"Absurdistan", a novel by Russian-American author Gary Shteyngart, was published in 2006. It is a satirical and absurdist take on the post-Soviet world and the immigration experience, set in an unnamed former Soviet republic called "Absurdsvanï."
The story follows the misadventures of Misha Vainberg, the overweight and hedonistic son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, who is stranded in Absurdsvanï after the murder of an American diplomat. Misha is unable to leave the country due to his father's connections to crime. Misha is compelled to navigate the surreal and corrupt world of Absurdsvanï as he tries to find a way out.
Absurdistan is an entertaining exploration of the disconnect between cultures, as Misha attempts to survive in a country that is in the process of transitioning from its Soviet past to a more globalized future. The reader is taken on an absurd journey which highlights the absurdity of many of the situations Misha finds himself in. Misha's experiences also serve as a reflection of the experiences of many immigrants who are caught between two cultures and are struggling to find their place in the world. The novel is a captivating tale of identity, immigration, and globalization that is sure to leave the reader with a deeper understanding of the complexities of this post-Soviet world.
The novel is written in a humorous and irreverent style and tackles themes of identity, immigration, and globalization. It also satirizes the excesses of consumer culture and the decline of the Soviet Union.
Shteyngart was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia) in 1972, and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was seven years old. Shteyngart writes this novel courtesy of personal experiences and observations as an immigrant of the post-Soviet world.
