When discussing sex in literature, authors often face a daunting task - capturing it with nuance and subtlety. For David Szalay, a Hungarian-British novelist, tackling this subject was particularly daunting given his recent past. At 51, Szalay, whose mother is Canadian and father Hungarian, has spent most of his writing career in Hungary and now resides in Austria. As he celebrated the announcement of his Booker Prize-winning novel Flesh, it seemed out of character for a man often described as gentle.
The title of this groundbreaking novel - flesh - seemed 'unliterary' at first glance. Yet it suited the pervasive unease permeating the narrative, which grapples with sex, violence and money in contemporary society. Szalay aimed to write about masculinity from a specific male perspective but did so honestly, making it both a risky and rewarding endeavour.
The protagonist, István, an enigmatic figure with a history of troublemaking, has become infamous for his sheer absence of self-awareness - he rarely speaks and his actions are often driven by instinct rather than thought. This lack of introspection makes him all the more compelling as Szalay masterfully exploits our innate curiosity to fill in István's personal narrative.
The success of Flesh is no surprise given its meticulously crafted portrayal of a world torn apart by external forces like war, politics and migration. Spanning roughly over two decades, the novel deftly weaves together pivotal events like Brexit with daily life struggles faced by its protagonist. What sets Szalay apart from other contemporary writers is his reluctance to be pigeonholed into traditional forms, instead opting for a style he calls 'compressed' or 'concise.'
Ernest Hemingway and John Updike are two of Szalay's favourite authors, alongside Virginia Woolf. Unlike many male writers in literature, he reads as many novels by women as men, showcasing his dedication to creating authentic female perspectives within his works.
Awards such as the Booker can either galvanize an author or render them uncertain about how readers will receive their work. Szalay's reaction to winning this prestigious prize was one of cautious optimism: "I really didn't know how people were going to take the book." With Flesh, he has not only proved himself a master of complex storytelling but also a bold voice in tackling the most sensitive and pressing issues of modern life.
If you're eager to immerse yourself in a world of nuanced exploration and gripping narrative, then Flesh is certainly the novel for you.
The title of this groundbreaking novel - flesh - seemed 'unliterary' at first glance. Yet it suited the pervasive unease permeating the narrative, which grapples with sex, violence and money in contemporary society. Szalay aimed to write about masculinity from a specific male perspective but did so honestly, making it both a risky and rewarding endeavour.
The protagonist, István, an enigmatic figure with a history of troublemaking, has become infamous for his sheer absence of self-awareness - he rarely speaks and his actions are often driven by instinct rather than thought. This lack of introspection makes him all the more compelling as Szalay masterfully exploits our innate curiosity to fill in István's personal narrative.
The success of Flesh is no surprise given its meticulously crafted portrayal of a world torn apart by external forces like war, politics and migration. Spanning roughly over two decades, the novel deftly weaves together pivotal events like Brexit with daily life struggles faced by its protagonist. What sets Szalay apart from other contemporary writers is his reluctance to be pigeonholed into traditional forms, instead opting for a style he calls 'compressed' or 'concise.'
Ernest Hemingway and John Updike are two of Szalay's favourite authors, alongside Virginia Woolf. Unlike many male writers in literature, he reads as many novels by women as men, showcasing his dedication to creating authentic female perspectives within his works.
Awards such as the Booker can either galvanize an author or render them uncertain about how readers will receive their work. Szalay's reaction to winning this prestigious prize was one of cautious optimism: "I really didn't know how people were going to take the book." With Flesh, he has not only proved himself a master of complex storytelling but also a bold voice in tackling the most sensitive and pressing issues of modern life.
If you're eager to immerse yourself in a world of nuanced exploration and gripping narrative, then Flesh is certainly the novel for you.
. I mean, 51 isn't old, right? It's like they're saying a middle-aged guy can still write something worthwhile. David Szalay's win is definitely a good thing for authors who don't want to be stuck in a time warp and writing about the same 'traditional' themes. The fact that he's written about masculinity from his own perspective (he's Hungarian-British, after all) shows he's not afraid to take risks and tackle tough subjects. And let's be real, if Ernest Hemingway and John Updike are his heroes, then I'm definitely in 
. his writing style is so concise and masterful, it's like a breath of fresh air 
. what i love most about him is that he reads all these great novels by women authors too, it shows he really cares about creating authentic female perspectives 
. anyway, if you haven't read Flesh yet, i highly recommend it 
. I mean, we've seen so many authors shy away from these topics, but not Szalay - he dove headfirst into it with István's character. The way he crafted István's story is just masterful, like you said 
. And I love that he draws inspiration from female writers, too - it shows he's got a deep respect for the women in his life 
. Now, I know some people might say his writing style is "compressed" or whatever, but honestly, I think that's just code for "he's really good at getting straight to the point 
". Anyway, congrats to Szalay on his Booker win - it's well-deserved 
!
He's got this "compressed" thing down pat, which I think is actually super refreshing. I mean, who doesn't love a good concise narrative? 
It's like he's distilling all the complex emotions and themes into these razor-sharp sentences that just cut right to the bone. And the way he tackles masculinity in István's character? Genius! 
.
. As someone who's always been a fan of authors who can make you feel all the feels without being too on the nose, I appreciate how Szalay takes his time to develop István's character, making him this enigmatic figure that you just wanna know more about 
. And let's be real, it's not always easy for writers to explore these heavy topics without coming across as preachy or heavy-handed 
. But I guess that's what makes Szalay's writing style so compelling – he finds this balance between subtlety and nuance that just draws you in 
. Have any of you guys read Flesh? What did you think?
. But at the same time, it's refreshing to see someone taking risks like Szalay does - it feels like he's really speaking to the complexities of modern life 
. And I think what's great about him being compared to authors like Ernest Hemingway and John Updike is that he's showing that you don't have to fit into traditional genres or styles to be considered a master of your craft