Comments on: Keeping up with the Joneskis http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/2009/04/keeping-up-with-the-joneskis/ A literary journal of writing from and about Finland. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:05:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Igor http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/2009/04/keeping-up-with-the-joneskis/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 Igor Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:37:35 +0000 http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/?p=715#comment-1248 //I wonder if this book examines the situation further afield in the Russian Federation outside the capitals the life way is similar, but more comical. you are cool, if you have 10 y.o. honda and unlimited mobile plan //I wonder if this book examines the situation further afield in the Russian Federation

outside the capitals the life way is similar, but more comical. you are cool, if you have 10 y.o. honda and unlimited mobile plan

]]> By: Anna-Maria Castro http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/2009/04/keeping-up-with-the-joneskis/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Anna-Maria Castro Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:11:16 +0000 http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/?p=715#comment-291 Ms.Lauren certainly captured a lot of signature traits of the Russian public persona. As a Muscovite, I know that selling an apartment to finance a wedding is certainly conceivable, given the "all for show", "maintain the level" mentality, however, thankfully, it is not that wide-spread a practice. There is a lot of common sense too. Russian people have long been experts at making things go a long way - be it planting potatoes at the dacha and doing preserves for the winter, or upgrading or swapping your apartment to get a better one, etc. Their love for ostentatious consumerism has a lot to do with a maxim nobody in Russia, including, I am certain, Mr. Abramovich, a former "client"of the state orphanage system, can ever forget: enjoy life today, because the opportunity (not the money itself even) might be gone tomorrow and never come back in your life time. It's hard to argue with that. Anna-Maria, Toronto, formerly of Moscow Ms.Lauren certainly captured a lot of signature traits of the Russian public persona. As a Muscovite, I know that selling an apartment to finance a wedding is certainly conceivable, given the “all for show”, “maintain the level” mentality, however, thankfully, it is not that wide-spread a practice. There is a lot of common sense too. Russian people have long been experts at making things go a long way – be it planting potatoes at the dacha and doing preserves for the winter, or upgrading or swapping your apartment to get a better one, etc. Their love for ostentatious consumerism has a lot to do with a maxim nobody in Russia, including, I am certain, Mr. Abramovich, a former “client”of the state orphanage system, can ever forget: enjoy life today, because the opportunity (not the money itself even) might be gone tomorrow and never come back in your life time.
It’s hard to argue with that.

Anna-Maria, Toronto, formerly of Moscow

]]> By: David McDuff http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/2009/04/keeping-up-with-the-joneskis/comment-page-1/#comment-103 David McDuff Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:29:39 +0000 http://www.booksfromfinland.fi/?p=715#comment-103 Moscow and St Petersburg may be the "promised land of materialism" for a fortunate and cynical few, but I wonder if this book examines the situation further afield in the Russian Federation? Even before the present economic slump, UNICEF figures showed that some 60 million people in Russia were living in poverty, with those living in rural areas being the most vulnerable and marginalized. The World Bank recently forecast that this year Russia's economy will shrink by an estimated 4.5 percent. The drop in the price of oil and the global downturn will have the effect of increasing unemployment throughout the country even further, and the problem of endemic and widespread poverty will grow worse. I think Anna-Lena Laurén needs to get out a bit more. Moscow and St Petersburg may be the “promised land of materialism” for a fortunate and cynical few, but I wonder if this book examines the situation further afield in the Russian Federation?

Even before the present economic slump, UNICEF figures showed that some 60 million people in Russia were living in poverty, with those living in rural areas being the most vulnerable and marginalized.

The World Bank recently forecast that this year Russia’s economy will shrink by an estimated 4.5 percent. The drop in the price of oil and the global downturn will have the effect of increasing unemployment throughout the country even further, and the problem of endemic and widespread poverty will grow worse.

I think Anna-Lena Laurén needs to get out a bit more.

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