very confusing for my brain, maybe ill give it another try in 5-1o years

In some ways this is a mundane story of a uninspired young person making his way in the world and inadvertently moving through layers of society he didn't know existed. That's the story line in a nutshell, and you've seen that many times before. But the brilliant combination of place (Moscow), time (Yelstin), industry (advertising), and perspective (cockeyed and lonely paranoia) make this a really interesting book.

The main character Tartartsky is in a world seemingly moving from determinism to choice. Of course that choice means western goods and sloganizing – and that means going from failed poet to shop assistant to joining the rest of those making fun in Moscow. As Tartarsky blooms, satire and mania make the writing and story thunderous and engaging – seemingly in the direction of [b:Money|18825|Money|Martin Amis|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367084993s/18825.jpg|85999]. But Pelevin keeps returning to long passages of theoretic bilge that reminds you this was written in Russian.

Given to me by a Russian friend to practice my contemporary Russian slang and grammar translation, this is a very funny novel on themes familiar to 1950s American comedies--Babylen Tatarsky is a stipend-dependent emo Soviet poet when the system crashes down in 1990. A wild and crazy school buddy brings him in to a brand-new Russian ad agency. how do you market to people who have never had consumer choice? What effect will advertising have on Russians? What effect will sex, drugs and consumer abundance have on Babylen Tatarsky? There are several really hilarious puns, including a hallucination of an ancient Egyptian dog named Phukkup, along the way to Tatarsky's inevitable co-option into a TV star.

Just not my cup of tea. What is it with these critically acclaimed Slavic novels? Too much Naked Lunch-esque drug dream and not enough plot for me. Also, there was no significant female character at all in this novel.

It is nonsense but very good written. Surprisingly enjoyable.

note to self: if high on mushrooms, don’t eat random mushrooms found in a forest, bad idea.

Не для меня. Бросила читать на 53%. Получается какое-то эссе на тему абсурда капитализма, но мысли все состоят из слоганов уже давно всеми слышанными. Может быть когда книга вышла это ещё было свеженько, но сейчас это уже какой-то антиквариат. Тема смены советской идеологии на идеологию капитализма появилась в самом начале книги, но не обрисовалась, так и осталась скетчем.