Book Review: Spare writing style propels tragic story in ‘Flesh'
Istvan, the protagonist in David Szalay's new novel 'Flesh,' is a character who reveals little in his conversations with others. His clipped responses to questions are akin to the frustrating conversations adults have with teenagers.
That reticence throughout 'Flesh' demonstrates how much Istvan remains frozen in time as a shy Hungarian teenager forced to grow up.
Szalay's novel follows Istvan's life in various moments, beginning when he's a 15-year-old who lives alone with his mother. Istvan is coerced into a sexual relationship with a married woman who lives across the hall.
When that relationship ends in tragedy and violence, it upends Istvan's life and overshadows his interactions. Szalay's straightforward, spare prose helps propel the novel as the effects of that tragedy reverberate throughout his life.
Istvan comes across in much of the novel as someone still stuck somewhat as a teenager, unable to completely interact with others on an adult level. It appears as though physical relationships are the only time he can truly connect with other adults.
The changes to Istvan are subtle but significant as he grapples with the trauma that left him stuck, especially as he forms a relationship with a woman who forces him to see what true connection means. He also learns what it means to confront loss and loneliness.
The power of 'Flesh' is Szalay's ability to let these moments speak for themselves, letting these simple interactions tell a tragic story.
___

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Boston Globe
A quick guide to this year's Boston Early Music Festival
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up There are at least three offerings packed into most days of the festival. Sometimes there are more. It's a maybe-overwhelming array of options, so if you don't know where to start, here are some picks for events I wouldn't want to miss. Advertisement OPERATIC OFFERINGS The elaborate centerpiece opera, which will be performed four times during the week (June 8-June 15), is an institution of the festival. Usually, musical directors Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs and stage director Gilbert Blin put up a deep cut from the Baroque repertoire that even seasoned opera-goers may never have heard of, let alone seen performed. No effort is spared in the production, which features a full baroque orchestra in the pit, sumptuous sets and costumes, and a dance company led by Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière in addition to the cast of singers, which features Hungarian soprano and BEMF veteran Emőke Baráth in the title role this year. Advertisement It's also a 3-hour time commitment, so if that's more than you want to bite off, consider the chamber opera double bill of Telemann's short and snappy comedy 'Pimpinone' and dramatic cantata 'Ino,' going up at Jordan Hall on June 14 with more performances in Great Barrington later in June. THE REGULARS ARE COMING! This year's biennial marks the 23rd for the festival, and it has nourished a network of world-class performers and ensembles that have become regular visitors. Violinist Robert Mealy, head of Yale University's respected early music program, leads the festival's in-house orchestra, which is primarily occupied in the pit for the opera, but it takes center stage with its own program of water-inspired works by Handel and Telemann (June 12). The 'Octavia' singers are booked and busy as well on their off nights - tenor Aaron Sheehan joins Paul O'Dette for a wine-soaked recital program (June 9), soprano Sherezade Panthaki teams up with Austria-based Ensemble Castor (June 10), and nearly the whole gang piles on stage for Saturday evening's post-chamber-opera extravaganza. (June 14) BEMF presents the Tallis Scholars in a Yuletide concert most years, but they're on hand during this summer festival for two programs – one with the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (June 9) and a Sistine Chapel-inspired program on their own (June 11). And I'm personally biased because I have a friend in period string ensemble ACRONYM, but I never pass up a chance to see them – and going by the fact that this is the group's fourth consecutive festival, neither do the BEMF organizers. Advertisement RARER SIGHTS & SOUNDS Boston Camerata is hardly an unfamiliar name around town, but for BEMF, the ensemble is rolling out the local debut of 'A Gallery of Kings,' which premiered to acclaim at France's Reims Cathedral several years ago. Stephen Stubbs is also known around these parts for being one of BEMF's creative head honchos, but he also artistic directs