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Lake Success
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
27 posts | 26 read | 22 to read
When his dream of the perfect marriage, the perfect son, and the perfect life implodes, a Wall Street millionaire takes a cross-country bus trip in search of his college sweetheart and ideals of youth in the long-awaited novel, his first in seven years, from the acclaimed, bestselling author of Super Sad True Love Story. Myopic, narcissistic, hilariously self-deluded and divorced from the real world as most of us know it, hedge fund manager Barry Cohen oversees $2.4 billion in assets. Deeply stressed by an SEC investigation and by his 3 year-old-sons diagnosis of autism, he flees New York on a Greyhound bus in search of a simpler, more romantic life with his old college sweetheart, whom he hasn't seen or spoken to in years. Meanwhile, reeling from the fight that caused Barry's departure, his super-smart wife Seemaa driven first-generation American who craved a picture-perfect life, with all the accoutrements of a huge bank accounthas her own demons to face. How these two imperfect characters navigate the Shteyngartian chaos of their own making is the heart of this biting, brilliant, emotionally resonant novel very much of our times.
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review
Schwifty
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Mehso-so

I‘ve read all of Shteyngart‘s work except his memoir, Little Failure, and to me this ranks somewhere in the middle. Absurdistan and Super Sad True Love Story are much funnier. LS follows the lives of a Jewish hedge fund manager husband, his wife of Indian descent and their autistic child. After separating, the wife has an affair and the husband journeys by bus to Texas to reconnect with an ex-girlfriend. Trump gets elected in the background.

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JoyBlue
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Panpan

Given the daily assault we've been living through since the start of the 2016 US presidential campaign, I don't need the insanity of either our temporary employee in the White House's or the 1%'s shenanigans in my fiction. If I choose to read nonfiction about the atrocities, that's on me; but, I need fun fiction to get through each and every day now. It's too soon to find humor in this bullshit.

Samplergal I didn‘t like it either. 5y
Megabooks I bailed 5y
JoyBlue @Megabooks I should have, too. 5y
JoyBlue @Samplergal Thanks for letting me know that I‘m not alone! 😉 5y
42 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AnimalRiotPress
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Started something new today. Not sure how to feel about it just yet. Any of you read LAKE SUCCESS?

ImperfectCJ I read it last month. I liked it, but then I really like Shteyngart's kind of quirky style. Have you read anything else by him? 5y
AnimalRiotPress @ImperfectCJ no I haven‘t, but I‘m definitely going to finish it. I‘m not particularly fond of him on a sentence level, but I‘m into the story 5y
ImperfectCJ @deadrabbitsbooks I can see that (sentence level v story). I don't luxuriate in his prose, but I like watching the mistakes his characters make, even when they make me cringe. I liked his Super Sad True Love Story, too. 5y
AnimalRiotPress @ImperfectCJ well you‘ve definitely convinced me to stay with it ☺️ 5y
JoyBlue Not a fan. 😒 5y
42 likes1 stack add5 comments
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ImperfectCJ
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Pickpick

I enjoyed Shteyngart's novel (flawed, often unlikable characters I found oddly endearing, interesting commentary about luck, privilege, and how some people have a safety net that can't seem to be destroyed while others have no safety net at all), but I wasn't sure Lake Success was an actual place until I read the side of the chick broth box.

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SteveWJones
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed it, mainly because it felt like such a reflection of current times.

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Nitpickyabouttrains
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Mehso-so

I sort of hated everyone in this book. But it speaks to the writing and plot that I kept on reading.

rachelk Same! 5y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
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rachelk
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Sunday morning book & breakfast. I think someone was doing a six hour reading challenge today? If it involves reading whatever strikes me throughout the day — I‘m in! Let hour one begin! 😊📚🍀

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BittersweetBooks
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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This is the thing about America. You can never guess who‘s going to turn out to be a nice person 🚌🗺

13 likes1 stack add
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DocBrown
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Pickpick

A bit bloated and overripe, but I suppose that‘s in keeping with the MC. Mix The Corrections with The Hearts of Men and The Financial Lives of the Poets and you get this meandering work that has moments of brilliance. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Megabooks Cute dogs! 6y
DocBrown @megabooks Thanks! They‘re both friendly and gentle companions. 6y
85 likes2 comments
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ChrisBohjalian
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Loving this novel. Loving. It.

