A TERRIBLE COUNTRY

Keith Gessen (Fitzcarraldo Editions)

A Terrible Country follows the story of Andrei Kaplan, a Russian who emigrated to America, as he returns to Moscow to look after his grandma, who has dementia. The second novel by Keith Gessen offers an insight into how Russia has modernised – or westernized – since the fall of the Soviet Union. Through this exploration, as well as musings on family, nationality, and political ideology, A Terrible Country really flourishes: it raises questions of political protest and activism, the hardship of the financial market we find ourselves in, and the importance of expanding one’s political outlook. With nuanced characters and a sophisticated setting, Gessen has crafted a narrative filled with emotion, critique and often humour. Although it doesn’t overly romanticise, it doesn’t discourage either: a chillingly relevant breath of fresh air. CAU

Price: £12.99 Info: www.fitzcarraldoeditions.com