#3 By atem.1
In Matryoshka, Lev Shneider places himself and the reader into an unusual perspective – how one can perceive things in time and space and therefore must question reality and reconsider positions.

With a story that does not run as a straight linear discourse but rather exists and overlaps in several layers, this book isn't something to be simply consumed, but rather demands a deep inner exploration.

Shneider plays with possibilities of perception, perspectives, complex systems, and a multitude of possibilities on the way to being what he is.

A subtle attempt to liberate oneself – or to become acquainted with – inadequacies, passion, flaws, desires and expectations.
A true gem for those who like to think "out of the box"; an inspiration to creative people.

Marc van den Broek – painter and sculptor.

An extraordinary achievement: Shneider makes one of the most liveliest and most inventive fantasies. "Matryoshka" is a rare and wonderful thing that's not only deeply evocative of time and place, character and situation, but is also lyrically written, compellingly composed.

Svetlana Starr

This is simply an amazing book. it's strangely interesting, curiously bizarre, a great idea written by a man that should be called a genius, for his innovative writing style, where "you" are the hero. Yes, the science is complicated, true one of the lead characters is both author and writer, but the story is totally captivating, and you simply have to continue with it. Will "you" save the old writer, so the modern day writer knows his life has been worth while? Can your lover of the past remember you today?
An intriguing book which is guaranteed to wow and stun (and sometime bemuse) the reader.
Angela Hooper

Matryoshka is wonderfully, whimsically insane yet somehow functional. Pretty much as its real-life namesake, or the author himself, for that matter. This quasi-autobiographical science fiction story spans time-space trajectories from Kaunas, Soviet Lithuania to Philadelphia, USA, from the 1960s to our time, back and forth.

Here you will find cyber-reality, hyper-Internet, socialism, capitalism, a quantum theory of emotions, beautiful women, snitches, heroes, children, bass-guitar playing KGB agents, sexuality, sensuality, philosophy, lots of humor, and other concepts, persons, and objects all conspiring to assist the protagonist in a very basic, essential human quest - to reclaim his former self so he could make peace with his present one.

When not writing books, Lev Shneider can be found tickling keys and imaginations of female patrons at some New York nightclubs. When not playing piano, Mr. Shneider can be found sipping an espresso and riffing upon the subject of feline psychology. And if the stars are aligned just right, Lev can be persuaded to read your fortune using his mysterious system of cards and numbers rendered on a well-worn piece of paper that he always carries with him.

This is one of the most complex and original stories I have ever read. I have found joy in reading thousands of unique, odd, and far out books over the years but this one is right near the top.

Matryoshka involves time travel, body swapping, physics, philosophy, sex, geographical travel, bizarre mathematics, the Internet, business, human drama, a little bit of history, psychiatry, and a hidden agenda that not everyone will pick up on. Nothing evil, mind you; quite the opposite.

Lev has some good news waiting for you if you can discover the deeper message he is trying to relay in his book. How fun is that?! I picked up on it and asked him if that's what was happening, even before I knew this was exactly what he had intended. As someone who enjoys mental weight lifting of a sort, this book was a surprising workout.

As you turn each page, it is utterly impossible to guess what may be coming next. That to me, is a quality of the highest order of perfection in a good book. Buy Matryoshka, put a seatbelt on your medulla oblongata, and take the ride of a lifetime with Lev!