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Early Work
A wry, supersmart, seriocomic first novel from a prodigious talent—a Sentimental Education for our time
For young writers of a certain temperament—if they haven’t had such notions beaten out of them by MFA programs and the Internet—the delusion persists that great writing must be sought in what W. B. Yeats once called the “foul rag and bone shop of the heart.” That’s where Peter Cunningham has been looking for inspiration for his novel—that is, when he isn’t teaching at the local women’s prison, walking his dog, getting high, and wondering whether it’s time to tie the knot with his college girlfriend, a medical student whose night shifts have become a standing rebuke to his own lack of direction. When Peter meets Leslie, a sexual adventurer taking a break from her fiancé, he gets a glimpse of what he wishes and imagines himself to be: a writer of talent and nerve. Her rag-and-bone shop may be as squalid as his own, but at least she knows her way around the shelves. Over the course of a Virginia summer, their charged, increasingly intimate friendship opens the door to difficult questions about love and literary ambition.
With a keen irony reminiscent of Sam Lipsyte or Lorrie Moore, and a romantic streak as wide as Roberto Bolaño’s, Andrew Martin’s Early Work marks the debut of a writer as funny and attentive as any novelist of his generation.
For young writers of a certain temperament—if they haven’t had such notions beaten out of them by MFA programs and the Internet—the delusion persists that great writing must be sought in what W. B. Yeats once called the “foul rag and bone shop of the heart.” That’s where Peter Cunningham has been looking for inspiration for his novel—that is, when he isn’t teaching at the local women’s prison, walking his dog, getting high, and wondering whether it’s time to tie the knot with his college girlfriend, a medical student whose night shifts have become a standing rebuke to his own lack of direction. When Peter meets Leslie, a sexual adventurer taking a break from her fiancé, he gets a glimpse of what he wishes and imagines himself to be: a writer of talent and nerve. Her rag-and-bone shop may be as squalid as his own, but at least she knows her way around the shelves. Over the course of a Virginia summer, their charged, increasingly intimate friendship opens the door to difficult questions about love and literary ambition.
With a keen irony reminiscent of Sam Lipsyte or Lorrie Moore, and a romantic streak as wide as Roberto Bolaño’s, Andrew Martin’s Early Work marks the debut of a writer as funny and attentive as any novelist of his generation.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 491 reviews
June 30, 2018
Mildly amusing story about a lazy, dissipated young writer who drinks a lot, cheats on his hard-working girlfriend and doesn’t do much writing. Do we need another story like this one? I’m not convinced we do. “Early Work” feels lax; ironic confession of immaturity isn’t really all that interesting. “The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.” is sharper and wittier.
October 14, 2018
So genuinely shallow. Reading this novel was very much like listening to a member of my generation, at once self-absorbed and somehow entirely un-self-aware, gripe for far too long at a bar. There were moments of pleasing recognition as Martin discussed my town or the trappings of Charlottesville living, but even these highlights faded; the narrator is incapable of turning off the lazy cynicism that is such a depressing hallmark of people my age. Whine about everything in your easy life and then continue to make ruinous decision after ruinous decision. Have the privileged young always been this way? (Yes.) This novel will really make one hate one’s own peer group. Perhaps that was the point?
March 22, 2020
Χμμ....δεν ξέρω αν μου άρεσε ή όχι, αν ήταν καλό ή αν δεν ήταν....γι'αυτό θα του βάλω ένα αμήχανο 3.
Θα το έβαζα στην ίδια κατηγορία που βάζω και τις Συζητήσεις με φίλους της Sally Rooney, αν και δεν ξέρω πώς λέγεται αυτή η κατηγορία.
Δεν βαρέθηκα, ούτε και σκέφτηκα κάποια στιγμή πως ήθελα να πάει πιο γρήγορα ή να τελειώσει παρ'όλο που δεν συμβαίνει σχεδόν τίποτα καθ'όλη τη διάρκεια του. Δεν μπορώ να πω ότι συμπάθησα κάποιον χαρακτήρα αλλά ούτε τους βρήκα και αντιπαθητικούς. Δεν νομίζω ότι έχει και ιδιαίτερη σημασία όμως, δεν πιστεύω πως αυτός ήταν ο στόχος εξάλλου. Δεν ξέρω αν απευθύνεται μόνο στη γενιά για την οποία μιλάει. Δεν νομίζω να είναι έτσι αλλά νιώθω ότι κάθε γενιά θα το αντιμετώπιζε διαφορετικά.
Η αλήθεια είναι ότι δεν μπορώ να προσδιορίσω τι ακριβώς συμβαίνει με αυτά τα βιβλία, γιατί με προβληματίζουν τόσο. Για το ρεαλισμό τους; Για το οτι κάποιες από τις σκέψεις των ηρώων* τις έχω κάνει κι εγώ;
Αν μη τι άλλο για κάποιο λόγο που δεν μπορώ να προσδιορίσω ακόμη τα βρίσκω με κάποιο τρόπο ενδιαφέροντα.
*στην αρχή έγραψα “ηρώων”, το κοίταξα, χαζογέλασα λίγο μόνη μου, το έσβησα και έγραψα “χαρακτήρων”. Τι ηρωικό είχαν κάνει για να τους πω έτσι. Και μετά σκέφτηκα ο καθένας δεν είναι ο ήρωας της δικής του ζωής; Οπότε έσβησα το “χαρακτήρων” και ξαναέγραψα “ηρώων”.
(Μήπως η καραντίνα έχει αρχίσει να μου καίει τα εγκεφαλικά κύτταρα;😳)
Υ.Γ.1: Νομίζω πως οι Συζητήσεις με φίλους μου άρεσαν λίγο περισσότερο
Υ.Γ.2: Εν τω μεταξύ το εξώφυλλο το έβρισκα λίγο αταίριαστο αλλά μετά σκέφτηκα γιατί όχι, αφού ούτε ο Balthus μπορώ να αποφασίσω αν μου αρέσει ή όχι!
Θα το έβαζα στην ίδια κατηγορία που βάζω και τις Συζητήσεις με φίλους της Sally Rooney, αν και δεν ξέρω πώς λέγεται αυτή η κατηγορία.
Δεν βαρέθηκα, ούτε και σκέφτηκα κάποια στιγμή πως ήθελα να πάει πιο γρήγορα ή να τελειώσει παρ'όλο που δεν συμβαίνει σχεδόν τίποτα καθ'όλη τη διάρκεια του. Δεν μπορώ να πω ότι συμπάθησα κάποιον χαρακτήρα αλλά ούτε τους βρήκα και αντιπαθητικούς. Δεν νομίζω ότι έχει και ιδιαίτερη σημασία όμως, δεν πιστεύω πως αυτός ήταν ο στόχος εξάλλου. Δεν ξέρω αν απευθύνεται μόνο στη γενιά για την οποία μιλάει. Δεν νομίζω να είναι έτσι αλλά νιώθω ότι κάθε γενιά θα το αντιμετώπιζε διαφορετικά.
