It’s a decade since I reviewed Emma Cline’s much heralded debut, The Girls, loosely based on the infamous Manson family and its horrific murders. Although I admired it, I’ve not read anything by her since. Switzy is very different following a man in his seventies as he travels to Zurich accompanied by his young assistant.
In and out, his brain went, like a radio tuning.
David is travelling to London by private jet, a gift from his friend Stearns, the only person besides Cody who knows that he will not be returning from Zurich. London was where David spent his honeymoon with his ex-wife, the mother of Rebecca who lives there with her husband and their son who David has rarely seen. Rebecca is clearly concerned by David’s condition but hardly knows this man who she’s not lived with since she was a child. His grandson is reluctant to spend time with this stranger who seems intensely interested in him yet distracted and a little odd. After two nights, one eventful, in the hotel that David had visited many times on business, they travel to Zurich. David has another goodbye to make. He’s not seen or spoken to Tom since the sadistic hazing Tom endured in their last days at boarding school, watched by David who did nothing to help the person with who he’d been most intimate. The following day, Cody accompanies David to his final destination.
He tried to think, I love you, to see what it scraped up in him. He tried to gather himself to match the seriousness of the occasion – maybe the last time he would be alone with his only child.
David’s journey unfolds in an interior monologue made up of short episodic paragraphs. He is, of course, an unreliable narrator, his mind already severely frayed, unravelling further as he travels. Although puzzled and confused by the present, his memories are often vivid although perhaps not accurate. What happened with Tom is left a little unclear, there are hints that David may also have suffered. Either Cody is an embezzler, waiting to get his hands on David’s money or he’s a solicitous and patient employee who’s remained loyal to David throughout his decline. It’s a claustrophobic narrative but highly effective as Cline slowly but steadily leads us towards its end. Her writing is strikingly polished, peppered with occasional flashes of dry black humour. I found her novel uncomfortably immersive but impressive, thoroughly deserving of its place on the Booker longlist.
Chatto & Windus: London 9781784746643 304 pages Hardback (NetGalley)
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I feel this may be a book I ‘ought’ to read, rather than – at the moment – ‘want’ to read. In any case, definitely not a bedtime read to lull you to sleep!
Definitely not that! It’s discomfitingly well written. I was pleased the Booker judges picked it and wouldn’t be sorry to see it shortlisted.
OK, you iwn. I’ve just reserved it from the library. I’m number 23 in the queue!
Hurrah! That’ll get longer if it’s shortlisted for the Booker, I imagine.
So glad you ‘enjoyed’ it. It’s on my reading soon pile – I hope it’s shortlisted.
You phrased that well – I hope it works for you, too, when you get to it.
I just finished this and I was blown away. I thought it was masterful and is my clear frontrunner for the Booker so far. So glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks, Cathy. It’s a much more mature piece of writing than The Girls. I’d be happy to see it at least shortlisted. We’ll soon find out!
I have this one near the top of the pile and thought I’d get to it this weekend, before the short list comes out. Like you, I read Cline’s The Girls years ago, but haven’t sampled her work since then. It’ll be interesting to see how I react to her latest.
This one was streets ahead of The Girls for me, even though I admired it. Hope it hits the spot for you.
I never did get to The Girls but I remember the hype, I can’t believe it was 10 years ago! This sounds really well done, clearly I should read her.
I had to look that up to be sure. I was very impressed with this one. A smart piece of writing.
Oh good! I have this one on reserve at the library.
I think it’ll suit you well, Kate.
This does sound compelling but perhaps to be picked up when in the right state of mind!
Definitely! It’s quite claustrophobic but very effective.
I didn’t much fancy the Girls but this sounds more interesting. Sadly for me there are many other readers in my locality who think the same – hence there is a very, very long waiting list for a library copy
I suspect the Booker longlisting might have influenced that. I hope you manage to get your hands on a copy eventually.
Very interesting!
It’s a tricky subject, handled well.
A silly detail, but your second quote – who is narrating that? I thought it was Cody, but he’s an employee, not David’s father? Sorry – I’m just curious and I must be reading it wrong! I’m in another phase of reading only gentle books (tired again!) so I think this wouldn’t be for now. But I do love hearing about the Booker books, with an eye on which ones might tempt me in the future.
Not silly at all! It’s David who is thinking about his daughter when he visits her in London but whose thoughts are becoming increasingly scattered and confused. Definitely one to leave until you’re less tired, Victoria. I hope you’ve found some soothing books to distract you.
I’m reading this right now – there are good bits (the writing) but I’m having trouble caring very much for David and what is happening to him. I will keep on keeping on though.
He’s not particularly likeable, is he, although you may become a little more sympathetic.
Good to know!