Still Here

by Lara Vapnyar

A profound and dazzlingly entertaining novel from the writer Louis Menand calls "Jane Austen with a Russian soul"
 
In her warm, absorbing and keenly observed new novel, Lara Vapnyar follows the intertwined lives of four immigrants in New York City as they grapple with love and tumult, the challenges of a new home, and the absurdities of the digital age.
 
Vica, Vadik, Sergey and Regina met in Russia in their school days, but remained in touch and now have very different American lives. Sergey cycles through jobs as an analyst, hoping his idea for an app will finally bring him success. His wife Vica, a medical technician struggling to keep her family afloat, hungers for a better life. Sergey’s former girlfriend Regina, once a famous translator is married to a wealthy startup owner, spends her days at home grieving over a recent loss. Sergey’s best friend Vadik, a programmer ever in search of perfection, keeps trying on different women and different neighborhoods, all while pining for the one who got away.
 
As Sergey develops his app—calling it "Virtual Grave," a program to preserve a person's online presence after death—a formidable debate begins in the group, spurring questions about the changing perception of death in the modern world and the future of our virtual selves. How do our online personas define us in our daily lives, and what will they say about us when we're gone?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Russia, Novels, Literary Fiction, American, Parenting

308 pages, Hardcover

First published August 2, 2016

About the author

Lara Vapnyar emigrated from Russia to New York in 1994 and began publishing short stories in English in 2002. She lives on Staten Island and is pursuing a Ph.D. in comparative literature at CUNY Graduate Center.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Virtual Grave"....
What are your thoughts about an app design for your iPhone that would allow
people to connect with your voice from your past online years of activity -- just so they
could feel they are in contact with you?
The app is not spiritual in nature...just an app to give the illusion that you, ( the dead),
are still present. At first I thought it to be creepy-but I wanted to see how 'many' characters in the story felt. ( not only the 4 main characters discussing the idea) ---I wanted this part of the story developed more-so I could be persuaded on how I feel about the idea.

Instead, we follow the lives of four immigrants and their personal issues-- but the characters felt a little bland to me. Between issues of desires to get ahead, desperate to feel special, jealously, self-esteem, and the dialogue between the characters, I was actually a little bored.

I never really felt moved or inspired- or came away with 'feeling'
the depths of their struggles or successes. I would have like to have genuinely
felt more emotional connection.

I'm still glad to have had my first exposure to Lara Vapnyar.
Her short stories called "There Are Jews in My House", sounds terrific and perhaps a better fit for me.


Thank You Crown Publishing, Netgalley, and Lara Vapnyar,

[Nastja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Какая-то неожиданно приятная книжка о простых и понятных людях. Автор, правда, не очень понимает, как технически устроена жизнь переводчика худлита в современной России (не может быть такого, чтобы у признанного и успешного переводчика был всего один редактор, который бы обеспечивал ее работой), но за исключением одного этого минуса - идеально.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still Here is a social commentary on life told through the day-to-day occurrences of four Russian friends who have immigrated to the U.S. The plot feels similar to The Jane Austen Book Club or Joy Luck Club in the alternating points of view and varying storylines, but with a distinctly Russian flavor. Author Lara Vapnyar offers insight into the life and cultural adaptations necessary for her characters, and yet focuses mainly on overarching issues that are broader and universal problems: unrequited love, parenthood, depression, etc.

Vapnyar has the ability to point out the pointless in day-to-day life and yet convey it with a soft touch. This isn’t a feel-good plotline with everything tied up neatly in the end, but it also isn’t a depressing drama of hopeless despair. There are dabs of sadness in the midst of joy and embers of hope in the dark nights. There is no set lesson taught and each character arrives at different conclusions of their version of happiness. It is this lack of a one-size-fits-all patch in the end that gives the book its depth. Still Here is an engaging story of life with characters who are both maddeningly frustrating and yet lovable in all their extremes that is worth the read.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Oreoandlucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more complete review is available on my blog:
https://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand....

One of the first reviews that I read about this book was that it was "Friends with a heavy Russian accent." I was under the impression that this was a comedic novel of sorts. While there are some funny parts in it, I wouldn't say that the book is completely dedicated to being a comedy. That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it, though. There were some very current, interesting themes in the book. The book touched on themes of our obsession with social media and family.

