Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Still Here
Lara Vapnyar
Review by Priscilla Comen
Still Here
Lara Vapnyar
Review by Priscilla Comen
Still Here by Lara Vapnyar is about four immigrants from Russia in New York City who take on the challenges of their new homes and jobs. Vadik can’t keep a girlfriend but Vica is jealous of Vadiks ability to change his choices from bad to good. Vica is stuck in marriage to Sergei and their son Eric. Vadik shows them through his new apartment, his sixth in eight years. Author Vapnyar gives each character distinct personalities. Regina is married to Bob, a successful entrepreneur. Back in Moscow, Regina had been a famous translator of North American literature.
Bob flirts with Vica and Vica fantasizes about the possibilities with Bob as her husband. Sergei has an idea for an app that would keep one’s online presence after they die and tries to sell the idea to Bob. But the idea dies. Author Vapnyar brings Vadik to the U.S. on the airplane to JFK where Sergei waits for him, takes him to his home and to Vica, his wife. Individual chapters on each character show us what they do, how they live, and love. Vica dumps Vadik for Sergei and Sergei dumps Regina for Vica.
Vadik is a close friend of Sergei in Russia, and in New York they grow even closer. In the chapter on Regina, she goes to Russia to visit her mother’s grave. This is the tradition after one year. She visits her mother’s sister, Aunt Masha, who wants Regina to adopt a Russian orphan, a five year old girl, Nastya. Regina realizes she couldn’t give a child her undying love. She rushes to the airport and home.
Vica’s son Eric is in a school for gifted children where the competition is fierce and the stress on them is severe. Eric doesn’t take the entrance test, but lies to his mother that he has. What is the fate of these immigrants? Will they adjust to life in America? Vadik is constantly working to develop his app of peoples essence after their death. He presents it to wealthy investors.
Author Vapnyar makes the reader curious about the characters as their everyday problems increase and they try to solve them. Find the answers to questions in this book on the new fiction shelf of your community library.
Bob flirts with Vica and Vica fantasizes about the possibilities with Bob as her husband. Sergei has an idea for an app that would keep one’s online presence after they die and tries to sell the idea to Bob. But the idea dies. Author Vapnyar brings Vadik to the U.S. on the airplane to JFK where Sergei waits for him, takes him to his home and to Vica, his wife. Individual chapters on each character show us what they do, how they live, and love. Vica dumps Vadik for Sergei and Sergei dumps Regina for Vica.
Vadik is a close friend of Sergei in Russia, and in New York they grow even closer. In the chapter on Regina, she goes to Russia to visit her mother’s grave. This is the tradition after one year. She visits her mother’s sister, Aunt Masha, who wants Regina to adopt a Russian orphan, a five year old girl, Nastya. Regina realizes she couldn’t give a child her undying love. She rushes to the airport and home.
Vica’s son Eric is in a school for gifted children where the competition is fierce and the stress on them is severe. Eric doesn’t take the entrance test, but lies to his mother that he has. What is the fate of these immigrants? Will they adjust to life in America? Vadik is constantly working to develop his app of peoples essence after their death. He presents it to wealthy investors.
Author Vapnyar makes the reader curious about the characters as their everyday problems increase and they try to solve them. Find the answers to questions in this book on the new fiction shelf of your community library.