Aja Gabel’s Lightbreakers
Anika Jade Levy’s bleakly funny debut, Flat Earth, opens with Avery and Frances driving across their country in 
search of material for Frances’s experimental documentary. They’re both working on their final postgrad assignments but while Frances is powering ahead with her exploration of post-industrial America, Avery’s attempts to write a book of cultural reports has stalled. Shortly after their return to the city, Frances drops out to get married. Struggling to pay the rent, Avery takes up sex work, amazed when Frances completes her Flat Earth project and the praise heaped upon it by New York’s art cognoscenti. Levy’s sharp social observation and lampooning of the art world is coupled with a smartly polished style although, for me, this was a novel to admire rather than enjoy. Review soon…
Lina Munar Guevara’s Imagine Breaking Everything is set over a rainy weekend in Bogotá where eighteen-year-old Melissa is nervously contemplating spending time with her mother, six months after they were last in contact, and wondering how a return to the old neighbourhood where she spent her troubled adolescence will turn out after five years living with her aunt. ‘Will she make it to Monday morning without jeopardising her future – or being swallowed up by her past?’ asks the blurb for the latest novella from the ever reliable Peirene Press.
In Derek Owusu’s Borderline Fiction, nineteen-year-old Marcus is thinking of giving up drugs and casual sex for Adwoa, his latest love, but maybe not forever. At twenty-five, events seem to be repeating themselves. Owusu’s novel follows both versions of Marcus in parallel narratives. ‘Tortured, beautiful, anxious and poetic, Borderline Fiction is a memorable glimpse into the inner world of a young man searching for an authentic way to love and be loved’ says the blurb which also mentions humour. I like the sound of that.
That’s it for November’s first batch of new fiction. As ever, a click on a title will take you to a more detailed synopsis for any that take you fancy. Part two soon…
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November sounds like an exciting month for fiction! I’ve had Laing’s Silver Book on my own list for quite some time; I eagerly await your review (and am hoping that it’s as good as it sounds). Gabel’s Lightbreakers & Guevara’s Imagine also seem worth checking out.
And there’s more to come! I loved the Laing which will be on my books of the years list
I’m halfway through the Laing and enjoying it very much — so stylish.
I read Gabel’s debut, The Ensemble, but had lost track of her career. I’ll look out for your review.
I was very impressed by the Laing. Even better than her non-fiction. I was a bit wary of the time travel aspect of the Gabel but it worked well. Did you enjoy The Ensemble?
It’s so long ago that I read it that I don’t remember much, but I know I enjoyed the music theme: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/pr240000
Thanks. I remember that eye-catching cover!
I’m sold on Flat Earth – anything set in the art world is for me!
It’s well worth reading, Cathy, but somehow I didn’t warm to it.
Thank you for the review. Hope you had a nice break The Laing book particularly appeals to me, the topic and location.
Couple of interesting-looking ones there – the Olivia Laing and Lightbreakers. Will my willpower be a match for your reviews? Time will tell… 😉
Very interesting choices.
Thanks. Lots to look forward to.
Lightbreakers sounds very much my thing and I have Flat Earth from Netgalley.
It was the time travel element that made me a bit wary of Lightbreakers but you won’t have any trouble with that and in the event, neither did I. Hope you enjoy Flat Earth.
Laing is one of those authors that I’m aware of but somehow never got to. The Silver Book sounds wonderful though, so hopefully this will change!
I’ve read several of her non-fiction works but not her first novel, Crudo, which I’ve since added to my list.
Ooh, I loved Owusu’s last one so will spring on this! Thanks for sharing as ever!
That’s encouraging! You’re welcome, Liz.