While it is an immigrant story, it is a completely different immigrant story than we currently read. The characters are upper-middle class immigrants that try very hard to assimilate into American culture. I thought that was very refreshing to be able to see an immigration story that wasn't cliched and stereotypical. The story may be literary fiction but the writing style is very easy going and feel's almost like chick lit when reading it. Overall, I really liked this book and I think it would be great for anyone looking for a book about immigrants that is different from others. Those that like novels based on current themes will really like this book.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions are my own.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis of Still Here by Lara Vapnyar I got A Little Life vibes. Four friends living in New York City, dealing with different issues, yet remaining friends through the years. Instead Still Here tells the story of four friends who immigrated to New York City from Russia and lead varying degrees of "the American life". In the first chapter, "Virtual Grave" one of the Russian friends attempts to pitch a new app idea that essentially keeps your deceased loved ones "alive" through the use of social media. The idea is shot down by saying,

I do like your idea man, Bob said. I fucking love it! But it won't take. Not in the North American market at least. You see, Americans deal with mortality either by enforcing their Christian beliefs or by ignoring it. We don't like to think about death. We prefer to think about more uplifting things, like prolonging life or making it better. That's the way it is. Sorry, man.

And just like that, it was over.

The second chapter, "Hello, Love!" talks about another app, essentially a matchmaking app and all the people one of the Russians has dated over the years. I was not getting the connection to the first chapter at all. It felt like a short story. I couldn't even make it through the entire chapter. So I decided to skip ahead. I picked another chapter at random and started reading. It was much more interesting, however, I didn't feel inclined to finish it. I tried one more chapter at random since they felt more like diary entries or short stories and again read the first few paragraphs and then lost interest.

One of the most important things to me when I am starting a new story is to connect to the characters, including their name. I had a tough time with these names and I know it's because they weren't the typical American names I am used to. It also had to do with the fact that they are referred to by their Russian and Americanized names. Each chapter felt like a separate story centered around either Vica, Vadik, Sergey or Regina. It did not feel cohesive in any way. Maybe I didn't give it the fair shot it deserved, but judging by what I read I doubt I would have enjoyed it much more than I did from what I did read. I wanted to be captivated by their lives instead, I was just bored.

Received in exchange for an honest review from Blogging for Books.

[Robbi Leah Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really didn't take me long to read book. I stopped while I was working.
So the review. I was given this book for a honest review and was excited to read the pros and cons on death of internet profiles.
Honestly, I opened this book and read fist several chapters and thought I can't go on.... effect the work break . The characters were all Russian and moved to America but their names kept throwing me. Vica, Vadik, Sergey, Regina and Bob (yes Bob!) all live in New York and Vica is married to Sergey but used to date Vadik and Regina is now married to Bob but used to date Sergey. You get the idea I was completely confused! But after several chapters author Lara Vapnyar moves the characters away from each other and focuses on one-two characters at a time. You learn their past as well as the present. It actually hooked me! The questions of life, death, marriage, children, homes and love all are discussed in the book. Also it really made me think of my online presence and what I want to do with it!

[The Brown Dog Bookshop · Rating 1 out of 5]

Still Here is the story of a group of Russian immigrants all living in New York city. Vica and Sergey have come up with the idea for an app that will let you virtual voice continue after you die. After pitching the idea to their friend, Regina's husband, the app breaks up their marriage. While their friends are also in search of what they should do with their new lives in America. Regina takes a trip to Russia to visit her mother's grave and Vadik is contemplating a job and location change.

And that is pretty much it, that is the whole story. I kind of enjoyed parts of the narrative of this book, but I got to the end and I was just like, ok, that was a waste of time. There was nothing remotely interesting about these people's lives. It was almost as if the author kind of gave up after a while and just ended the stories and stopped writing.

This one belongs back on the shelf.