Η αλήθεια είναι ότι δεν μπορώ να προσδιορίσω τι ακριβώς συμβαίνει με αυτά τα βιβλία, γιατί με προβληματίζουν τόσο. Για το ρεαλισμό τους; Για το οτι κάποιες από τις σκέψεις των ηρώων* τις έχω κάνει κι εγώ;
Αν μη τι άλλο για κάποιο λόγο που δεν μπορώ να προσδιορίσω ακόμη τα βρίσκω με κάποιο τρόπο ενδιαφέροντα.
*στην αρχή έγραψα “ηρώων”, το κοίταξα, χαζογέλασα λίγο μόνη μου, το έσβησα και έγραψα “χαρακτήρων”. Τι ηρωικό είχαν κάνει για να τους πω έτσι. Και μετά σκέφτηκα ο καθένας δεν είναι ο ήρωας της δικής του ζωής; Οπότε έσβησα το “χαρακτήρων” και ξαναέγραψα “ηρώων”.
(Μήπως η καραντίνα έχει αρχίσει να μου καίει τα εγκεφαλικά κύτταρα;😳)
Υ.Γ.1: Νομίζω πως οι Συζητήσεις με φίλους μου άρεσαν λίγο περισσότερο
Υ.Γ.2: Εν τω μεταξύ το εξώφυλλο το έβρισκα λίγο αταίριαστο αλλά μετά σκέφτηκα γιατί όχι, αφού ούτε ο Balthus μπορώ να αποφασίσω αν μου αρέσει ή όχι!
December 30, 2019
Στην εκπνοή αυτής της δεκαετίας διάβασα το πιο επίπονα αληθινό βιβλίο για το πως ήταν (και ίσως θα είναι) οι ερωτικές σχέσεις αυτή την δεκαετία. Τρομερό.
December 27, 2019
σύγχρονο, πανέξυπνο, καθηλωτικό,
θα ξαναδιαβαστει αμέσως
θα ξαναδιαβαστει αμέσως
January 16, 2019
This novel, about a book-obsessed love triangle in their mid-late twenties, really hit me at the right time. With a healthy amount of self-awareness and willful lack of direction, aspiring writer Pete guides the reader through his daily activities and highly interesting love life. Though the central appeal of this novel for me was the hilariously relatable bookish rogues who leave parties to catch up on their reading, the drama of Pete, Julia, and Leslie’s romantic entanglement helped to propel things along.
I also enjoyed this novel between beers on vacation, and Early Work functions well on this mental wavelength given the leads are so often ossified. With a healthy amount of booze, weed, and other miscellaneous mind-alterers, there’s plenty of loose philosophical pondering, strange parties, and hilarious conversations. It’s to Martin’s credit that he so accurately brings to life the mind of a stoned man at, say, a dinner with a friend that it feels peeled from one’s own life rather than forced.
What’s more, there’s oodles of steamy and perfunctory sex in Early Work. Since Martin seems intent on bringing to life the struggle of modern relationship and complex sexual dynamics, it’s appropriate that so much of the book hinges on the sexual desires of the characters. Sex is treated as more of a separate entity from emotional attachment, though there’s an appreciation that the two are often intertwined.
This may not be the most impressive literary novel I read this year, but it was raucously entertaining and personally meaningful. For my fellow 20-somethings, there’s a good chance you’ll find a lot to like. For those 20-somethings who are book-obsessed like myself, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.
I also enjoyed this novel between beers on vacation, and Early Work functions well on this mental wavelength given the leads are so often ossified. With a healthy amount of booze, weed, and other miscellaneous mind-alterers, there’s plenty of loose philosophical pondering, strange parties, and hilarious conversations. It’s to Martin’s credit that he so accurately brings to life the mind of a stoned man at, say, a dinner with a friend that it feels peeled from one’s own life rather than forced.
What’s more, there’s oodles of steamy and perfunctory sex in Early Work. Since Martin seems intent on bringing to life the struggle of modern relationship and complex sexual dynamics, it’s appropriate that so much of the book hinges on the sexual desires of the characters. Sex is treated as more of a separate entity from emotional attachment, though there’s an appreciation that the two are often intertwined.
This may not be the most impressive literary novel I read this year, but it was raucously entertaining and personally meaningful. For my fellow 20-somethings, there’s a good chance you’ll find a lot to like. For those 20-somethings who are book-obsessed like myself, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.
March 14, 2020
"Νιώθω σαν νά 'χω πάθει υπερκόπωση".
"Υπερκόπωση; Από τι;" είπε η Τζούλια.
"Απ' το να είμαι... ο εαυτός μου, υποθέτω. Ο εαυτός μου με εξαντλεί".
Όλο το κείμενο (και το zeitgeist του σήμερα) σε μία στιχομυθία.
January 19, 2020
Και τελικά, τι ήθελε να πει ο ποιητής;
Σεξ, ναρκωτικά, δήθεν κουλτούρα, μια κακομαθημένη γενιά που αυτοκαταστρέφεται, αλλά νιώθει υπεράνω... Και;
Το βρήκα πραγματικά πολύ φλύαρο και πρωτόλειο, όπως ακριβώς ο τίτλος του...
Σεξ, ναρκωτικά, δήθεν κουλτούρα, μια κακομαθημένη γενιά που αυτοκαταστρέφεται, αλλά νιώθει υπεράνω... Και;
Το βρήκα πραγματικά πολύ φλύαρο και πρωτόλειο, όπως ακριβώς ο τίτλος του...
August 18, 2018
If you want to learn more about random Millennials with underwhelming personality traits you can just go to your local coffee shop or $12 vegan donut establishment and wait around there for say, three whole minutes. What you learn might very well shock you. They listlessly repeat the word "Awesome" for no apparent reason! They're wild about the gig economy! They're seldom aware of their immediate surroundings nor the people they are actively conversing with because they just posted an Instagram of their beverage and it got 22 likes!! Whatever it is you do learn though, I guarantee you, will be more riveting than this entire book.
