Description
A New Yorker Best Book of the Year
It may sound peculiar that a story featuring chapter-length text message exchanges and a hysterical egg fight during a gender reveal party could contain such potent, moving allusions to philosophy and James Joyce, let alone be filled with richly observed artistic references reminiscent of Ali Smith, but Newman weaves the analytical and the absurd with a raucous grace. . .Profoundand profoundly sidesplitting. Bobby Finger, The New York Times Book Review
Its Natwests last day before he leaves for university, and theres only one thing on his mind: the deeply embarrassing package he ordered to his housewhich still hasnt arrived. He wont leave town without it. Any alternative is too distressing to consider. . .
This is the story of twenty-four hours in the life of Natwest, and his small-town odyssey in pursuit of the missing package. And yet its also the story of a middle-aged dentist who dreams of being a respected artistbut the only thing he can seem to paint is the human mouth. And its the story of a tortured imam involved in a quasi-romantic entanglement with the local vicar; and an octogenerian mourning the death of her secretive husband; and a troubled teenager whose nudes have leaked on the internet. Its the story of Natwests obnoxious ex-boyfriend, and his class-traitor mother and her childhood boyfriend, and the life-changing secrets he knows about Natwests past.
Alternating between Natwests idiosyncratic inner world and the perspectives of the other charactersand dazzling in its energy, imagination and originalitythis is an outrageously funny and tenderly moving story about being connected to everyone and everything at all times; about love, friendship, and the lies we tell ourselves; about unhappy endings, happy endingsand whether anything really is as simple as one or the other.
Author: Nathan Newman
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: 08/12/2025
Pages: 320
Weight: 0.3lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.20w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780593654927
Language: English
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