[Victor Sonkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Russians live in NYC for varying lengths of time; all of them have personal relationships of some kind with each other. There are shifting relationships, children and so on; there is a quintessential rich American husband who typically doesn't seem to get what it means to be Russian. There is a story of an app thought out, at length, by one (or more) of the characters. There is, finally, a literary translator (from English into Russian) who, jointly with her mother, seems to have translated a lot of well-known classics (I wonder if the real translators of these particular works were of any importance to the author here). As a translator, I am somewhat offended by this storyline: the translators here (translator into Russian! in Russia!) earn decent money to the extent that an editor refuses to offer work to the character for, for crying out loud, financial reasons. Transactors also travel to conferences and retreats. This is bullshit. But otherwise the novel is fun, and though it does not teach the reader any substantial lesson (thank God), it's an engaging read, funny, well-paced, with lovely characters, who are somewhat insular, though; their ventures into the "real" American world border on parody.

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Didn't they joke at university that for Sergey brilliant ideas came as easily as farts?'

Vapnyar's writing is like talking to your most jaded friend, and I mean that as a compliment. Her characters never failed to show their weaknesses, because who the heck wants to read about perfect people that never reveal their ugliness. Sergey is brilliant but brilliance does not mean automatic success and riches. He may well be too brilliant for himself. His wife Vica is certainly second-guessing her choice in husband, the once stimulating man is less appealing as he can't seem to keep a job or offer anything solid. Vica struggles with jealousy for Sergey's former ex Regina, whom while having seemingly nailed her own American dream by marrying a much older wealthy man is heartbroken with loss. Vadik was once with Vica before she left him for the more exciting Sergey. Vadik swims in an ocean of women but does he still long for Vica? Does Vica like it this way, as a sort of back up man?
I didn't warm to Vica, though I understood her unhappiness and regrets. She focused too much on Regina, "She had always been clumsy and unkempt, and not very hygienic. Now that she was a rich man's wife, she had managed to clean up a bit, but she seemed to wear her newfound wealth like a thin layer over her former self." Regina seemed less interested in her financial status than Vica did, and certainly didn't wear her wealth in a smug way. Of course, the resentment that Regina came out on top while Vica has to carry her family is what makes Vica believable. She isn't the most empathic person, in fact she seems to think happiness is elsewhere and poor Vadik is a third wheel of sorts in Sergey and Vica's life. Vica seemingly suffers from the common affliction, what if disease. She is never happy with what she has, wondering if the grass is greener, looking back or ahead and never at peace with what is. It's understandable with her husband letting her down so much.
The fact that they are Russian lends an exotic feel. Particularly the difference between the way they view life as opposed to some Americans do. The idea of getting what you deserve because you work hard for it, which Europeans often feel is an American naive belief, isn't something easily embraced by immigrants. Getting one's fair share of the pie is an American right that people in other countries can't afford. Regina feeling at times her being this ideal Russian woman is what makes her appealing to her husband, I can well imagine it would be in the back my mind too were I her. Would their lives had been better lived in Russia, was it worth leaving for America?
Just what does happiness look like? Regina is the character I felt the most connected with. It seemed Vica and Sergey acted as though they were the main stars in the friends lives, but Regina had more story, even if she felt less vibrant. The apps were funny, because they do run some of our lives. Apps, the new 'American Gold' and particularly the grave app. Sergey, Vica, Vadik and Regina are trying to figure out how and just who to be to themselves and each-other.

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love, belonging, trust.
Pursuit of happiness.
A nice and entertaining read, a story about the incredible diversity of human motivations and drives, about the triumph of universal humane values, about friendships that could surmount any obstactles.
As it deals with the story of redefining oneself in the terms of the new cultural context and finding new and successful ways of functioning in the new circumstances that used to overwhelm with their very otherness and complexity, this novel could prove particularly interesting for people with migration experience or plans.
Clear and sober prose. No particular literary merits detected.
I read it in Russian translation by CORPVS publishers, was somewhat mislead by the announcement.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relevant and modern exploration of what it means to live in todays digital society where someone's online presence or persona can affect the actual world just as much the virtual one. The story is told through the eyes of four immigrants who are all trying to establish their new lives and when one invents an app that can store one's personality online it is the chance the play at the top of a very slippery slope. A mind bender.

[Vassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Вот это да. Прекрасное размышление на тему смерти и жизни.