March 29, 2022
Χαίρομαι που οι ήρωες στο Πρωτόλειο νιώθουν εξάντληση από τους εαυτούς τους, που έχουν πάθει υπερκόπωση από τους χαρακτήρες τους. Μαντεύουν τη δυσαρέσκεια του αναγνώστη και προλαβαίνουν τα χειρότερα. Τρομαχτικό το πόσο μοιάζουν στη γενιά μας, ε; Έτσι ακουγόμαστε παιδιά, εμείς που είμαστε μια ανάσα μακριά από τα τριάντα (καλά και οι λίγο πριν και οι λίγο μετά, πάμε πακέτο). Είμαστε ώρες ώρες πραγματικά ανυπόφοροι, εμείς και το λιωμένο αβοκάντο μας, οι γλυκές μας μονστέρες και σανσιβέριες, τα έντυπα παλιά τεύχη New Yorker, τα θαμπά πράσινα country μαγαζιά μας με neon από The Smiths, τα ειρωνικά μπλουζάκια που κλέψαμε από τους γονείς μας, τα οποία πλένουμε στους τριάντα χωρίς στύψιμο, μην τυχόν και φθαρούν υπερβολικά και αποτύχουμε να ψιθυρίσουμε εκκωφαντικά το πόσο ξεχωριστοί είμαστε.
Οι ήρωες είναι ενήμεροι για όλα τα δρώμενα και καλά διαβασμένοι για όλα τα προηγούμενα, με ειδίκευση στην ιστορία της τέχνης, βαριές μποέμικες βραδιές κουλτούρας, λέσχες σημαντικών βιβλίων, βίντατζ πόστερς, εθισμένοι στα ναρκωτικά, το ποτό και το σεξ, πάντα σε ετοιμότητα για φιλικές συγκρούσεις διάνοιας και όλοι τους, δυνατές πένες. Κάποιοι τώρα τελειώνουν το έργο τους, άλλοι έχουν δημοσιευτεί σε μικρά περιοδικά, περιφέρουν την Άποψή τους με μεθυσμένη χάρη. Ταλαντεύονται ανάμεσα στο να είναι πρώτη μούρη κοινωνικότητας και πολιτισμού, ή στο να ξεχαστούν σε κάποιο αγροτόσπιτο όπου μπορούν να συγγράψουν με την ησυχία τους. Τα πρωινά, γιατί τα απογεύματα έχουν μαθήματα οριγκάμι.
Μα το βιβλίο είναι πολύ καλό. Στην αρχή δήλωνα «Είναι σαν χαζό σενάριο για καμία ανεξάρτητη indie one season στο Νετφλιξ» και μέχρι το τέλος δήλωνα ενθουσιασμένη: «Είναι εξαιρετικό, σαν χαζό σενάριο για καμία ανεξάρτητη indie one season στο Νετφλιξ!».
Το Πρωτόλειο ας διαβαστεί, ειδικά από εμάς. Είναι άβολο, όσο άβολο είναι να βλέπεις τη φιγούρα σου σε ένα βίντεο ή να ακούς ηχογραφημένη τη φωνή σου. Δεν κατέχουμε το Άγιο δισκοπότηρο της πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς μας, δεν είμαστε Θεοί, δεν έχουμε τις καλύτερες playlists στο Spotify, δεν καταπολεμήσαμε την καταπίεση, δεν τρομάξαμε τον καπιταλισμό και έφυγε, δεν κάνουμε τις καλύτερες vegan ομελέτες με άγρια μανιτάρια, δεν έχουμε το πιο μίνιμαλ και στιλάτο σπίτι, δεν είμαστε και οι πιο σωστοί μαχητές της ισότητας. Αλλά! Είμαστε καλύτεροι από τους προηγούμενους και αυτό είναι κάτι.
Θυμάμαι να γράφω χρόνια πολλά πριν, σε ένα εφηβικό μπλογκ, πως όταν μεγαλώσω το μόνο που θέλω είναι να κάθομαι σε ένα τραπέζι με άλλους ενήλικες και οι γνώμη μου να είναι σεβαστή και ίσως και επιθυμητή. Για εμένα εκεί κερδίζει το Πρωτόλειο, στην ανάγκη τους για καθαρή σύνδεση χωρίς παράσιτα, στο να νιώσουν επιτέλους κάτι, στις θολές analog φωτογραφίες τους να υπάρχει το ανήκειν, έστω και μόνο για απόψε.
Οι ήρωες είναι ενήμεροι για όλα τα δρώμενα και καλά διαβασμένοι για όλα τα προηγούμενα, με ειδίκευση στην ιστορία της τέχνης, βαριές μποέμικες βραδιές κουλτούρας, λέσχες σημαντικών βιβλίων, βίντατζ πόστερς, εθισμένοι στα ναρκωτικά, το ποτό και το σεξ, πάντα σε ετοιμότητα για φιλικές συγκρούσεις διάνοιας και όλοι τους, δυνατές πένες. Κάποιοι τώρα τελειώνουν το έργο τους, άλλοι έχουν δημοσιευτεί σε μικρά περιοδικά, περιφέρουν την Άποψή τους με μεθυσμένη χάρη. Ταλαντεύονται ανάμεσα στο να είναι πρώτη μούρη κοινωνικότητας και πολιτισμού, ή στο να ξεχαστούν σε κάποιο αγροτόσπιτο όπου μπορούν να συγγράψουν με την ησυχία τους. Τα πρωινά, γιατί τα απογεύματα έχουν μαθήματα οριγκάμι.
Μα το βιβλίο είναι πολύ καλό. Στην αρχή δήλωνα «Είναι σαν χαζό σενάριο για καμία ανεξάρτητη indie one season στο Νετφλιξ» και μέχρι το τέλος δήλωνα ενθουσιασμένη: «Είναι εξαιρετικό, σαν χαζό σενάριο για καμία ανεξάρτητη indie one season στο Νετφλιξ!».
Το Πρωτόλειο ας διαβαστεί, ειδικά από εμάς. Είναι άβολο, όσο άβολο είναι να βλέπεις τη φιγούρα σου σε ένα βίντεο ή να ακούς ηχογραφημένη τη φωνή σου. Δεν κατέχουμε το Άγιο δισκοπότηρο της πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς μας, δεν είμαστε Θεοί, δεν έχουμε τις καλύτερες playlists στο Spotify, δεν καταπολεμήσαμε την καταπίεση, δεν τρομάξαμε τον καπιταλισμό και έφυγε, δεν κάνουμε τις καλύτερες vegan ομελέτες με άγρια μανιτάρια, δεν έχουμε το πιο μίνιμαλ και στιλάτο σπίτι, δεν είμαστε και οι πιο σωστοί μαχητές της ισότητας. Αλλά! Είμαστε καλύτεροι από τους προηγούμενους και αυτό είναι κάτι.
Θυμάμαι να γράφω χρόνια πολλά πριν, σε ένα εφηβικό μπλογκ, πως όταν μεγαλώσω το μόνο που θέλω είναι να κάθομαι σε ένα τραπέζι με άλλους ενήλικες και οι γνώμη μου να είναι σεβαστή και ίσως και επιθυμητή. Για εμένα εκεί κερδίζει το Πρωτόλειο, στην ανάγκη τους για καθαρή σύνδεση χωρίς παράσιτα, στο να νιώσουν επιτέλους κάτι, στις θολές analog φωτογραφίες τους να υπάρχει το ανήκειν, έστω και μόνο για απόψε.
