FLESH

by David Szalay

When a book wins the Booker prize, it usually goes right to the top of my to-read list. And, I feel like Flesh got an extra bump of publicity as the winner this year since Sarah Jessica Parker joined the nominating committee.  Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book and, in fact, would urge you to steer clear. 

When the first chapter  revolved around a teenage boy’s sexual awakening through an affair with the married woman who lived across the hall, I found myself repulsed. But, I told myself not to write it off or quit just because it wasn’t an experience with which I could not empathize. But chapter after chapter, the protagonist passively watches his life unfold and truly never says much more than “okay” or “fine.” I mean, there’s laconic and then there’s boring. I don’t mind a book where not much happens, if the inner life or the environmental descriptors are rich. But Flesh is just dull with a side of icky.  Definitely not my cup of tea. Sorry SJP! (Lily)