Bliss

by Fredrick Soukup

In search of meaning amid America's sedated upper middle class, a cynical college graduate forgoes medical school and moves to inner-city Chicago. When he falls in love with a woman uncompromisingly devoted to her community, he finds himself caught between two lives, one he does not want and one he cannot have. Bliss is The Graduate of our time.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2020

Reviews

[Michele Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third-person voice is urgent and irresistible from the opening line onward: “Five grand in savings intended for his first semester at the University of Minnesota Medical School affords Con¬nor first and last months’ rent, two months of job searching, and several cases of beer.”

Connor’s in a crappy apartment in Chicago, south side, much to the dismay of his perfectly supportive – maybe way too supportive -- father back in comfortable suburban Minnesota. Connor is depressed, he’s restless, maybe a bit masochistic. All he knows so far is what he doesn’t want, although it’s not clear if he’s strong enough to resist the pull of the path laid out for him. The book is about love and about unbearable loss, and it’s about societal divisions that are nearly impossible to breach. It’s only grown more pertinent since its publication, as Americans realize just how separate and unequal this nation remains.

All through this compulsively readable first novel, I thought of the dedication in Grace Paley’s collected stories, which ends like this: the real question is – how are we to live our lives?

[Becky Belvill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bliss is an intelligently written book! It's obvious Soukup draws on first hand knowledge of racial and economic injustices when developing main character "Connor". He might make you rethink how you spend your idle time. Great read!

[Jessica Laabs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sensitively written tale of two worlds; socially conscious without being in your face. There is an artful subtlety to how characters are developed, which made me care about how they acted and what happened to them. A solid debut novel, I look forward to more!

[Elizabeth Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and heartfelt. The characters come alive through their brokenness as they strive to achieve happiness and contentment that they cannot quite define for themselves. Beautifully written.

[Francescajemm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, because I am from Chicago, for one thing, and also because I think it’s important for white authors to depict white characters coming to terms with our country’s racist past and present, but there was something about switching the narrative in the last third which felt a little bit of a cop out, so that Connor's growth felt a little glossed over. For a Chicagoan, I thought the cover image, while arresting, is a bit misleading, because none of the story takes place downtown, and the rider is on a rented bike - not at all like the one Connor rides. If a book is going to use an image of the el tracks on the cover, I expect the actual city to figure as a character... which Chicago definitely did not. It felt less like a story about lives lived in a specific city (Chicago) and more about lives lived in any urban area.

[Robin Soukup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every minute of this thought provoking page turner. Can't wait to read more of Fredrick's works.

[Joe Eiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bliss thoughtfully explores topics that challenge the reader to not only examine the characters' virtues and flaws, but also our own. By intricately crafting meaningful dialogue between complex characters, Soukup guides the reader on an emotional journey throughout.

[Mikael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bliss is an impressive debut novel. Mr. Soukup engagingly explores issues of class, privilege, and social justice, while he tells a timeless, yet contemporary, tale of love and human relationships. I enjoyed the complexities of his characters and the storylines that he expertly weaves together. I have a feeling we'll be hearing more from Mr. Soukup down the road.

[Dwight C]

Did not finish reading, got bored with the story.