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Abao Ji abao — I would give this 1.5 stars, if I could. I wanted to like this book and there is enough contained herein to give Shteyngart one more chance. I'm not in need of liking the protagonist, and Vladimir is an unlikeable character. Combining this fact, with the strangely ficitionalized Prague as a backdrop and the absurd machinations of the plot, I found reading beyond page 362 of this edition to be not worth my time. [If that is irritating, so is reading another 100 pages.] Prague in 1993 was such an rich and vibrant place. It seems so ripe for a novel, but Shteyngart twists ever so slightly into a fiction that doesn't seem to serve a purpose. Yes, there were gangsters, 25,000 American ex-pats, and bars where they hung out, and bars where the locals hung out, and good literature available in english, old ladies and pensioners who couldn't cope with the changes that they had seen. So, why, oh why, change all the names of the places, largely through making anagrams of the original names? There has to be a reason, but it is not apparent to me. Prior to his travel to Prava, there are a wealth of avenues for Vladimir in New York to go down. That Shteyngart chose a quasi-picaresque adventure for him to return, to Bohemia, but not to his homeland, ignores and eradicates potential character and plot developments, which may have been more satisifying. Indeed, although surrounded and acknowledging the legacy of more famous ex-pats, the ex-pat Vladimir does not reflect upon the world he has left behind, beyond realizing that he's been overly intertwined with his Jewish mohter and that he creates, and fosters the similar amorous relationships in a new land.

Natalie Rockefeller bellabass6f0d — Apparently I'm a sucker for a pretty cover. This book looked so promising sitting all pretty in the library bookshelf next to the other drabby books. It just screamed to get picked up. However, much to my disappoint the content was boring. I got 100 pages in and I just couldn't continue anymore with the snooze fest. ****Potential Spoilers**** There wasn't much to Leah who is the female protagonist. Her father suffered a lost and her reputation ruined. Um, okay what else? Yeah, she's now a loyal servant in her uncle Pontius Pilate's house, yet he wants to set her up in a "strategic marriage". Did I miss something here? Someone who wants to marry up is not going to want to marry a lowly servant...well, at least the last time I checked. Apparently, Pontius' power is so great and Leah is so wonderful Alban can't pass up. Alban, if you haven't guess is the male hero. All brains and good looks. Oh, yeah and of course he's the stereotypical fearless leader who all the men respect and doesn't loose any of his men in battle. *yawn* So there I pretty much summarize the first 100 pages for you. I would like to get repaid in time please. I'm still counting it for my read shelf because I wasted time reading the 100 pages. I definitely won't be picking this one up again.

Anastasia Dachko nastyart — Like Les, i found this book to be OK. Many of the characters were such self absorbed jerks that I never really took to them...Altho i sure did enjoy the scandel and seduction coupled with history that tantalizes me about Philipa Gregory.