The Queue (amazon or borders) by Vladimir Sorokin is a simple tale of Soviet times: an enormous line appears in an unnamed city, people join the end of line without really knowing what it is they are waiting for. The novel is the story of those people in line. It’s almost that simple, but with a twist: the entire novel is rendered in the dialog of those who are in line.
It’s the speech patterns – and, being able to distinguish different threads of conversations from each other – that make the book such a delicious satire on Soviet life. It doesn’t give the story away to tell you that the queue remains in place for days and its participants struggle to find food, child care, something to drink, and the odd carnal entertainment while they wait for a product “so good, I wouldn’t get out of line.” The story even follows the queue overnight as they wait out in the cold to preserve their place in line.
For the prospective reader it’s important to remember that you have to supply the imagery yourself. The reader’s imagination is almost as important as the story; that gives The Queue a deceptive train. It looks like The Queue would be a simple and quick read, but it’s really not so: since you have to fill in many of the narrative and scenic details yourself – based on the dialogue – reading the book is very engaging (in the best sense of that word).
Of course, it wouldn’t be worth it if the story wasn’t good – and that’s where Sororkin delivers. There is an engine in the story that makes it easy to turn the page; the satire is delicious in parts and laugh-out-loud funny in other places. And, as a bonus, there’s a bit of a surprise ending for a payoff.
Would only a reader of Russian/Soviet novels or current affairs like this book? I asked myself that question while reading it. It may be the case that most American readers would be put off by the format (too much work) and the subject (a line for consumer goods in Soviet times?). But that’s their loss. I don’t know if it’s worth standing in line for, but The Queue is definitely recommended reading.
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