Just started reading The Russian Debutante's Handbook. So far, several Russians, no debutantes. Lots of weirdness, but not a handbook of any normal stripe.

Here's a great little passage (p 22):

"True, Vladimir was not known to traverse a well-defined moral landscape, but trafficking arms to Iran was definitely off his map.

"And yet, in the very back of his mind, a window opened and Mother leaned out shouting for all to hear: 'Soon my Little Failure with be a Big Success!'

"Vladimir shut that window with a bang."