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Book Nook: Little Failure-a Memoir, by Gary Shteyngart

Gary Shteyngart's memoir "Little Failure" has recently  been issued in a paperback version. The book came out last year in hardcover. At that time I tried to book another interview with Gary (more about that later) and I reviewed it for the Cox Ohio newspapers. Here's my review:

There has been a thread circulating lately on Facebook in which devoted readers ask one another to name the ten books that have been the most influential in their lives. Having been asked-I really cannot respond. So many great books-so many wonderful writers, where would I begin? I'm frequently asked to name my favorite book or favorite writer. Once again I cannot begin to narrow it down to just one all-time favorite. All the time I could expend in making these decisions is better spent by simply reading more books. So that's what I'll do instead. Read. Every four years Gary Shteyngart publishes another book. It's tempting to call him my favorite author. Shteyngart's three previous books, "The Russian Debutante's Handbook" (2002), Absurdistan (2006), and "Super Sad True Love Story" (2010), were all novels. Last year I heard that he was writing a memoir. I couldn't wait to read it. The author was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in the former Soviet Union. When young Gary was seven years-old his family was allowed to leave the USSR and move to the United States. This occurred during the Carter Administration. A diplomatic swap of sorts had been made; many Jewish citizens of the USSR were allowed to emigrate after it was agreed to ship the Soviets large quantities of our surplus grain. Shteyngart's novels are rambunctiously humorous. Each one seems to contain autobiographical elements from the author's life. In his new memoir, "Little Failure," the author clues his readers in to many of the life experiences that ended up surfacing in his fiction. If you are a fan of his previous work be warned though, while there is plenty of his usual self deprecating humor in this memoir it is toned down quite a bit. Here's why, the author is an only child and this is very much his family history. There's a lot in here about his mother, father, and grandmothers. He has an excellent memory. He recalls things that happened before the family moved to Queens, New York. He has been making regular trips back to Russia to refresh his memories. Apparently both of his parents were somewhat nervous to know their son would be writing about their personal lives. He takes us along on this expedition. He was a sickly, timid child with terrible asthma. There were significant dramas in his parents' marriage. The son found himself becoming an intermediary whenever his parents were fighting. While his father didn't see how becoming a writer could ever promise him much of a future, Gary's grandmothers were very supportive. When he was still in Leningrad one grandmother would give Gary a slice of cheese whenever the boy completed another page in the book he was writing at age six. "Little Failure" follows the jagged trek of an insecure youth who only wanted to be loved. He went from being the second most hated kid at his Hebrew school to winning a scholarship to Oberlin where he acquired the moniker Scary Gary. He admits he did crazy things. Extensive psychoanalysis has helped. A famous novelist became his angel by helping Gary to land his first book deal. This "Little Failure" deserves to be a huge success. Maybe some day soon his parents will actually read it.

I was finally able to book another interview with Gary. It wasn't easy. You see I have a history with this author. A dozen years ago when his first book came out Gary was on book tour and he came out to Yellow Springs to do an interview. I loved his debut novel. Gary is amazing. As the years have passed since that first interview I have observed as Gary has gone from utter obscurity to become one of our leading American humorists. And this guy was born in the USSR for heaven's sake! (read his memoir "Little Failure" for all the gruesome details). 

When Gary's second novel "Absurdistan" came out I did a phone interview with Gary for the Cox Ohio newspapers. Four years ago when Gary published his third novel "Super Sad True Love Story" I interviewed him again on WYSO in the Book Nook. That third book really put Gary on the map. (Somewhere close to Staten Island I believe).

I had this history with Gary; three books, three interviews. That's why I absolutely had to talk to Gary about his fourth book, "Little Failure," his memoir, his first full length non-fiction effort. I just had to get an interview! Alas, things have changed quite a bit in the publishing world. After Gary's third novel came out his publicist left that publisher and went to another imprint. She knew how much I loved Gary's work. She had made sure that I was able to interview Gary for his second and third novels and she went above and beyond that; she had Gary sign copies of the books for me. Gary wrote charming inscriptions in them. (Did I mention that I love this guy?)

In late 2012 when I heard that he had a memoir coming out in 2013 I contacted his new publicist to explain my history with Gary and how much I hoped to obtain another interview with him. For months I tried to book an interview. Gary was all over the media doing interviews. Heck, even Terry Gross got an interview with Gary on Fresh Air! I kept trying to get Gary back on the show but to no avail. Finally after numerous fruitless requests I was informed that Gary was finished doing publicity for the hardcover and that perhaps when it came out in paperback I could talk to him then. (After months of failing to book Gary on the show I suddenly understood the irony of his book title: LITTLE FAILURE. That could actually be me).

OK, this year the paperback was about to be released. I contacted his publicist. I was passed along to another publicist. I explained to her my history with Gary; all this communication happens by e-mail these days so this publicist had a written account of my travails in obtaining another interview with him. I was getting closer. We were on the verge of booking an interview the week before the paperback release. I thought we had one booked. Then we didn't. Then we did. I got permission to call Gary at home on the Sunday afternoon before he went out on book tour. As we were ironing out the final details his publicist sent me an e-mail to verify all the information. She asked me: who will be doing the interview? How should I have responded to that? Really.

As you listen to this interview you will hear me explain to Gary that only one other person was harder to book than him. In that instance I wondered why I even bothered. But I was SUPER happy to talk to Gary again. Did I mention that I love this guy??

Vick Mickunas introduced the Book Nook author interview program for WYSO in 1994. Over the years he has produced more than 1500 interviews with writers, musicians, poets, politicians, and celebrities. Listen to the Book Nook with Vick Mickunas for intimate conversations about books with the writers who create them. Vick Mickunas reviews books for the Dayton Daily News and the Springfield News Sun.