Twelve Stories of Russia: A Novel, I Guess (New Russian Writing)
by A. J. Perry
Category: Fiction

"What is the book about? Twelve Stories of Russia: A Novel, I guess is about an American who moves to Moscow in 1991 - just before the fall of the Iron Curtain - to help Russians understand the difference between the and a. In his quest he is witness to an unsuccessful coup, an even-less-successful rebellion, rampant inflation, unprecedented social, economic and political change, Mafia infighting, and a host of other phenomena that characterize this period. But, alas, the book pays almost no attention to any of this. In Russia such cataclysms are a given, and the narrator, in his discussions with Russian friends, is forced to address much more pressing issues of cross-cultural relations: "Why is it," a friend asks, "that you Americans smile so much?"" "What is the structure of the novel? The book is four hundred forty-eight pages with a total word count of one hundred thirty-seven thousand words. It is divided into twelve chapters called "books," which represent semi-independent stories, each with its own style. The chapters are connected both chronologically and by unifying themes: the main character's quest for the "eleven Russian words that are not just words"; his futile attempt to love vodka; his long-distance relationship with the aunt he has abandoned in his search for "danger."" "Who is the audience? Any foreigner who has been to Russia and can compare the book with his own experiences. Russians who know English and are interested in seeing a fresh, thoughtful perspective on their culture. Intelligent readers who understand that America is not the only country in the world. People who enjoy reading for its own sake." --Book Jacket.