the Seattle-based Pacific MusicWorks, which makes its BEMF debut in the late-night slot on June 10 with the intriguingly titled 'Murder, Mayhem, Melancholy, and Madness,' featuring soprano Danielle Reuter-Harrah. The relentlessly creative Norwegian ensemble Trio Mediaeval is returning to the festival after several years away, with an intriguing lineup of chant by Hildegard von Bingen and elaborate songs by English composer Leonel Power; their arrangements feature a miniature organ, hurdy-gurdy, and Hardanger fiddle – a Norwegian violin variant known for its haunting, resonant sound (June 11). Montreal-based Constantinople, helmed by Kiya Tabassian on the setar (three-stringed Persian lute), is behind the Bach and Khayyam program; soprano Hana Blažíková lends her voice to the group, which incorporates classical Middle Eastern instruments alongside the Baroque European. BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL June 8-15. Various venues. A.Z. Madonna can be reached at


UPI
03-06-2025
- UPI
Watch: Mariska Hargitay tries to understand late mom in 'My Mom Jayne'
1 of 3 | Mariska Hargitay learns about her late mom, Jayne Mansfield, in the new documentary "My Mom Jayne." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 3 (UPI) -- HBO is previewing My Mom Jayne, a documentary about Jayne Mansfield, as told through the eyes of her daughter Mariska Hargitay. Hargitay, 61, an actress best known for playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, is the younger daughter of Mansfield, a Hollywood star who died at age 34 in 1967. "I've spent my whole life distancing myself from my mother, Jayne Mansfield, the sex symbol," Hargitay says in the trailer, out Tuesday. "Her career made me want to do it differently. But I want to understand her now." "I was three years old when my mom died, and I don't have any memories of her," she added. The documentary sees Hargitay interview her half-siblings to learn more about their mother. She also sifts through letters, photos and other things that had belonged to Mansfield for insight. In addition, Hargitay addresses her parentage -- the actress learned in her 20s that Italian singer Nelson Sardelli, not Hungarian bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay, is her biological father. Hargitay was raised by Mickey Hargitay. "She grapples with her mother's complicated public and private legacy, uncovering the surprising layers and depth of who Jayne was, not only to her fans, but also to those closest to her," an official synopsis reads. My Mom Jayne will air on HBO and stream on Max June 27. Photos: 'Law and Order' icon Mariska Hargitay turns 60 Mariska Hargitay and her godchildren attend the premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" in New York City on December 5, 2002. Hargitay has called "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" a "platform to effect change." Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Yahoo
£60m Liverpool star will be PUSHED aside for Florian Wirtz
Where does Slot plan on using Wirtz? Liverpool are planning an attacking overhaul which could open gaps in several areas of the team. For example, if Luis Diaz leaves then Wirtz could conceivably be named as a left-sided attacker. He is not quite a winger in the same sense as the Colombian but he could certainly line up 'from' the left. Advertisement He could also fill in up top like Diaz did as a false 9; linking the play together and helping to catapult Mohamed Salah, Jeremie Frimpong and others into advanced attacking positions. Slot may opt to use Wirtz in several different positions given his skillset. But according to a new report from Germany there is one Reds' Premier League title winner in particular under THREAT from Wirtz's arrival. © IMAGO Wirtz 'will push' Szoboszlai out of No10 'The signing of Wirtz will also push former Leipzig player and €70 million acquisition Dominik Szoboszlai (24) into another position,' a report in Kicker reads. Advertisement The Hungarian was challenged to put up better numbers for goals and assists early in Arne Slot's first season. The 24-year-old ended up with six goals and six assists in 36 Premier League outings - not a mindblowing total for a player in his position. It must be added that Szoboszlai gets through a lot of work covering Salah, but Wirtz's arrival suggests his place as No10 in the team is at risk. © Anfield Watch Arne Slot will build around Wirtz Maybe Slot will utilise him further back? That would likely require Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch to drop out of the team. And Szoboszlai doesn't really have the weapons to threaten as a wide man in this Liverpool attack.