The Massapequa Debutante’s Handbook?

While author Gary Shteyngart made multiple references to hopping Metro-North between Scarsdale and Grand Central in his debut novel The Russian Debutante’s Handbook, he may focus on the Long Island commute for his next literary endeavor.

The young Russian novelist mentioned at a dinner party recently how Massapequa would be the setting of his next novel. He originally wanted to have it set in Hicksville, but felt no one outside the tri-state area would believe that Hicksville was a real place.

Frankly, Massapequa–known ’round these parts as “Matso-pizza” and the hometown haven of such talents as Jerry Seinfeld, those Baldwin brothers and Joey Buttafuocco–also leans perilously close to the unreal.