The Suitcase
The Suitcase
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1990
Book Brief
Beta128
Short Story • Fiction
Leningrad, Soviet Union • 1970s
1990
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In The Suitcase, Sergei Dovlatov explores a collection of items packed by an emigrating Soviet citizen. Through stories like "The Finnish Crepe Socks" and "The Poplin Shirt," everyday objects serve as portals to personal and historical narratives, blending humor and nostalgia, capturing the transition from life in the USSR to new beginnings.
Humorous
Nostalgic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
10,663 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Sergei Dovlatov's The Suitcase offers a witty, poignant exploration of identity and memory through a series of autobiographical stories linked by items in a suitcase. Critics praise its humor and sharp observations on Soviet life. Some note a lack of depth in character development, but the engaging narrative and unique structure are widely appreciated.
Who Should Read The Suitcase?
Readers who enjoy The Suitcase by Sergei Dovlatov likely appreciate dark humor and satirical depictions of life in Soviet Russia. Fans of Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita or Kundera's The Book of Laughter and Forgetting may find similar enjoyment in Dovlatov's blend of wit and poignant reflection on identity and displacement.
10,663 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
128
Short Story • Fiction
Leningrad, Soviet Union • 1970s
1990
Adult
18+ years
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