August 14, 2018
The latest in what has become a clear type of first novel from young, American, usually NYC-based authors (though this only is thankfully set somewhere else): witty, sharply observed romance plots about late-twenty- and thirty-something intellectuals and literary types trying to make their way, half-heartedly. Some are observant about class and the economic conditions of end-of-the-century capitalism, others about gender relations, but all of them are centered on interpersonal relationships.
This type of novel is always fun to read because they go down easy and are essentially sociologies of my demographic. "Early Work" stands out for being polished, hyper-self-aware, and consistently funny (though they are all shaped by layers of reflexive distance). The questions I have are: 1) is it possible for ambitious young writers to write about other kinds of people in other kinds of places? and 2) is it possible to have more thinking and ideas in fiction, rather than just plot-driven comedies of morals? Like I said, I enjoy books like this, but they're essentially highbrow beach reads. It seems our times call for something a bit more ambitious.
This type of novel is always fun to read because they go down easy and are essentially sociologies of my demographic. "Early Work" stands out for being polished, hyper-self-aware, and consistently funny (though they are all shaped by layers of reflexive distance). The questions I have are: 1) is it possible for ambitious young writers to write about other kinds of people in other kinds of places? and 2) is it possible to have more thinking and ideas in fiction, rather than just plot-driven comedies of morals? Like I said, I enjoy books like this, but they're essentially highbrow beach reads. It seems our times call for something a bit more ambitious.
June 25, 2018
There’s nothing zeitgeist-y about this book, no “#MeToo” connections or disguised political commentary that will make it the “Must Read Book of the Summer.” If anything, it’s #problematic. Early Work is about a straight white guy who thinks he’s smarter than everyone around and cheats on his long-term girlfriend. But I gobbled it up just the same on a flight from Boston to Milwaukee and I loved every minute of it.
Our protagonist, Peter Cunningham, is a wannabe writer whose day job is ostensibly teaching creative writing classes at a women’s prison, but there’s no way he could make ends meet without the support of his girlfriend, Julia, who works crazy hours at the local hospital. Peter is a borderline alcoholic and often uses his lack of sobriety as a crutch for the poor choices that he makes. In the vein of The Catcher in the Rye, Peter is unimpressed by the people around him, except for Leslie, another writer who has arrived in Virginia to (supposedly) work on her novel over the summer. Peter is enthralled with Leslie and soon begins an affair with her.
There’s a lack of tension in regards to sex throughout the book, which was surprising. The tendency with books about infidelity, I think, is to treat the initial sexual encounter as a massive turning point that the narrative drive towards and then the fall out is what the book drifts towards in the remaining pages. Call it a millennial affectation, or whatever you want, but every character in this book is wildly casual towards sex. Sex is a means to an end, rather than the act itself. Take Molly, for example. Molly is a friend of Peter and Julia who organizes “parties” where she supplies special brownies and makes everyone watch black and white art house films and Michael Jackson documentaries. Molly has several hookups throughout the story, always on the periphery, reflecting Peter’s desires in the distance. Molly’s sexual activities are never used for drama, only for character building.
Most authors will drop in pop culture references in an effort to say, “Look how cool I am.” This is particularly true when it comes to debut novels, and there are a lot of sand traps littered in this novel (Kendrick Lamar, Don DeLillo, etc.) but Martin sidesteps them with skill. When Peter is dropping the n-word while rapping in his car, it doesn’t feel awkward, forced or out of place—it feels like Peter is a real person. Yeah, he’s a liberal white guy living in Virginia with a college degree, aka the exact kind of person that thinks he can shout the n word but only if he’s singing along to a Pulitzer winner. The references aren’t there to show off; they’re placed carefully by an author who knows everything about his characters.
This emphasis on character is what makes Early Work such an outstanding read, if it is lacking on plot; and it’s not that I see myself in Peter (although I’m sure there are several ex-girlfriend’s of mine that would insist the opposite), but he’s so well developed he feels more realized than more or less every other character of 2018. Is Peter a good person? No. Is Peter giving voice to a marginalized audience? Absolutely not. But there’s enough to his character that any reader can find a latching on point. In some regards, Peter is even a tragic character; aware of the decisions he should be making and continually goes against them, Peter follows his gut where he should follow his brain.
Early Work is not saying anything grand about society—if anything, the concept of “early work” runs throughout the book and bleeds into real life, this novel is author Martin’s debut, his early work. It’s dipping its foot into themes that can be figured out at a later date. The reader is learning just as the author is. There’s a delicate balance with debut novels between what is trite and what is genius and Martin strikes it beautifully.
Our protagonist, Peter Cunningham, is a wannabe writer whose day job is ostensibly teaching creative writing classes at a women’s prison, but there’s no way he could make ends meet without the support of his girlfriend, Julia, who works crazy hours at the local hospital. Peter is a borderline alcoholic and often uses his lack of sobriety as a crutch for the poor choices that he makes. In the vein of The Catcher in the Rye, Peter is unimpressed by the people around him, except for Leslie, another writer who has arrived in Virginia to (supposedly) work on her novel over the summer. Peter is enthralled with Leslie and soon begins an affair with her.
There’s a lack of tension in regards to sex throughout the book, which was surprising. The tendency with books about infidelity, I think, is to treat the initial sexual encounter as a massive turning point that the narrative drive towards and then the fall out is what the book drifts towards in the remaining pages. Call it a millennial affectation, or whatever you want, but every character in this book is wildly casual towards sex. Sex is a means to an end, rather than the act itself. Take Molly, for example. Molly is a friend of Peter and Julia who organizes “parties” where she supplies special brownies and makes everyone watch black and white art house films and Michael Jackson documentaries. Molly has several hookups throughout the story, always on the periphery, reflecting Peter’s desires in the distance. Molly’s sexual activities are never used for drama, only for character building.
Most authors will drop in pop culture references in an effort to say, “Look how cool I am.” This is particularly true when it comes to debut novels, and there are a lot of sand traps littered in this novel (Kendrick Lamar, Don DeLillo, etc.) but Martin sidesteps them with skill. When Peter is dropping the n-word while rapping in his car, it doesn’t feel awkward, forced or out of place—it feels like Peter is a real person. Yeah, he’s a liberal white guy living in Virginia with a college degree, aka the exact kind of person that thinks he can shout the n word but only if he’s singing along to a Pulitzer winner. The references aren’t there to show off; they’re placed carefully by an author who knows everything about his characters.
