Gary Shteyngart’s latest novel, Vera, or Faith, delivers a masterful exploration of contemporary American dysfunction through the remarkably perceptive eyes of ten-year-old Vera Bradford-Shmulkin. This poignant yet darkly comic tale captures both the intimate collapse of a multicultural family and the broader disintegration of democratic norms in a country teetering on the edge of authoritarianism.
Building on the satirical genius evident in his previous works—The Russian Debutante’s Handbook, Absurdistan, and Super Sad True Love Story—Shteyngart has crafted his most emotionally resonant novel yet. Where his earlier books often relied heavily on absurdist humor to examine modern alienation, Vera, or Faith grounds its social commentary in the authentic voice of a child grappling with forces far beyond her comprehension.
The Complexity of Modern American Identity
The Bradford-Shmulkin family serves as a microcosm of America’s fractured identity. Vera herself embodies this complexity—half-Jewish through her Russian immigrant father Igor, half-Korean through her birth mother Iris, and raised by her stepmother Anne, a Boston Brahmin with progressive ideals but inherited wealth. This multicultural makeup becomes increasingly precarious as the novel’s dystopian America moves toward implementing “Five-Three,” a constitutional amendment granting enhanced voting power to citizens who can trace their ancestry to the Revolutionary War.
Shteyngart’s genius lies in how he presents this political backdrop through Vera’s developing consciousness. The child’s vocabulary diary—filled with words like “raffish,” “delectable,” and “exquisite”—reveals both her intellectual precocity and her desperate attempt to understand an adult world that seems increasingly hostile to people like her. Her innocent questions about family dynamics and political developments expose the absurdities and cruelties that adults have normalized.
The author’s portrayal of Vera’s emotional landscape feels remarkably authentic. Her anxiety manifests in arm-flapping episodes she tries to hide, her insomnia stems from existential fears about family dissolution, and her academic perfectionism reflects her understanding that excellence might be her only protection in an uncertain world. These details accumulate to create a character of extraordinary depth and believability.
Satirical Edge Meets Genuine Pathos
Shteyngart’s trademark satirical voice remains sharp throughout the novel, particularly in his depiction of contemporary political absurdities. The “March of the Hated” demonstrations, the Cycle Through border checkpoints for women, and the casual normalization of authoritarian policies all feel uncomfortably plausible. The author’s background as an immigrant writer gives him particular insight into how quickly democratic institutions can erode and how vulnerable communities become scapegoats during periods of social upheaval.
However, what distinguishes this novel from Shteyngart’s earlier works is its emotional core. While books like Absurdistan relied primarily on comedic exaggeration to make their points, Vera, or Faith achieves its most powerful effects through moments of genuine heartbreak. Vera’s relationship with her adoptive mother Anne evolves throughout the narrative, revealing layers of mutual love and dependency that transcend biological connections.
The character of Igor, Vera’s father, represents one of Shteyngart’s most complex creations. A failed intellectual whose desperation leads him to accept Russian money in exchange for editorial influence, Igor embodies the moral compromises that economic anxiety can produce. His ultimate betrayal of his family and country emerges not from ideological conviction but from a combination of ego, financial pressure, and immigrant insecurity—a nuanced portrayal that avoids simple villainization.
Technical Mastery and Narrative Structure
The novel’s structure mirrors Vera’s psychological journey, moving from her attempts to hold her family together through her growing awareness of larger political forces threatening her world. Shteyngart’s decision to organize chapters around tasks Vera believes she must accomplish (“She Had to Hold the Family Together,” “She Had to Survive Recess”) brilliantly captures the anxiety-driven mindset of a child who feels responsible for problems beyond her control.
The author’s handling of multiple cultural traditions within a single family demonstrates remarkable sensitivity and research. Vera’s visits to her Russian grandparents, her discovery of her Korean heritage, and her navigation of WASP social expectations all feel authentic and specific. The culinary details, linguistic variations, and cultural tensions ring true without falling into stereotypical representations.
Shteyngart’s prose style has evolved considerably since his debut. While maintaining his gift for memorable phrases and cutting observations, he has developed a more nuanced approach to character development and emotional resonance. The vocabulary diary device works particularly well, allowing the author to showcase Vera’s intelligence while highlighting the gaps in her understanding of adult motivations and political realities.
Examining Contemporary Anxieties
The novel succeeds brilliantly as both family drama and political allegory. Vera’s search for her birth mother becomes a metaphor for America’s own confused relationship with its multicultural identity. The revelation that her mother died by suicide shortly after Vera’s birth adds tragic weight to the child’s quest for understanding and belonging.
The dystopian elements feel disturbingly plausible rather than fantastical. Shteyngart’s America has simply accelerated current trends toward voter suppression, immigration restrictions, and constitutional manipulation. The casual acceptance of these changes by many characters reflects how quickly societies can normalize previously unthinkable policies.
The relationship between Vera and her friend Yumi provides some of the novel’s most touching moments. Their partnership in both academic debate and the search for Vera’s mother demonstrates how genuine friendship can transcend cultural differences and provide stability during periods of upheaval. Their eventual separation when Vera runs away to find her grandparents serves as another example of how political instability disrupts personal relationships.
Minor Critiques and Considerations
While Vera, or Faith represents a significant achievement, certain elements feel somewhat underdeveloped. The character of Anne, Vera’s adoptive mother, occasionally functions more as a symbol of liberal ineffectiveness than as a fully realized individual. Her political activism and fundraising efforts, while well-intentioned, seem disconnected from the real threats her family faces.
The novel’s pacing occasionally suffers from Shteyngart’s desire to include extensive political detail. Some sections focusing on Igor’s interactions with his Russian handler feel more mechanical than organic to the family story. The dystopian world-building, while compelling, sometimes overshadows the more intimate character development that represents the novel’s greatest strength.
The ending, while emotionally satisfying, resolves certain plot threads somewhat abruptly. Vera’s reunion with her grandparents and the subsequent law enforcement intervention feel rushed compared to the careful development of earlier sections. However, these minor structural issues do not significantly diminish the novel’s overall impact.
A Vital Addition to Contemporary Literature
Vera, or Faith stands as essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how political upheaval affects ordinary families. Shteyngart has created a novel that works simultaneously as coming-of-age story, political satire, and immigration narrative. The book joins a growing body of literature examining American democracy’s fragility, but few works achieve this level of emotional authenticity while maintaining satirical edge.
The novel’s exploration of belonging and identity resonates particularly strongly in our current moment. Vera’s multicultural background, rather than representing the celebrated diversity of earlier American narratives, becomes a source of vulnerability in a country increasingly hostile to difference. Her journey toward self-acceptance occurs against a backdrop of national regression, creating tension between personal growth and political reality.
Similar Reading Recommendations
Readers who appreciate Vera, or Faith might explore these related works:
- What Maisie Knew by Henry James – The acknowledged inspiration for Shteyngart’s novel
- The Plot Against America by Philip Roth – Another exploration of American democracy under threat
- Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner – Contemporary family dysfunction with satirical elements
- The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen – Immigration and identity in American literature
- Exit West by Mohsin Hamid – Global displacement and belonging in uncertain times
Vera, or Faith confirms Shteyngart’s position among contemporary literature’s most important voices. By grounding his political critique in the specific experience of one unforgettable child, he has created a novel that operates on multiple levels without sacrificing emotional truth for satirical effect. This remarkable achievement deserves recognition as both artistic accomplishment and vital social commentary.