И где-то неглубоко в душе я уверена, что Вадик – это на самом деле более мягкая версия Вадима Дракона.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I struggled to get through this book. I almost didn't finish it, but I wanted to continue on and see if it got better. I just feel that I couldn't connect to the characters and that the decisions they were making were immature and something that someone younger would make, the characters were adults and I felt that they did not act like them at times. They didn't feel very developed or real to me. I was interesting in reading about Virtual Grave, but author treated it as more of a subplot to the drama and romance that I was less interested in. There were times where it dragged on, times where there were scenes that I was confused why they were in the novel and felt that they did not need to be there. I still read it, because I had a tiny bit of pull to finish it.

[Ozi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished it which means I liked it. The book was written well enough for me to want to know what happened to the characters without just skipping to the last page. However, the characters were so unlikable it was remarkable. I hated almost all of them, and the one I didn't hate was still pretty terrible. I don't know if it made the book more realistic or simply more nauseating at moments. I personally enjoyed the ending. It showed that often times things just turn out to be average.

[Joey Gremillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!!!!!! Great story about a circle of friends: Russian-Americans: Sergei, Vica , Regina and Vadik, who have swapped partners, but remain friends. Can Regina and her rich husband, Bob, raise a child? Can Vadik find love ? And will Sergei and Vic's find economic and matrimonial security with each other or with others??

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Marina Ver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit grotesque, a bit unkind, somewhat negative, but touching book. Certainly not untrue, although one-sided look at immigration. 

[Marc Gerstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot but I’m not completely sure why. The promo blurbs suggested it would be some sort of commentary on the role of technology in contemporary life, particularly social media and/or something about attitudes toward death. It’s not as if those themes were absent; they were there. But I didn’t see either of them as primary drivers of the narrative (as far as social media goes, The Circle was that; this wasn’t even close). I’m, not even sure I buy into it as a tale of immigrant challenges. The issues these characters faced was not all that different from those that are faced by those who are born here.

I think, at least for me, the best way to describe this is a sort-of coming of age story but not for teens or 20-somethings but for those who have or will soon hit middle age. The main characters here are within hailing distance of 40.

Perhaps why this book appealed to me. I think, it was the sense of refreshment I felt reading about characters (all imperfect but thanks to that relatable and three dimensional) going through experiences with which I, at the age of none-of-your-business, can relate.

[Oliviah Dmytrasz · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF… gave 100 pages and nothing grabbed my attention. I knew it wasn’t going well when it took me almost 30 minutes to read 15 pages

[Bailey Skye ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 Stars

I'm officially kicking myself for waiting so long to get this review out, but I've been finishing up the semester and working far more than I should be for someone who's also a full time student, and my reviewing has been a little sporadic. So please forgive!

But never fear, because my review is Still Here .

*ba dum tss*

Okay, in all seriousness, this was really an enjoyable book. Lara Vapnyar writes so eloquently about the mundane day to day of 4 friends who have immigrated from Russia to the USA. They are each imperfect people, with one common goal: to make thinks happen for themselves in the land of possibility.

So that's how we come to meet Sergey, Vica, Regina, and Vadik. Sergey and Vica are married. Sergey is a brilliant man who came to America for school, and while his mind is a wondrous place, he has difficulty in creating any sense of stability for his family, and can't seem to hold a job. His constant need to turn things around has left Vica resenting him and herself for putting her education and future on the back burner so he could fulfill his. Vica has also become increasingly envious of Regina, Sergey's ex girlfriend. Regina has seemed to have an easier go of things since moving to America. She's married a rich husband, Bob, who works developing new technology applications, and doesn't have to work. But what Vica fails to see is the depression Regina suffers due to the loss of her mother. While Regina knows she should be continuing her work as a successful text translator, she finds herself lost in the instant gratification of binge watching television and ordering takeout. And then there is Vadik. Vadik is an idealist. He works with Regina's husband Bob as an app developer, and has had great financial success but lacks meaningful relationships. He spends a lot of time on Hello Love, a dating app developed by his company, searching for the love of his life. His friends enjoy teasing him about his love life, and Vadik secretly wonders if he's imagined a certain tension between himself and Vica, who used to be lovers. Does she see him as her backup man?

