Just completed the novel Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart. I have a great time reading his super hilarious satire. And true to its title, the story gets sad at the end. His self deprecating image, the declining American Empire and the once glamor New York city evokes Woody Allen. But the first half of the book is so pack full of hysterical and absurd jokes that shows he is a peer of Quentin Tarantino in the literature world.

So cynical it is actually funny. Many innocuous phrases, like the government's slogan Together we'll surprise the world!, takes on an entire new meaning when you consider how it reflects the lack of confidence and self-esteem deep down.

The protagonist Lenny's job at the "Post Human Service" is a good shot at the life extension idea. The business model of the firm is to sell life extension service to rich people, cynically referred to as "life lovers". I was quite pissed about Aubrey de Grey's anti-aging story and that some people are taking him seriously. How brilliant the author weave it into an entire satire story!

This is my first (and only) Kindle purchase so far. I have not otherwise spend my time in fiction in recent years. I like it that I can free my mind to travel to an imaginary place for a while.

2010.10.24 [book] - comments