Review: Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart
When I first picked up Super Sad True Love Story, I was drawn in by the tantalizing blurbs that promised a dystopian love story wrapped in a satirical bow. Gary Shteyngart’s name rang familiar — I had devoured Absurdistan years earlier — and I was eager to see how his sharp wit would translate into a vision of our own near-future. The byline “A Novel” caught my eye, hinting at a blending of genres that would lead me down a reflective rabbit hole.
Set in a not-so-distant future plagued by economic turmoil and societal decay, Super Sad True Love Story chronicles the relationship between Lenny Abramov — an aging, bookish idealist — and Eunice Park, a vivacious, tech-savvy millennial. Their love story unfolds against a backdrop of a hyper-surveilled America, where social media dictates value, credit scores are publicly displayed, and genuine connections are all but forgotten. The contrast between Lenny’s fondness for the printed word and Eunice’s digital fluency is a poignant reminder of how rapidly our world is shifting, pushing us further apart even as we remain perpetually connected.
Shteyngart’s writing style is both sharp and heartfelt, effortlessly balancing humor and melancholy. As I navigated between Lenny’s diary entries and Eunice’s text-laden communications, the format lent an authenticity to their voices, highlighting the generational gap and the clash of communication modes. For me, Lenny’s earnestness juxtaposed against Eunice’s increasingly pragmatic outlook painted an intimate portrait of love amidst chaos. There were moments when I found myself chuckling at Lenny’s romantic quirks while also feeling a deep pang of sympathy for his existential plight — a true testament to Shteyngart’s ability to elicit multifaceted emotions.
One of my favorite passages reads: “In the end, we are all just a collection of our relationships, existing in those spaces between us.” This struck me as particularly profound — an encapsulation of the entire narrative arc. As Lenny grapples with the looming irrelevance of his existence, the very essence of love becomes even more significant, posing the question: can human connection redeem us in a world that values superficiality?
However, I’ll admit that not every moment swept me off my feet. At times the pacing falters, particularly towards the end; certain chapters felt drawn out, which momentarily dulled the urgency of their journey. Still, the commentary on our tech-heavy society remains hauntingly relevant, blurring the lines between fiction and the stark realities we face today.
Super Sad True Love Story is a must-read for lovers of contemporary satire, those who revel in explorations of human connection, or anyone who’s ever felt the weight of a world teetering on the brink. It prompts reflection about where we’re headed as a society—full of sharp humor, appealing characters, and profound resonances that linger long after the last page. If you’re looking for a novel that intertwines love with a chilling look at our potential future, Shteyngart’s work is a brilliant and engaging companion on that journey.
In the end, reading this book felt like a kind of catharsis for me, a reminder that even amidst chaos, the quest for love and understanding remains an enduring and deeply human endeavor.
You can find Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel here >>