BibliOphelia 😍😍 Shteyngart! 6y
59 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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DocBrown
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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‘When things are tough with my family, I like to watch Trump because he just takes my mind off stuff. No matter what happens personally, there‘s this much greater disaster taking place.‘ 🤔

Lauram Thanks for all the likes! 6y
DocBrown @Lauram I love the pics! You have a great eye and lovely surroundings. (edited) 6y
72 likes2 comments
blurb
strandbookstore
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Enter to win everything you need to start a book club in 2019, including 20 copies of Lake Success by Gary Shteyngart. https://www.strandbooks.com/strand-giveaways/

Cinfhen Cool 😎 🙌🏻❣️ 6y
Blaire Nice! I really liked 6y
52 likes2 comments
review
Decalino
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Mehso-so

I had mixed feelings about this one. I'm a big fan of the author and this book was funny and well written, but the main character was so narcissistic it was hard to take his story seriously. A watch-obsessed hedge fund millionaire fleeing possible indictment, his failing marriage, and an autistic son, Barry takes a spontaneous Greyhound bus journey to...enlightenment? Not exactly. Ultimately, Lake Success felt as self-indulgent as its protagonist.

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Megabooks
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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This is a surprise hit for me. I don‘t really like the characters, but they‘re likably unlikable. And the storyline is interesting.

Making good progress on #24b4Monday #readathon

1 finished
1 started
1 bailed
1 continued

BeansPage Yeah you are good job!!👍🏻 6y
Cinfhen I‘ve heard good things about this book!! Glad to see you enjoyed 💚 6y
Megabooks @TheReadingMermaid Thanks!! 🤗🤗 6y
Megabooks @Cinfhen Thanks. I hope you enjoy if you read too! 🧡 6y
75 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
Vocalities
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
Pickpick

I was initially a little unsure of this one. Once Barry hits the road, the book really opens up and completely won me over.

I'm not sure what my takeaway is, but it was certainly an enjoyable book. It's one of the few to have made me laugh out loud. The characters are so well developed and their perspective so foreign to me, it was fascinating to see how they navigate the world.

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Vocalities
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Yeah so this book is really funny 😂

1 like1 stack add
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Vocalities
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Let's give this a shot. Don't really know anything about it. Saw it at work and it caught my eye.

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LittleBug
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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#SisforSeptember Day 16: #Succes

My goals when joining Litsy were: finding new reading inspiration and motivation to read outside my comfort zone. Only some 3 weeks in and I consider it a #succes!!

Thank you Littens, for giving me my ‘reading groove‘ back!! And for being just awesome!!!😁😁

zzz Yes, this community has definitely steered me to books I would have never found/read👍 its awesome here! 6y
22 likes1 comment
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WanderingBookaneer
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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For me, it is definitely Shteyngart.

KathyWheeler Michael Chabon. I find his books difficult to get into, but often I also find his premises really interesting. 6y
LapReader Tim Winton. An Aussie author. Most of his books I can only stomach now I am an adult. 6y
Lindy Seanan McGuire. I‘ve read 3, always for book club, and haven‘t warmed to her style, which I find overly gothic and riddled with continuity errors. In spite of that, I gave 5 stars on goodreads to 6y
SomedayAlmost Barry Hannah tells the reader things flat out, curses a “bleep” of a lot, and depicts some macho characters, but, bleep, can he tell a story and bring the South to life! 6y
Zelma Zadie Smith. I like her writing and her novels always sound great, yet I am never satisfied by them. 6y
65 likes5 comments
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DennisJacobRosenfeld
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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New book by Gary Shteyngart makes for a great morning. Opening lines hooked me instantly so now I‘ll be drinking coffee and reading.

13 likes2 stack adds
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SaraBeagle
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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This video is a perfect example of Gary Shteyngart‘s humor. If you‘re amused, definitely check out the book! And yeah, that‘s Ben Stiller 😆
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPwrEPvSjm0

24 likes1 stack add
review
Rissa1
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Pickpick

I am really happy to have won this book in a giveaway. I was not into it when I started but grew to really like the story. I didn't and still don't like Barry, but am completely drawn to Shiva. #24in48 #giveawaywinner #ARC

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Rissa1
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Had a birthday celebration today, meaning I didn't get nearly enough reading in. Still trying to get a bit more in before bed. #24in48

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Rissa1
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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This author definitely has a way with words. I felt like I was dealing with a creep by reading this. #24in48

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Rissa1
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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1. You Guys
2. 3
3. Litsy, Goodreads, Overdrive, Libby, Kindle
4. Recovery from my night alone. Too much Strawberry Mango Margarita Moonshine was involved.
5. @kymmiesreads 🙋‍♀️
@jesshowbooks #FriyayIntro

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Rissa1
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Here we go. #ARC #giveawaywinner

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SaraBeagle
Lake Success: A Novel | Gary Shteyngart
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Pickpick

His books often feature some sort of doofus in an absurd situation. The doofus is this one is Barry, who has no idea just how racist, sexist and privileged he is. After his marriage ends and his company fails, he takes a road trip via Greyhound to find his college girlfriend. Many awkward encounters ensue. Out in September.