This emphasis on character is what makes Early Work such an outstanding read, if it is lacking on plot; and it’s not that I see myself in Peter (although I’m sure there are several ex-girlfriend’s of mine that would insist the opposite), but he’s so well developed he feels more realized than more or less every other character of 2018. Is Peter a good person? No. Is Peter giving voice to a marginalized audience? Absolutely not. But there’s enough to his character that any reader can find a latching on point. In some regards, Peter is even a tragic character; aware of the decisions he should be making and continually goes against them, Peter follows his gut where he should follow his brain.
Early Work is not saying anything grand about society—if anything, the concept of “early work” runs throughout the book and bleeds into real life, this novel is author Martin’s debut, his early work. It’s dipping its foot into themes that can be figured out at a later date. The reader is learning just as the author is. There’s a delicate balance with debut novels between what is trite and what is genius and Martin strikes it beautifully.
December 31, 2019
Ήταν ψυχαγωγικό από την άποψη ότι το ξεφύλισσα σε δύο ημέρες, αλλά λίγο καταθλιπτικό, όσο καταθλιπτικό μπορεί να μετατρέψει ένας μέσος λευκός Αμερικανός τη μεσοαστική καθημερινότητα του. Όλη αυτή η πάλη με τα ναρκωτικά και η εσωτερική ανησυχία που στη μία περίπτωση υπερνικιέται και στην άλλη όχι με τον επιθυμητό τρόπο νομίζω ότι αντικατοπτρίζει ένα πολύ σύγχρονο κατεστημένο.
Τρία αστεράκια, γιατί θέλω πάντα ωραίο και πλούσιο τέλος.
Τρία αστεράκια, γιατί θέλω πάντα ωραίο και πλούσιο τέλος.
December 16, 2019
Ήταν πολύ αστείο (γέλασα φωναχτά πολλές φορές) και οξυδερκές και οικείο. Πέρασα πολύ ωραία και δεν το διάβαζα για ψυχαγωγία. Λάτρεψα πόσο συγκεκριμένο ήταν μέσα στην αοριστία του - την έμφαση στους ήρωες μέσα από την τόσο ωραία δοσμένη έλλειψη πλοκής. Μου άρεσε περισσότερο από την τριλογία της Κασκ ως προς αυτό. Εκτίμησα πάρα πολύ το γεγονός ότι είναι ένα σύγχρονο μυθιστόρημα που δεν είχε τίποτα από τη δήθεν πνευματικότητα που φοριέται παντού, τίποτα απ’ όλη την τρέντυ φάση με τα χασταγκ κ.λπ., δεν είχε κανένα φοβερό πολιτικό σχόλιο, κανένα κατηγορώ, δεν είχε τίποτα υπέρ ή κατά της κοινωνίας, της παλιοζωής κ.λπ., δεν προσπάθησε να το παίξει τίποτα. Από το πρώτο μέχρι το τελευταίο καλτσουραλ ριφερενς δεν παραπέμπει σε συγγραφέα που λέει «δείτε τώρα πόσο γαμάτος είμαι», πολυφωνία, όλα σχετίζονταν με τους ήρωές του και πολύ το εκτίμησα και αυτό. Με έκανε να νιώσω πολύ νέα και πολύ γριά ταυτόχρονα. Μου άρεσε πολύ.
August 12, 2018
It's really, really good. It's not clear how he did it, which is interesting in itself. Something about voice, I guess? Anyway, I read it in two sittings, and I'm very rarely pleased.
I notice that many of the negatively-inclined reviewers, in the full flower of their critical brilliance, point out that it's about young people from MFA programs and various other flavors of grad school and that some of them have sometimes lived in Brooklyn. Just so - well spotted - most incisive - nothing escapes the collective insight of the internet.
I notice that many of the negatively-inclined reviewers, in the full flower of their critical brilliance, point out that it's about young people from MFA programs and various other flavors of grad school and that some of them have sometimes lived in Brooklyn. Just so - well spotted - most incisive - nothing escapes the collective insight of the internet.
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February 13, 2020Αυτό το βιβλίο ήταν ή πολύ κακό ή τόσο καλό...
Σίγουρα δεν βαρέθηκα, αντιθέτως το έψαχνα μέσα στη μέρα μου αλλά αν με ρωτήσεις δεν είμαι σίγουρη πως μπορώ να σου απαντήσω το γιατί. Πάντως όταν οι χαρακτήρες μπορούν να σου προκαλούν απίστευτο εκνευρισμό και ειλικρινή συμπάθεια ταυτόχρονα, ο συγγραφέας κάτι έχει κάνει καλά..
Είμαστε η γενιά που πάσχει από Ναρκισσιστική Διαταραχή, που τα φοιτητικά χρόνια των καταχρήσεων, της μεγαλομανίας και της ερωτικής ελευθερίας ποτίζουν την ενηλικίωση μας και πλησιάζουμε αισίως, αγκαλιά με την κρίση πανικού, την υπαρξιακή "κριση των 30".
Σίγουρα δεν βαρέθηκα, αντιθέτως το έψαχνα μέσα στη μέρα μου αλλά αν με ρωτήσεις δεν είμαι σίγουρη πως μπορώ να σου απαντήσω το γιατί. Πάντως όταν οι χαρακτήρες μπορούν να σου προκαλούν απίστευτο εκνευρισμό και ειλικρινή συμπάθεια ταυτόχρονα, ο συγγραφέας κάτι έχει κάνει καλά..
Είμαστε η γενιά που πάσχει από Ναρκισσιστική Διαταραχή, που τα φοιτητικά χρόνια των καταχρήσεων, της μεγαλομανίας και της ερωτικής ελευθερίας ποτίζουν την ενηλικίωση μας και πλησιάζουμε αισίως, αγκαλιά με την κρίση πανικού, την υπαρξιακή "κριση των 30".
January 24, 2020
Αυτό το βιβλίο είναι μάρκετινγκ και δημόσιες σχέσεις.
Σορρυ αλλα λίγο χόρτο, λίγο σεξ και αναφορά σε λογοτεχνικά περιοδικά, για μένα δε συνιστούν άξια λογοτεχνία.
Σορρυ αλλα λίγο χόρτο, λίγο σεξ και αναφορά σε λογοτεχνικά περιοδικά, για μένα δε συνιστούν άξια λογοτεχνία.
July 25, 2018
A novel about a self absorbed aspiring writer may not sound that interesting, but the dialogue is consistently intriguing and the literary references are a nice touch for us bibliophiles out there. The casual treatment of sex is refreshing- too many people take sex too seriously- but it also becomes a little tiresome after 240 pages of screwing. In an age of hypocritical moral high ground standing, this novel probably won’t be popular with a large chunk of the population (sexist, objectifying trash!) but it’s carefree attitude is a pleasant break from our current real world dynamics.