Vapnyar's biggest strength in this book is her voice of honesty. These characters could easily be four of your closest friends, dealing with their own struggles. Their mundane problems are much more relatable, because who hasn't felt a twinge of jealousy towards an ex-lover or felt defeated by their lack of progression? This book is less of a story, so to speak, and reads more like an examination of oneself and the intricate relationships we develop with those around us.

"Vica was about to enter the cafe when her eyes fell on the menu clipped to the door. Seven dollars for coffee. Eight dollars for a bread basket with jam. That would be eighteen dollars with tax and more than twenty dollars with tip. She could afford it, but twenty dollars for bread and coffee! No, that was ridiculous. Vica turned to leave, then hesitated. What about her facebook photo? Vica, smiling, relaxed, sipping her seven-dollar coffee as if it was perfectly natural?"

There is so much examination of our selves vs. the way we project ourselves to the world based on our interactions as well as through social media. I found this very thought provoking. I think most of us can agree we are guilty of trying to portray our best selves to the world. But is the self we portray really our true self?

"A husband knew her the way she didn't want to be known, at her worst, her ugliest, her most embarrassing. He had heard how she lied, and he had heard how she screamed in rage. He had seen her throw up, seen her with cracked nipples, seen her pick an uneaten sandwich from the garbage bin in his mother's kitchen - she swore that she put the sandwich right back, but he didn't see that. A Husband knew her and he didn't want her. He didn't even fight for her."

My only real criticism of this book would be that, although Vapnyar finds the beauty in the monotony of our lives, it's still monotonous, and the story found my interest failing at times. And even though I was so determined to see how things played out, it did take me longer to finish because I didn't lose myself in the book for long periods of time. I didn't get swept up into the novel.

Ultimately, Still Here is an endearing novel that will leave your mental gears reeling long after the last page.

Read more reviews on Bibliotique.

[gwen_is_ reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Four friends met in Russia before embarking on their grand adventure- immigration. Vica and Sergey, so very much in love, had great ideas of how their lives would be. Putting medical school aside for the moment, Vica supported Sergey through business school only to watch her genius husband shuffle from one job to another- losing one job after another. This was not their dream! Now they have a young son and Vica has a job that she can’t love. Sergey? Sergey has ideas- a dream, an app, to bring a voice to the dead using their old social media presence. Vica just wants him to succeed in something- she wants to be able to afford things for Eric, to watch her husband succeed… the life she dreamed of.
Vadik was a friend of theirs in Russia- Vica’s ex infact. When he immigrated for work, they were all together along with their friend (and Sergey’s ex) Regina who married an American business man, Bob. This book ties the lives together, showing how one’s perception of events often colors how you see others as well. Their past, present, successes and insecurities come into display as they each struggle to find their way in the land they had all dreamt of landing in.
My thoughts:
It’s easy to get caught up in this story- in the lives of these four very different people that are tied by their past. As I read there would be little clues to each character- fleshing them out, making them more unique and multifaceted. Sergey, always having been told he was a genius, comes to America to find that he can’t figure out how to fit in and succeed in this very different world of business. The brilliant mind is seen as unmotivated, lacking in skills, goals, control… just lacking. He sees condemnation everywhere, especially in Vica. Vica, on the other hand, hates who she becomes because of her dissatisfaction with their lot. She hates that she shows Sergey the worst parts of her- that husband and wife are so close that it can’t be hidden. Regina, once a renowned translator like her deceased mother, hasn’t been able to pick up a book since coming to America. She is lost and lonely, with only these three and Bob. She doesn’t want “hobbies” she wants something meaningful but nothing seems to fit. Often she finds herself unmotivated, unlovable. When it comes time to revisit Russia, she must come to terms with who she and her mother really were, and what she really wants. Vadik is the programming nomad, trying on different hobbies, attitudes, women and apartments as the mood strikes; never really satisfied. On his first day in America, he feels like he met his ideal- and lost her the next morning. Reading through each characters thoughts, fears, triumphs and failures gives you a sense of knowing. I have known these four forever. I feel them, deep in my heart. Each character is an unholy mess in and of themselves, but has so much beauty too. The fact that they are flawed, and so very human, allows for you to fall deep into the story line.
I liked how they used the character’s online presence, and their feelings for Virtual Grave to help shed light on each one. Regina was the watcher, empathizer, by stander. Vadik had an app for every mood- several online dating profiles where he tried to fit into the desires of the women that he felt he deserved. An app to help him with his hobby of “molecular cooking” a twitter handle where he could quote great writers and be profound, but also make fun of the world. Vica, only sharing the most happy and beautiful moments in life- here, at least, is the life she thought she would have. Sergey, would find interesting articles and discussing them, posting links on his Facebook page. He found himself constantly waiting for inspiration. There are so many little gems in here, turn of phrases that I adored or that allowed for deeper understanding of each character. The end seemed a bit rushed and open ended to me, but I think that was purposeful. Each character has a new adventure. Honestly, there was very little I didn’t love about this book. For me, this was a five star book. I received my copy of Still Here from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.
On the adult content scale, this is obviously geared toward a mature audience with language and sexual content. I give it a seven.

