Startlingly radical, dazzlingly witty, unlike anything that has come before - this is the most exciting novel you will read this year. `Nell Zink is a writer of extraordinary talent and range. Her work insistently raises the possibility that the world is larger and stranger than the world you think you know.' Jonathan Franzen
Nell Zink Books
January 1, 1964
Nell Zink has carved out a unique space in contemporary literature with her sharp, often unsettling novels that delve into the complexities of identity and relationships. Her distinctive style blends wit, unexpected turns, and a keen eye for the absurdities of modern life. Drawing from a rich tapestry of personal experiences, Zink crafts characters and narratives that feel both deeply intimate and universally resonant. Her prose offers a masterful mix of humor, melancholy, and profound humanity, drawing readers in and leaving them with much to ponder.
Doxology
- 416 pages
- 15 hours of reading
Two generations of an American family come of age - one before 9/11, one after - in this moving and original novel from the intellectually restless, uniquely funny (New York Times Book Review) mind of Nell Zink
Sister Europe
- 208 pages
- 8 hours of reading
An elderly princess is unable to host a gala honoring a renowned author due to illness, prompting her to seek last-minute attendees. Masud, the author, invites his friend Demian, who brings along two friends: the naive Livia and the opportunistic publisher Toto, accompanied by his unreliable date and Demian's teenage daughter, Nicole. As the gathering unfolds, tensions rise, particularly with Prince Radi's misguided interest in Nicole, leading to a chaotic midnight food run that impacts everyone involved.
The Wallcreeper
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
'Heady and rambunctious ... Wake up, this book says: in its plot lines, in its humour, in its philosophical underpinnings and political agenda. I'll pay it the highest compliment it knows - this book is a wild thing.' New York Times Book Review Interlaken, Berne, 21st century. Several things happen after the car hits the rock. Tiff ceases to be pregnant. Stephen captures, like, the most wonderful bird - fleet, stealthy, and beautiful - a real "lifer". And the wallcreeper, the wallcreeper says "twee". The Wallcreeper is nothing more than a portrait of marriage, complete with all its requisite highs and lows: drugs, dubstep, small chores, anal sex, eco-terrorism, birding, breeding and feeding.
The narrative follows a young woman's journey as she navigates her identity and societal expectations, exploring themes of belonging and personal utopia. Through her unique perspective, the story delves into the complexities of adolescence and the quest for meaning in a chaotic world. This profound tale highlights the challenges of growing up and the desire to find one's place amidst societal pressures.
Nicotine
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Recent business school graduate Penny Baker has always rebelled against her unconventional family by being the "normal" one. Her mother, Amalia, hails from a South American tribe, while her father, Norm, is a former cult figure running a psychedelic healing center. Penny has never felt close to her older half-brothers—one is wealthy and charmingly wicked, the other a distant photographer. Everything shifts when Norm passes away, leaving her his childhood home in New Jersey. Upon visiting, she discovers the property is occupied by friendly anarchist squatters who have renamed it "Nicotine." These residents, passionate about smokers' rights, embody the fervor Penny feels she lacks, and she quickly becomes drawn to their sense of community. Moving into a nearby residence, she immerses herself in their political activism and commitment. As the Baker family's lives intertwine with the fate of Nicotine, Penny becomes increasingly determined to protect the house and its inhabitants. This culminates in a pivotal confrontation between her old family and her new one, leading to a dramatic turning point in her life.