The characters themselves are complicated and their relationships with each other are...quite something. This is more than just a fun, quick read- although it is that as well. Somewhere between 3 and 4 Stars, but I’m going to settle with a conservative 3. Pretty good book from a promising writer.
Martin apparently has a short story collection set to be published soon- a format that would suit his talents well. I look forward to reading it.
The characters themselves are complicated and their relationships with each other are...quite something. This is more than just a fun, quick read- although it is that as well. Somewhere between 3 and 4 Stars, but I’m going to settle with a conservative 3. Pretty good book from a promising writer.
Martin apparently has a short story collection set to be published soon- a format that would suit his talents well. I look forward to reading it.
July 23, 2018
Under-achieving Peter moves to Virginia with his over-achieving girlfriend Julia. They meet and befriend fellow-newcomer Leslie, whose boyfriend is still in Texas. To varying degrees they are all writers who drink, vape, drive up debt, and live in filth. We get back story on each writer in turn, loser with writer's block, virgin poet/med-student, bi-sexual published writer; and basically are subjected to the mess of their existence together and separated. "I'm not going to be stupid and reckless forever," Peter said. "Just until it stops being good material." Poor silly Peter, it never was good material to begin with.
July 5, 2020
Δεν γίνεται να είσαι κομμάτι αυτού που ονομάζεται "γενιά των μιλλένιαλς" και να μην βρεις τον εαυτό σου μέσα στις σελίδες του βιβλίου. Όχι απαραίτητα γραμμικά, με τον ίδιο ακριβώς τρόπο που παρουσιάζονται οι ήρωες, σε μια πανομοιότυπη ζωή, αλλά κυρίως μέσα στην επαγγελματική περιπλάνηση, τη συναισθηματική- κυρίως- περιπλάνηση, την ανάγκη να κάνουμε μια γαμάτη δουλειά που θα είναι παράλληλα αυτό που επιθυμούμε, προσδοκίες που σε μεγάλο βαθμό η πεζή καθημερινότητα έρχεται και διαλύει με κρότο. Ίσως, το μόνο που δεν μοιάζει με τους "μιλλένιαλς" μέσα στο βιβλίο είναι η σχεδόν μηδενική αναφορά στα social media, το γεγονός ότι οι ήρωες έχουν ως βασικό μέσο επικοινωνίας τα mails. Και φυσικά ο ναρκισσισμός των ηρώων, που αναφέρεται σε τόσες και τόσες κριτικές, η αυτοαναφορά, το βασικό χαρακτηριστικό για το οποίο κατηγορείται η μιλλένιαλ γενιά. Από την άλλη., όμως, αυτά δεν αποτέλεσαν και βασικά χαρακτηριστικά κάθε "νεότητας";
August 6, 2018
I was viciously frustrated by this book. Every night, after reading 70 or so pages, I would declare myself done forever, so over it... and then I would pick it right back up the next night to see what was happening. It was compelling, and interesting, but I hated every one of the characters, except maybe Kenny. I would be friends with Kenny.
July 29, 2018
Nasty little book featuring utterly repellent characters. Engagingly written, I guess, but the moral vacuity of the book is a bit wearying. Also didn't appreciate the author name-dropping a lot of titles to lend a veneer of literacy - nice try, chump.
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March 19, 2020Ένα πραγματικά καλογραμμένο μυθιστόρημα για τη μάταιη αναζήτηση της έμπνευσης μιας γενιάς που δε συγκινείται με τίποτα. Αουτς δηλαδή.
March 19, 2020
Ένα από τα πιο αμφιλεγόμενα εκ των προσφάτως εκδοθέντων μυθιστορημάτων, το "Πρωτόλειο" του Άντριου Μάρτιν δίχασε το αναγνωστικό κοινό, εγείροντας, για άλλη μια φορά, το γνωστό ερώτημα: γίνεται να σου αρέσει ένα μυθιστόρημα, του οποίου τους ήρωες βρίσκεις ανυπόφορους; Μια γρήγορη αναδρομή στο συγγραφικό έργο του Μπρετ Ήστον Έλλις, του Τσακ Πόλανικ, αλλά και της πρόσφατης λογοτεχνικής αποκάλυψης που ακούει στο όνομα Σάλλυ Ρούνεϊ, καθιστά την απάντηση αυτονοήτως θετική.
Οι ήρωες του Μάρτιν, όπως και αυτοί του Έλλις στο (πλέον κλασικό) "Less than Zero", μεταξύ άλλων, είναι λευκοί αστοί, στα late 20s ή στα 30s τους, εγωπαθείς, ναρκισσιστές, περήφανα νιχιλιστές, εθισμένοι στο αλκοόλ, στα ναρκωτικά και στο σεξ, αλλά (και εδώ έρχονται πιο κοντά στους ήρωες της Ρούνεϊ) με περισσότερη αυτεπίγνωση και αναγνώριση της φαιδρότητας της κατάστασής τους και του προνομίου τους: ανήκουν στους λογοτεχνικούς/καλλιτεχνικούς κύκλους της πόλης τους και προσπαθούν να μετασχηματίσουν την ηθική τους κενότητα σε Τέχνη, ενόσω, φυσικά, συνεχιζουν να τα σκατώνουν στις διαπροσωπικές τους σχέσεις.
Ο Μάρτιν γράφει μερικούς από τους πιο φυσικούς και αβίαστα ρεαλιστικούς διαλόγους που έχουμε διαβάσει και δίνει, κυριολεκτικά, φωνή στη γενιά του, ή, τουλάχιστον, στο δικό του echo chamber, και όσοι δυσκολεύονται να δεχτούν ότι οι ήρωές του αποτελούν αντιπροσωπευτική μερίδα της γενιάς αυτής, ίσως αρνούνται, όπως και οι ίδιοι οι ήρωες, να αναλάβουν τις ατομικές ή συλλογικές τους ευθύνες. Ένα αληθινά απολαυστικό "πρωτόλειο" έργο, που συγκαταλέγεται στην ολοένα και αυξανόμενη λίστα, λιγότερο ή περισσότερο αναγνωρισμένων, λογοτεχνικών "διαμαντιών" που φέρνουν στα εγχώρια ράφια οι εκδόσεις Δώμα, και από μια συγγραφική φωνή που σίγουρα θα μας απασχολήσει στο μέλλον.
