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Existential Labyrinths
Late 1990s New York City. A poor and desperate would be novelist navigates the minefield of a dysfunctional relationship with an equally dysfunctional painter named Julia. Each day is the same: living in the searing heat of his dilapidated apartment, unable to write, unable to understand the woman who keeps tormenting him with endless mind games. He’s at wit’s end and wants nothing more than to run off to Paris in order to follow in the footsteps of his literary heroes. But Paris has to wait as he weaves in and out of New York City nightlife as his friendships deteriorate and his reasons for going on evaporates. Upon learning the news of a dire situation of a good friend, as well as his long desired sexual encounter with Julia finally taking place, he as no idea how much more complicated things can become.
Paperback
Published November 2, 2018
3 people want to read
About the author
Julian Gallo
57 books63 followersJulian Gallo is the author of 'Existential Labyrinths', 'Last Tondero in Paris', 'The Penguin and The Bird' and other novels. His short fiction has appeared in The Sultan's Seal (Cairo), Exit Strata, Budget Press Review, Indie Ink, Short Fiction UK, P.S. I Love You, The Dope Fiend Daily, The Rye Whiskey Review, Latinoture, Angles, Verdad, Modern Literature (India), Mediterranean Poetry (St. Pierre and Miquelon), Borderless Journal (Singapore), Woven Tales, Wilderness House, Egophobia (Romania), Plato’s Caves, Avalon Literary Review, VIA: Voices in Italian Americana, The Argyle, Doublespeak Magazine (India), Bardics Anonymous, Tones of Citrus, The Cry Lounge (Germany), Deal Jam, 22/28, Active Muse (India), Zero Readers, Hominum Journal, Write Now Lit (Nigeria), MiniMAG, Paradox Magazine, Penman Review, Lowestoft Chronicles, Pattern Marrow Magazine, Lanae, Flora Fauna (Upcoming), and Pattern Recognition (Upcoming).
His poetry has appeared in over 40 journals throughout the Unites States, Canada and Europe. He is the author of 9 poetry books, "Standing on Lorimer Street Awaiting Crucifixion" (Alpha Beat Press 1996), "The Terror of Your Cunt is the Beauty of Your Face" (Black Spring Press 1999), "Street Gospel Mystical Intellectual Survival Codes" (Budget Press 2000), "Scrape That Violin More Darkly Then Hover Like Smoke in the Air" (Black Spring Press 2001), "Existential Labyrinths" (Black Spring Press 2003), "My Arrival is Marked by Illuminating Stains" (Beat Corrida, 2007), "Window Shopping For a New Crown of Thorns" (Beat Corrida, 2007), "A Symphony of Olives" (Propaganda Press 2009) and "Divertimiento" (Propaganda Press 2009).
A collection of flash fictions, 'Bedtime Stories: Subconscious Fictions 1987-2017' (Surreal Estate) was published in 2018.
His most recent chapbook, "Letter To My Seven Year Old Self" was published by Budget Press in 2015.
He has also contributed articles to Expats Post, Creative Flux, The Operating System, Angie's Diary, Life Riddles, The Good Men Project, and Ovunque Siamo
He was also a featured guest speaker at the Blogger Interactive conference in Austin, Texas in 2013.
His poetry has appeared in over 40 journals throughout the Unites States, Canada and Europe. He is the author of 9 poetry books, "Standing on Lorimer Street Awaiting Crucifixion" (Alpha Beat Press 1996), "The Terror of Your Cunt is the Beauty of Your Face" (Black Spring Press 1999), "Street Gospel Mystical Intellectual Survival Codes" (Budget Press 2000), "Scrape That Violin More Darkly Then Hover Like Smoke in the Air" (Black Spring Press 2001), "Existential Labyrinths" (Black Spring Press 2003), "My Arrival is Marked by Illuminating Stains" (Beat Corrida, 2007), "Window Shopping For a New Crown of Thorns" (Beat Corrida, 2007), "A Symphony of Olives" (Propaganda Press 2009) and "Divertimiento" (Propaganda Press 2009).
A collection of flash fictions, 'Bedtime Stories: Subconscious Fictions 1987-2017' (Surreal Estate) was published in 2018.
His most recent chapbook, "Letter To My Seven Year Old Self" was published by Budget Press in 2015.
He has also contributed articles to Expats Post, Creative Flux, The Operating System, Angie's Diary, Life Riddles, The Good Men Project, and Ovunque Siamo
He was also a featured guest speaker at the Blogger Interactive conference in Austin, Texas in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 3, 2019
In Julian Gallo’s compelling novel Existential Labyrinths (Palm Frond Tea, 2018), the nameless protagonist and narrator is a writer struggling in existential crisis. He hates his job. His hot and cold relationship with a young painter named Julia is maddeningly frustrating. He becomes disillusioned with his native New York City and its denizens. His own vicious circle, his cycle of ever-questioning himself and art and its purpose, distracts him from writing his novel. The solution he fixates on is running away to Paris to retrace the steps of his literary heroes.
I was reminded of two other novels while reading Existential Labyrinths. I found myself comparing the Julia in this book with the Julia in George Orwell’s 1984. Although they have purportedly been involved for three years, the protagonist in Gallo’s novel regards his relationship with Julia as temporary, much like Orwell’s Winston views the affair with his Julia. I wondered if this narrator would have to give up his Julia to save himself. The other book I recalled was Jean-Paul Sartre’s first novel, Nausea. In Sartre’s story, the protagonist and narrator, Antoine, is in existential crisis and decides in the end to move to Paris to write a novel.
As I read Gallo’s intriguing book, many questions arose. While he blames Julia, his job, and many other external factors for his unhappiness and lack of productivity, can he get outside of his own mind- perhaps the real culprit- enough to finish his novel? Is Julia real or a metaphor for muse? While he longs for Paris, could it cure him of his existential crisis or would it be a case of wherever you go; there you are? Could the novel I am reading be the one he is writing?
Answer these questions or ask your own by reading Existential Labyrinths.
I was reminded of two other novels while reading Existential Labyrinths. I found myself comparing the Julia in this book with the Julia in George Orwell’s 1984. Although they have purportedly been involved for three years, the protagonist in Gallo’s novel regards his relationship with Julia as temporary, much like Orwell’s Winston views the affair with his Julia. I wondered if this narrator would have to give up his Julia to save himself. The other book I recalled was Jean-Paul Sartre’s first novel, Nausea. In Sartre’s story, the protagonist and narrator, Antoine, is in existential crisis and decides in the end to move to Paris to write a novel.
As I read Gallo’s intriguing book, many questions arose. While he blames Julia, his job, and many other external factors for his unhappiness and lack of productivity, can he get outside of his own mind- perhaps the real culprit- enough to finish his novel? Is Julia real or a metaphor for muse? While he longs for Paris, could it cure him of his existential crisis or would it be a case of wherever you go; there you are? Could the novel I am reading be the one he is writing?
Answer these questions or ask your own by reading Existential Labyrinths.
December 1, 2018
The Writer In His Labyrinth
This is a brilliant novel. The struggling writer (with work/with life) can seem a cliche, but Julian Gallo handles it so very well.
This is a brilliant novel. The struggling writer (with work/with life) can seem a cliche, but Julian Gallo handles it so very well.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews