Book #27: Absurdistan

Title: Absurdistan


Author: Gary Shteyngart


Ok, this book is weird. I mean, really weird. It's about the morbidly obese son of a Russian mafioso, living in New York with his Latina girlfriend, who gets stuck in Eastern Europe after his dad kills some high-ranking diplomat (or something, it's been awhile since I read the book). Anyway, Mischa pines for his lover and tries to find a way out of St. Petersburg, eventually ending up in the fictional post-soviet state of Absurdistan, where he becomes a government official after the existing government gets overthrown. Throughout the book, he sings bad rap songs, sends dirty emails to his girlfriend, and samples the delights of all females (including his stepmother) and cuisines available to him.


It was a fun read, but seriously, such a weird ride. I love the visual imagery of a huge white Russian dude rapping, though.


--originally published 7/29/07