Οι ήρωες του Μάρτιν, όπως και αυτοί του Έλλις στο (πλέον κλασικό) "Less than Zero", μεταξύ άλλων, είναι λευκοί αστοί, στα late 20s ή στα 30s τους, εγωπαθείς, ναρκισσιστές, περήφανα νιχιλιστές, εθισμένοι στο αλκοόλ, στα ναρκωτικά και στο σεξ, αλλά (και εδώ έρχονται πιο κοντά στους ήρωες της Ρούνεϊ) με περισσότερη αυτεπίγνωση και αναγνώριση της φαιδρότητας της κατάστασής τους και του προνομίου τους: ανήκουν στους λογοτεχνικούς/καλλιτεχνικούς κύκλους της πόλης τους και προσπαθούν να μετασχηματίσουν την ηθική τους κενότητα σε Τέχνη, ενόσω, φυσικά, συνεχιζουν να τα σκατώνουν στις διαπροσωπικές τους σχέσεις.
Ο Μάρτιν γράφει μερικούς από τους πιο φυσικούς και αβίαστα ρεαλιστικούς διαλόγους που έχουμε διαβάσει και δίνει, κυριολεκτικά, φωνή στη γενιά του, ή, τουλάχιστον, στο δικό του echo chamber, και όσοι δυσκολεύονται να δεχτούν ότι οι ήρωές του αποτελούν αντιπροσωπευτική μερίδα της γενιάς αυτής, ίσως αρνούνται, όπως και οι ίδιοι οι ήρωες, να αναλάβουν τις ατομικές ή συλλογικές τους ευθύνες. Ένα αληθινά απολαυστικό "πρωτόλειο" έργο, που συγκαταλέγεται στην ολοένα και αυξανόμενη λίστα, λιγότερο ή περισσότερο αναγνωρισμένων, λογοτεχνικών "διαμαντιών" που φέρνουν στα εγχώρια ράφια οι εκδόσεις Δώμα, και από μια συγγραφική φωνή που σίγουρα θα μας απασχολήσει στο μέλλον.
July 9, 2018
Andrew Martin has hit it out of the park with this perceptive, breezy, at times hilarious, portrait of the generation that's come to be known as Millennials. Their self absorption is apparent, but mitigated by Peter's experiences when he teaches creative writing at a local women's prison (knowing someone who has worked in prisons as a therapist, I read these parts with great interest, and can't help but wonder if Martin himself has had this experience). He's got the language down pat, and by shifting points of view, gives the proceedings a three dimensional quality. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
July 17, 2018
Man this book was a trip. I felt simultaneously too old and too young to be reading it, and the characterization of Peter, Leslie, and Julia just reinforced this sentiment. What I liked about this book was it's breeziness, Martin can turn a phrase pretty deftly, and his ability to write characters that are somehow people you know and people you hate while also being people you love is such a real, real feel. Ultimately, there's not much at stake in book, it's relatively plotless in terms of constructing a story that isn't as simple as romance gone very stereotypically awry, but I was hooked from beginning to end, which probably says a lot more about me than the novel itself.
August 25, 2018
Death by disaffection.
July 15, 2018
Early Work is all about free will, even going so far as to spell it out in a snippet of dialogue late in the novel saying that God gave mankind the freedom of choice so it could be pulled into temptation and once down that path it could damn itself. I've been reading a lot of books with unlikeable characters, Early work just so happens to be about the kind of unlikeable characters I run into at dinner parties, people who cannot do much of anything other than wax on with each other in intellectual warfare in regards to what good art is, the talk adding up to much of nothing.
Andrew Martin does things with these characters both in action and in dialogue that takes a lot of blood and guts, because it's so easy to dismiss all of this. And he knows it. He says of his main character, Peter, 'I added to the growing list of things I was inadequate at or incapable of doing. I couldn't tie a knot more complicated than a shoelace. I couldn't roll a good joint, drive stick, or shuffle cards.' He goes on to say he can't whistle, dance, follow a map, handle guns or fireworks, and is even afraid to try interesting drugs. So what good is Peter? Not really much good at all. He's the rich boy strawman representing the millennial generation of people who want to do things but apparently aren't cowboy enough to go out there with an iron jaw and actually do them. In a familiar mode, Peter is a writer who just can't really write. He has nothing to write about and when he does, he just moves commas around. My experience with people younger than me is just the opposite, the younger writers who I know in the real world are often the people who I draw my inspiration from because they just jump off the bridge before learning how to fly or swim or whatever.
Our other main character, Leslie, is the anthesis of Peter, she is larger than life, and like Peter, she has command of her freedom, but she is not using this freedom to explore her own destruction, rather it seems she is trying to gain experience and drink more of the juice of life. Peter just wants to drink himself to death and frequently seems to be planning or hovering around the plan for his own suicide. If you're bored and drowning in life, why not just drown yourself?
Another cool thing about this book is that it spends some time in a literal prison, where our instructor, Pete, is trying to teach women inmates that composition is important, presumably because the creation of art is a freedom that is available to anyone and should be available to anyone. One of the most powerful and telling moments in the book is when one of these inmates points out to the instructor, 'You're gonna get somebody killed.'
The show Orange is the New black is mentioned early on and I thought the flashbacks and fleshing out of the main character's lives (those not in jail) were reminiscent of the kind of storytelling that a show like Orange is the new black does fairly well. Here's these thirty something people who like to read and write and here are some past relationships they were in that will explain to you why they have their reservations about love life in the waning years of the Obama presidency.
Everyone we meet, besides these inmates, defines their lives around the making of some kind of art, besides what they have to do for money, and in some cases they don't need money, they're just rich, or rich enough to live in Virginia for now. Peter is a writer, his girlfriend Julia is a poet, Leslie is writer, Kenny is in a band ... on and on and on. It's nice to hang out with these people and 'read books with them' and 'listen to Kendrick Lamar with them'. And it all feels like 'rich people shit'. Rich people shit in the way they talk and rich people shit in the way they treat each other, but even that is dynamic and powerful in this novel. The dialogue especially. It reminded me of the movie Juno. Like, this is not how actual people I would want to be around in the actual world talk, the mile a minute of references. There's a lot of calculated blather by these characters who except in some very poignant moments, actually say much of anything. They just shake around the stuff of life. And maybe this skating around the stuff of life, marks a perfect reflection of the casual nature they approach sex and love. Like, it's not important if you fucked someone else, it's not a deal breaker. These are not emotionally dead characters but the rules of their relationships could easily be considered emotionally dead by older, poorer Americans who remember a time when family values and honesty meant something. No, this is the time of ghosting, and pussy pics, and who cares if you are working hard ... nobody owes anybody anything and each person is its own island, high on a purple vaporizer, watching Steph Curry drain three pointers, thinking out loud, 'Our lives aren't worth dying for.'
