A heartfelt exploration of growing up as a queer girl in 1990s small-town Russia and the challenges of a later-in-life lesbian coming-out.
In I Am Not Doing Anything Wrong, Sveta Lukyanova, a writer in her thirties, embarks on a journey of self-discovery triggered by a life crisis. Set against the backdrop of 2000s Tatarstan, Russia, this coming-of-age novel explores the complexities of growing up as a queer teen, often oblivious to one's own identity. From enduring bullying to secret desires, the narrative weaves together various genres, including essays, a play, lesbian erotica, and prose poetry, capturing the turbulence of Sveta's late-in-life queer awakening. Her quest for authenticity forces her to confront the societal pressures of compulsory heterosexuality, even if it means risking her once-happy marriage during a tumultuous period in her homeland's history.
In I Am Not Doing Anything Wrong, Sveta Lukyanova, a writer in her thirties, embarks on a journey of self-discovery triggered by a life crisis. Set against the backdrop of 2000s Tatarstan, Russia, this coming-of-age novel explores the complexities of growing up as a queer teen, often oblivious to one's own identity. From enduring bullying to secret desires, the narrative weaves together various genres, including essays, a play, lesbian erotica, and prose poetry, capturing the turbulence of Sveta's late-in-life queer awakening. Her quest for authenticity forces her to confront the societal pressures of compulsory heterosexuality, even if it means risking her once-happy marriage during a tumultuous period in her homeland's history.