Discovering Russian Literature discussion

For discussing The Twelve Chairs. Please post any comments and questions on the book here. Be aware that spoilers may be posted here.

I'm the only one? Are there any other readers, specially those who are Russian or who can speak Russian?

I'm more than half way it's difficult to understand why it's "so funny". I see @ GRs reviews say it's funny. I kind a have feeling one have to be born and raised in Soviet Russia to fully appreciate it.

I completed The Twelve Chairs. A wonderful experience. Just wish there were others to read with.

To Moderators: Can you do something about people who vote and then ignore to join the discussion?

Shanez wrote: "I'm the only one? Are there any other readers, specially those who are Russian or who can speak Russian?

I'm more than half way it's difficult to understand why it's "so funny". I see @ GRs revie..."

Because it is "laugh through tears". It was started as social сommunistic satire (something like XX century Chichikow (Gogol's "Dead souls")), but grow to full-sized picture of those years.
Моst funny is fact, that it is the picture of theese years too.

Didn't you read Stranger in a Strange Land?
"I grok people. I am people so now I can say it in people talk. I've found out why people laugh. They laugh because it hurts so much because it's the only thing that'll make it stop hurting"

Shanez wrote: "I completed The Twelve Chairs. A wonderful experience. Just wish there were others to read with.

You can try The Golden Calf by the same authors.

http://hungrylikethewoolf.wordpress.c...

Or American Road Trip: The 1935 Travelogue of Two Soviet Writers