Kenny, the lone working man of the book, in his stoic wisdom says to our main man Peter, as a way of answering his multitude of numb dilemmas, "You've got that old northern defect ... can't drink away the foreknowledge of death." Most likely, Peter is just that way because he has read a lot of books by other white Americans. He is like Don Quixote, catching the disease of chivalry by reading all those chivalric romances and thinking he's someone else. If he was not as Leslie longs for 'one of the twenty great readers left in the country' then maybe Peter wouldn't even know he was going to die. Maybe he could have some fun and not be so worried about how fun it would be to fuck his life up just to see if it got more interesting.
But Early Work lets these characters do whatever they want and it doesn't pretended that the old rules of engagement exist anymore. People are free to do whatever they want and nothing is a given, is attached to traditional means (two of the only characters in the novel who are of an older generation, are Peter's religious neighbor who seems leery and embarrassed of Peter spending time with any woman who is not he 'wife'. The other older character is Leslie's aunt who is also very religious and leery of Leslie spending time with any man who is not her 'husband').
I hope people keep writing novels like this, that they aren't supposed to write, about privileged but dissatisfied people. Hope they keep writing them until the earth melts into a goo that floats away into space, and the critics float away too. This is a novel about simple freedom, and it's a kind of wonder.
Andrew Martin does things with these characters both in action and in dialogue that takes a lot of blood and guts, because it's so easy to dismiss all of this. And he knows it. He says of his main character, Peter, 'I added to the growing list of things I was inadequate at or incapable of doing. I couldn't tie a knot more complicated than a shoelace. I couldn't roll a good joint, drive stick, or shuffle cards.' He goes on to say he can't whistle, dance, follow a map, handle guns or fireworks, and is even afraid to try interesting drugs. So what good is Peter? Not really much good at all. He's the rich boy strawman representing the millennial generation of people who want to do things but apparently aren't cowboy enough to go out there with an iron jaw and actually do them. In a familiar mode, Peter is a writer who just can't really write. He has nothing to write about and when he does, he just moves commas around. My experience with people younger than me is just the opposite, the younger writers who I know in the real world are often the people who I draw my inspiration from because they just jump off the bridge before learning how to fly or swim or whatever.
Our other main character, Leslie, is the anthesis of Peter, she is larger than life, and like Peter, she has command of her freedom, but she is not using this freedom to explore her own destruction, rather it seems she is trying to gain experience and drink more of the juice of life. Peter just wants to drink himself to death and frequently seems to be planning or hovering around the plan for his own suicide. If you're bored and drowning in life, why not just drown yourself?
Another cool thing about this book is that it spends some time in a literal prison, where our instructor, Pete, is trying to teach women inmates that composition is important, presumably because the creation of art is a freedom that is available to anyone and should be available to anyone. One of the most powerful and telling moments in the book is when one of these inmates points out to the instructor, 'You're gonna get somebody killed.'
The show Orange is the New black is mentioned early on and I thought the flashbacks and fleshing out of the main character's lives (those not in jail) were reminiscent of the kind of storytelling that a show like Orange is the new black does fairly well. Here's these thirty something people who like to read and write and here are some past relationships they were in that will explain to you why they have their reservations about love life in the waning years of the Obama presidency.
Everyone we meet, besides these inmates, defines their lives around the making of some kind of art, besides what they have to do for money, and in some cases they don't need money, they're just rich, or rich enough to live in Virginia for now. Peter is a writer, his girlfriend Julia is a poet, Leslie is writer, Kenny is in a band ... on and on and on. It's nice to hang out with these people and 'read books with them' and 'listen to Kendrick Lamar with them'. And it all feels like 'rich people shit'. Rich people shit in the way they talk and rich people shit in the way they treat each other, but even that is dynamic and powerful in this novel. The dialogue especially. It reminded me of the movie Juno. Like, this is not how actual people I would want to be around in the actual world talk, the mile a minute of references. There's a lot of calculated blather by these characters who except in some very poignant moments, actually say much of anything. They just shake around the stuff of life. And maybe this skating around the stuff of life, marks a perfect reflection of the casual nature they approach sex and love. Like, it's not important if you fucked someone else, it's not a deal breaker. These are not emotionally dead characters but the rules of their relationships could easily be considered emotionally dead by older, poorer Americans who remember a time when family values and honesty meant something. No, this is the time of ghosting, and pussy pics, and who cares if you are working hard ... nobody owes anybody anything and each person is its own island, high on a purple vaporizer, watching Steph Curry drain three pointers, thinking out loud, 'Our lives aren't worth dying for.'
Kenny, the lone working man of the book, in his stoic wisdom says to our main man Peter, as a way of answering his multitude of numb dilemmas, "You've got that old northern defect ... can't drink away the foreknowledge of death." Most likely, Peter is just that way because he has read a lot of books by other white Americans. He is like Don Quixote, catching the disease of chivalry by reading all those chivalric romances and thinking he's someone else. If he was not as Leslie longs for 'one of the twenty great readers left in the country' then maybe Peter wouldn't even know he was going to die. Maybe he could have some fun and not be so worried about how fun it would be to fuck his life up just to see if it got more interesting.
But Early Work lets these characters do whatever they want and it doesn't pretended that the old rules of engagement exist anymore. People are free to do whatever they want and nothing is a given, is attached to traditional means (two of the only characters in the novel who are of an older generation, are Peter's religious neighbor who seems leery and embarrassed of Peter spending time with any woman who is not he 'wife'. The other older character is Leslie's aunt who is also very religious and leery of Leslie spending time with any man who is not her 'husband').
I hope people keep writing novels like this, that they aren't supposed to write, about privileged but dissatisfied people. Hope they keep writing them until the earth melts into a goo that floats away into space, and the critics float away too. This is a novel about simple freedom, and it's a kind of wonder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2020
the fact that this terrible book was published in the first place is testament to the overall corruption of the corporate publishing industry and how privileged, mediocre white male writers are disproportionally and undeservingly praised. anyone who is not an upper class/upper middle class college educated white person will not be able to relate to this book or appreciate it at all. its about a bored, egocentric, misogynistic white MFA grad/English PhD dropout who cheats on his long term girlfriend. In other words: who cares?
It’s ignorant, racist, self-centered and quite honestly a piece of trash.
It’s ignorant, racist, self-centered and quite honestly a piece of trash.
May 25, 2020
Ο υπαίτιος για την αποξένωσή σου είσαι πάντοτε εσύ, σωστά; Οι άνθρωποι είναι αυτοί που είναι. Μπορείς είτε να συμμορφωθείς και να βρεις ένεαν τρόπο να κάνεις το όλο πράγμα να λειτουργήσει είτε να μείνεις μια ψυχή που θα βολοδέρνει περιπλανώμενη κ.λπ κ.λπ. Οι άνθρωποι μπορούν να σε εκπλήξουν. Οι άνθρωποι έχουν ενδιαφέρον. Το πρόβλημα είσαι εσύ. (σελ. 155)
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