[Julia Smolyanskiy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and if you are of Russian immigrant background you will too. Many interesting thought and concepts. Four characters are dealing with midlife malaise; their realized and unrealized dreams, their futures or lack thereofs all in the changing world of multiple apps and social media evils.

[Marisa Kennedy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn’t going to review this but I can’t stop thinking of how much I dislike Vica

[Alana Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very relatable and honest New York immigrant story about seeking life goals and satisfaction. The author has a very enjoyable writing style that makes for an easy read.

This is a story about four friends from Russia who found themselves in NYC at the same time for various different reasons. Each struggling with interpreting living their best life in their new country. It is a very '00s story with themes relevant to that time - creating apps, tech industry, etc.

The character depth was the most disappointing part of this story. All the characters had so much potential but at the end of it all, you were left wholly unsatisfied. I think this is because the author attempted too many themes in a short storyline.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

But it was Sergey, who had never worked with dying people, who actually gave her the best advice. This was years ago, when she'd just started working at Bing Ruskin and would often come home sobbing. "Think of it as a movie or a TV show," he said. "When I was little I used to get really upset over sad scenes in movies. And my dad once told me, 'Serezha, listen, these are not real people They will go home and change their clothes after this and go on with their lives. Lassie the dog is not really dead, she's an actress. She will go home and gnaw on her favorite bone.' It helped a lot, although it did ruin the magic of storytelling a little bit."



~~A graveyard in World of Warcraft where players come back as a ghost after their virtual character dies. Sergey envisions an app which maintains a social media presence for people after they become deceased--essentially allowing them become immortal online in ghost form. When he explains the concept to his middle-school aged son, Eric responds that he's helping people "respawn."

First two sentences: "Promise me you won't call it 'Virtual Grave,'" Vica said as they turned onto the West Side Highway. "You were the one who hated 'The Voice from the Grave'!" Sergey said.

Sergey, Vica, Vadik, and Regina have known each other since their school days in Russia. They have a complicated history--Regina and Vica have each dated both Sergey and Vadik at some point. They've moved to the United States in stages, and live scattered about the boroughs of New York City, still keeping in touch. Vica and Sergey are married and have a son--Eric. Vica makes decent money as a sonographer at a cancer center while Sergey cycles through jobs and tries to launch his app ideas. Regina has given up her famous translation skills to be a wife to Bob, a successful start-up owner. And Vadik works for Bob as a programmer, while constantly searching for perfection through different women and apartments/neighborhoods.

We are essentially given a character study, loosely held together by the development of Sergey's app. Through the study of her four central characters, Vapnyar shows us how the line between our social media presence and our "brick and mortar" lives has blurred. Does our projected happiness online mirror our lived life? Might it even detract from it? Or do we indeed make life easier and become more connected to others by sharing our experiences virtually? And while none of us will live in our concrete brick and mortar world forever, is it possible to continue to have an online "voice", through the distilled essence of our catalogued personality, after we are dead? Is this a worth-while or a morbid goal? All these questions are explored through Sergey's controversial idea. Read to develop your own opinions!

