Casual

by Oksana Robski

Ca$ual este povestea unei femei instarite din clasa noilor imbogatiti. Dupa ce afla ca sotul ei o insala cu o blonda, aceasta are surpriza inca si mai neplacuta de a se pomeni anchetata de politie dupa ce Serge al ei este ucis de un asasin platit si, pe deasupra, se trezeste nevoita sa aiba grija de amanta lui insarcinata si de soferul ranit in timpul atentatului. Dar pe o astfel de femeie, traind intr-o lume in care crima insasi a devenit casual, nimic nu o poate opri: pune pe picioare o afacere, isi consoleaza priete­nele cu necazuri amoroase si ii mai ramine timp sa se si indragosteasca.

Genres: Fiction, Russia, Chick Lit

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Famous Moscow socialite, married and divorced four times. Author of 8 books.

Reviews

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly better than I've thought.
There are perhaps too many characters, but the plot is almost ok and you may have the image of new Russia, where money dictate almost everything. But you already knew that...

[Margarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her subsequent books are quite a bit better but Casual was the first and started a whole genre - you have to give it credit.

[des · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5* (the plot twist made me add half a point)

This was kind of a weird read. I felt like the writing wasn't really good, but who am I to say that. None of the characters had any depth and they did nothing so that you would root for them. The story was quite interesting but the characters just ruined it. It felt like a Russian version of Desperate Housewives with a murder in it. The thing I liked was the plot twist at the end, didn't see that one coming, other then that, wouldn't necessarily recommend.

[Agata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Specyficzna książka i zgadzam się z czyjąś opinią, że bohaterki książki przypominają bohaterki z Gotowych na wszystko. Ale czytało się książkę bardzo przyjemnie i uważam, że zasługuje na wyższą ocenę niż tylko 2.66.

[Andre Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real whirlwind of a story. Constantly flitting around without getting too emotionally invested. It's a bit jarring as a Western reader, but if you've spent any time in Moscow or lived with Russians, you realize it's just the way they are.

[Jürgen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Der Klappentext des Buches verspricht viel. Eine (vielleicht) naive junge Frau, die es sich - frisch verwitwet - in den Kopf setzt, den Mörder ihres Mannes zu finden. Und, wie kann es anders kommen, plötzlich von der Jägerin zur Gejagten wird. Eine Grundidee, die mir gefiel und auch der Schauplatz des postsowjetischen Moskau schien mir verlockend. Leider kann das Buch in keiner Weise überzeugen. Das Spannungsniveau bleibt durchgehend auf Hanny & Nanny-Niveau und die Entwicklung der agierenden Personen ist so bewegt wie ein mit Botox vollgepumptes Starlet-Gesicht. Die Autorin Oksana Robski, selbst so eine Art It-Girl der Moskauer Neureichen-Szene, versteht es geschickt (das einzig halbwegs geschickte an diesem Buch), beim Leser den Eindruck zu erwecken, man lese etwas Autobiographisches. Ob das Leben von Frau Robski Ähnlichkeiten aufweist oder nicht, ist letztlich auch zweitrangig. Das Leben, das die Protagonistin führt, bewegt sich zwischen Beauty-Salon, Einkaufstouren in Edelläden und sündhaft teuren Restaurants. Sie trifft sich mit „Freundinnen“, die eher kurzfristige Weggefährtinnen sind (Die Freundinnen erinnerten mich frappant an die Freundinnen von Mildred Montag aus „Fahrenheit 451“). Freundschaft, überhaupt menschliche Gefühle anderen Gegenüber sucht man im gesamten Buch vergebens. Menschen sind entweder nützlich oder uninteressant. Polizisten sind dumm oder korrupt, Hausmädchen prinzipiell diebisch und unfähig. Die enorme Bandbreite versammelter Stereotype hätte lustig sein können, aber das Lachen bleibt einem mit jeder Seite mehr im Halse stecken. Denn mit jeder Seite mehr merkt man, wie ernsthaft die Autorin davon überzeugt ist, ein Leben als reiche Drohne sei Lebenszweck genug. Wer verstehen möchte, warum das aktuelle Russland immer weiter einer Katastrophe entgegen schlittert, dem sei diesem Buch empfohlen. Mich hat es auf eine sehr ungewöhnliche Weise an den Film „Vatel - Ein Festmahl für den König“ erinnert, in dem es um die Prunk- und Verschwendungssucht des Sonnenkönigs Ludwig XIV ging.

[Ruby Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the full review, go to my blog: http://rubys-books.blogspot.com/2012/...


This book reminded me of Desperate Housewives, only in Russia. You have funny moments, tragic moments, some tears, plots and schemes and money. Lots and lots of money. The heroine of this book is very witty, sarcastic, sometimes almost snarky. Her and her friends are rich and they aren't afraid of showing that. The author takes you from spas to exclusive restaurants and clubs, where the rich people in Moscow have fun, drink, gossip and flirt.

I liked the feel of reality this book had. It truly made me believe that about half of the things that happened in the book might happen in real life, which is really rare in a book. And the little intrigues, the every day life experiences, like running into an ex, or your lover and his wife and realizing he's not going to leave her for you, or finding out your late husband's mistress is pregnant, being threatened by the mob, all those subplots made this a very interesting read.

At times though, some of the characters blended together, probably because some of them had very similar names.

All in all, this was an interesting book. If you're a fan of chick lit, then you should give this book a try.

[Ms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated with the subject matter pertaining to this main character's community. So, when I saw the book at my local bookstore, I knew I wanted to get started on it immediately. Wonderful it was, and although it wasn't something life-changing, it gave the reader an inside look into a subject that is rarely touched on. I have not seen many other authors try to capture this subject--but if I do, I'll be sure to read that as well ;)

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in a very simplistic style, the book nevertheless has its moments of depth. Very brief moments. Mostly it's about shallow Russian women and their extravagant spending habits. And a murder. (Some of the extravagant spending is concerned with avenging said murder...and moving on.)

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's just... bad. I'm not sympathetic towards ANY of the characters, let alone the main one, and I'm not even impressed by the life, the money, the furs, ...nothing.

The worst chick-lit book I've read. So far at least.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading, and kind of a hard core story. I saw stories on TV about this neighborhood while in Moscow this summer, and it was a good read in light of what I'd heard..

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was too tyring! Drugs, sex and ... shopping! Don't get me wrong I'm not the crazy feminist but none of her characters are half of the woman!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost a Russian Desperate Housewives on steroids. Mob murders, buttermilk importation...a great quick, fun summer read.

[Stephanie Blackbern · Rating 3 out of 5]

The new Russia is about $$$ and some naive understanding of life. It was good but hard to connect to.

[Kari Coughlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, this is an interesting peek at the upper class women of modern-day Russia. The luxury and excess are unbelievable...

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ik heb hem uitgelezen, omdat het moest van mezelf. Maar jemig: waar ging het nou over? Dunne verhaallijn en niet erg pakkend geschreven wat mij betreft

[Karen Lemke]

EXCELLANT, want to read again.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

увлекательно, легко и ненавязчиво.. В памяти не остается? Ну и что! Не все же время на серьезную литературу тратить.

[Alexandra Alexyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simply horible . the subject might have been interesting but the why of the writting is horible . to short phrases . to fast changments its like reading a letter a very bad one

[katy.about.books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Easy reading for one evening while on the road.
No extra values and/or depth in it.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it's ok. A little boring, but I liked the main character.