with his best friend john was, i mean to be honest, i guess i can because i have been the gary in friendships, but imagine my contributions being worth more than my demands.
but back to his childhood, i loved the story of his grandma galya motivating him to write a novel as a child, giving him a piece of cheese for every page written. i also loved his teacher ms. s who had him read his novel to his class. it was adorable how excited his class about his novel. also the subject matter, sci-fi story on one level but a discussion of race relations on another, was quite advance for a child. also it was interesting to see how his stories as an adult are not that different from his stories as a child.
i also enjoyed seeing the world filtered through his russian immigrant mindset especially pop culture. for example wondering about "the origins of the white slave alice" on the brady bunch or "is it really possible that a country as powerful as the united states would not be able to locate two of its best citizens lost at sea" in gilligan's island. the book is filled with gems like this not only of pop culture but american life in general.
and maybe it's because i miss my grandma so much, but i loved reading about his grandmas. my grandma bea always encouraged me to write and draw pictures like his grandma galya. my grandma was just like his grandma polya provided my sister and i with the best desserts and snacks. however, her providing must have came with limits for her. but two amazing grandmas that reminded me of my one exceptional one!
i also enjoyed reading about his family's trip back home to russia. his father opening up to him about his time in a psychiatric ward. in that light, i read his father's comment about his wish that shteyngart was gay instead of seeing a psychoanalyst, as him worried that his son would be mistreated as he was in russia. also partially because his father must have partly blamed his genetics for his son needing help. it was crazy to hear how cruel his parents were to him but it was a tough love, something they did to help him survive. also anger was an expression of love from his parents which shteyngart learned to deal with thanks to his psychoanalysis.
oh and one last thing, that story about his ex that stabbed her ex with a hammer!! that was insane!
all in all, it was an enjoyable read. i wouldn't call it a must read but it's good book to check out, if you like his work. it has inspired to read the all of shteygnart. it also inspired me to read nils and the wild geese and the boy from ufo, two books he loved as a child. i also look forward to reading chang-rae lee's book, native speaker, because he aided shteyngart in getting his book deal (also because his new book has been mentioned everywhere.) and last but not least i have been inspired to one day visit the chesme church, which was a focal point of this memoir and thus shteyngart's life. it's a truly lovely building:
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