My two cents: Online reviews are a bit of a mixed bag. A common complaint seems to be the lack of much of anything happening. Which is true, but also typical for a novel focused on character study. Many novels in this genre spin their wheels, and I quickly lose interest. Perhaps because Vapnyar switches between the viewpoint of her various characters, or possibly because the novel doesn't drag on (it's a mere 305 pages), or maybe she's just a dang good writer--but Still Here worked for me. I especially enjoyed Regina's development. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good." Recommended as a library check-out for all, and a bookstore grab if you love novels with Russian characters. Total side note: this is my 500th review on Goodreads! I think this means I get my junior bookworm badge. :)

Further reading: A quick online search didn't reveal anything remotely like Sergey's app idea. But there are a plethora of online cemeteries where family--both human and animal--can be memorialized online. Here's a link to one such site. https://virtualgrave.eu/

Other favorite quotes Bob was different. Bob was unlike anybody she'd met. Regina didn't have any choice but to try to understand him through the classic American novels she'd read. His father's family came from the South. Faulkner? He was a self-made man. Gatsby? He dabbled in politics. Willie Stark? He had a tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife. Philip Roth? Then, by the time they ordered dessert, Bob said that Regina reminded him of Lara from Doctor Zhivago . And Regina realized that Bob was doing the same thing--trying to decipher her through the Russian novels he knew.

~~This new place was the seventh apartment he had had since he moved to the U.S. Seventh! He knew that his friends made fun of this fact, but he had never thought it was ridiculous. He had tried out different places and he had enough courage to admit that they were wrong and move. He used to think it was admirable. A lot of people hated their lives, but just a few were able to admit it, and even fewer to make a change. And how on earth were you supposed to figure out what worked for you if you hadn't tried and discarded the things that didn't work? Weren't you defined by what you were not?

~~Regina felt a numb horror. A well-planned trap. A horrible, suffocating trap. If she refused, she would be saddled with a horrible guilt for the rest of her life. She hadn't done anything wrong and yet she would have to carry that guilt. And if she agreed...But she couldn't agree! She couldn't! And since the only impulse of a trapped person was to try to escape, that was what Regina did.

~~She suddenly remembered something Eric had said to her when he was very young--five or six. She had walked into the bathroom as he stood by the sink brushing his teeth. They'd just had a big fight.
"Sometimes I don't love you," he'd said and spat into the sink--Vica remembered that--blue frothy spittle. "But when when I don't love you, I still love you more than I don't love you." He said that and went on rinsing. He was very small. He barely reached the sink.
It was his kindness that hurt the most.

~~There was a much-used Penguin Hamlet among Vadik's books. Sergey had read it in Russian years ago, but this was the first time he was compelled to read it in English. Reading it in the original turned out to be harder than he'd expected, but he found the very shabbiness of the book encouraging--a lot of people had handled it, a lot of people had struggled through it, and a lot of people had made it to the end, so he could do it too.

~~The restaurant that Bob chose, Borghese, was everything that Regina hated about New York restaurants. The décor resembled a library/dining room/wine cellar in a medieval castle. There were cavernous hallways, antique wine barrels, and shelves filled with old books. While Regina had to admit that it did evoke the life of medieval nobility, why would a medieval nobleman eat in a library or read in his wine cellar? The hostess led Regina through the labyrinth of tables all the way to the back. The place was nearly empty. There were just a few couples here and there, looking bored and cold. They were clearly outnumbered by the army of snotty-looking and impeccably attired waiters, eyes trained on their unprotected customers. They reminded Regina of the birds in a Hitchcock movie.

~~He did love her, that much was clear. Whether they would be able to be happy together was a different question.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still Here is a book about the intertwined lives of four Russian immigrants spanning many years and many miles. This book has a few of our characters starting off in Russia dating one person and down the road ending up in New York married to someone completely different. The story idea was original as it was told in four different POV's - almost as it was a personal diary entry with their different perspective.

Vica was dating Vadik but decided he wasn't good enough for her so she broke up with him for the smart, handsome, talented Sergey. The only problem is that Sergey was dating Regina at the time so he broke up with Regina and was "all in" with Vica. Vica / Sergey decide to apply to graduate school in the United States but instead of waiting the two years for Vica to finish medical school they have to go immediately regardless of the fact that Sergey has to accept a offer to a business school even though he wants to study linguistics.

Vica assumes she will eventually go back to school and finish her medical degree but meanwhile she works as an ultrasound technologist in the interim. Years pass and the feelings of resentment rise with nothing ever being good enough for Vica and business definitely being the wrong decision for Sergey. Now that their friends are in the United States Vica is hoping some of their success will rub off on Sergey...

