A brilliant read. This book challenges the very notion that stories must end in a positive resolution. The reason I say this is that we are today surrounded by stories, social media posts, and reels, all of which end with a clear, positive, or negative resolution. Stories follow set patterns—the 3-act structure or the 5-act structure—introduction (exposition), rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution (catastrophe).
But Flesh challenges it all. The story is direct, visceral, honest, and, at times, devastating.
The writing in Flesh is simple. Really simple. And mostly just dialogue. The genius lies in how the protagonist’s repeated use of single words—either exclaiming them, stating them, or using them as questions—makes the character more multi-dimensional and complex.
No purple prose, no complex vocabulary, no over-the-top descriptions, and no artifice-ridden plot reveals. And yet, Flesh can be called the finest novel written in recent times.
It deserved the Booker prize.
If you want to read something creative, unique, and un-cliched, Flesh is the book you should get.