Regina was a wildly successful translator while living in Russia having a Ph.D in linguistics and speaking four languages. While visiting Vica / Sergey she met Bob - an American businessman - whom she later married. Bob gives Regina a comfortable but rather boring life where she prefers watching television to doing anything else. Bob who is a tech guru employs both family/friends with the creation of everyday phone apps...

Vadik who makes a great living working as one of the "tech geeks" for Bob's company is constantly trying to adjust to his life as a New Yorker. Having to not live as a poor immigrant anymore is rather difficult for him but he is doing what he can to find his niche...

I loved the diary feel to this story and how everyone had their own voice on how things were happening. I did have difficulty connecting with Vica so during her parts I felt the story dragging a bit but overall it was a good/entertaining read. I would read more from this author in the future.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is pretty far outside of what I normally pick up to read. It took me a bit to figure this book out, but even so, I had a hard time putting it down.

The story is told from the different perspectives of each character, chapter to chapter. I’ve read books with this technique before and it usually serves to isolate the characters before drawing them together in some way. Not so with Still Here. Vapnyar cleverly tells the story of these people and how their lives are intertwined while giving the reader insights into each of their lives, how they think, and how they feel, and how each event in their lives are perceived differently. It really makes you think about how the people around you, your friends, family, significant other, etc., might see circumstances differently than you do. It also makes you care about the individuals in this novel and you cheer their victories and cringe when they screw up and you laugh with them too.

The most intriguing part of this novel is the social media/online aspect. Vapnyar almost makes this a character in the story. The different ways in which each character interacts online or how they remain apart from it altogether had me analyzing my own activities online and my judgement of others’ online presence. When in a crisis, these people were constantly asking, “Who can I talk to?” Sometimes, this decision was based on what their online friends were posting. Or not posting.

In the end, this novel is about relationships and what friends are and finding happiness in your life. I started out thinking I was going to hate the novel and the people in it, but I ended up binge-reading it and being sorry that I had to say goodbye to these people. Vapnyar gave it an almost Hemingway-esque ending, but I loved it.

https://booknerdigan.com/

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel about 4 Russian immigrants in NYC. Some work in software development, one is a translator, and one is a disgruntled wife who's forced to be a radiology technician with dreams of going to medical school while she supports her husband's dreams of an app called "Virtual Grave".

The book cycles around these 4 friends (frenemies?) and the idea of "Virtual Grave". This app would mine your social media posts and then post as you periodically after you die, like an AI. The app evolves from sounding totally stupid and actually sounding like a pretty good idea and then back again, throughout the book. It provides a focal point for the plot developments and relationships between the characters.

The 4 characters have all basically switched off in the past and dated each other, which of course provides for tension over the years.

It was a light, entertaining-enough read that I'm sure I won't remember after a few months, but it was "good enough" while it lasted. The main problem, for me, was the characters were a little "cartoon-y". Kind of over-simplistic.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel, we meet four Russians who have relocated to New York City. Vadik is approaching middle age but deals with a series of bad relationships and chance encounters. Sergey and Vica are a couple with their share of problems. Vica is a spitfire of a woman and deals with her anger as well as somewhat of a wandering eye. Sergey spends all of his time trying to develop an app for people who have passed away and want to leave their legacy. And Regina is married to Bob and travels to Russia where her pushy aunt tries to force an orphan girl upon her in hopes of adoption. All four of these characters are very interesting and well written and I really enjoyed this novel. The last 50 pages kind of dragged and at times it felt a bit too long, but overall, I thought it was a worthwhile read.

[Amy Neftzger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided an interesting perspective on life in America through the eyes of Russian immigrants. Time and experience often change people or their beliefs about the world, but adding in the cultural lens through which we view the world and how that lens, itself, can morph over time, can help us to understand (or at least be empathetic to) the lives of others. The book follows a group of friends as they each find their own place in a new country while choosing which aspects of their past lives to hold onto or discard. Technology plays a role when apps are viewed in a similar manner as the gold rush of years ago. America is the land of opportunity and a fortune is there for those who choose to pursue it.

Note: I received a free ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.