I think we l know how I feel about jacket copy and blurbs. To wit: not good. But for once, the blurbs are on to something, and it’s the gem that is Chloe Aridjis’s Asunder.
The novel follows Marie, a guard at London’s National Gallery, through her perambulations at work, at home, and abroad. This is isn’t a novel with extravagant plot points; instead, it’s superb gathering of images and moments, a testament to a quiet life. To observation.
It’s about the entropy of decay and the possibility for violent change. It’s a weirdly beautiful excavation of life. And the images! New, lively, strange. Here’s one example. Marie is examining a painting:
It was a mysterious painting, of a seaside landscape with a few human figures, and my eyes first came to rest on the wall of ancient wrinkled cliffs resembling a procession of tired elephants. (111)
Arresting, isn’t it? I felt swallowed up the images as I read. I loved this novel, and if you’ll excuse me, I‘ll be off to find my own copy.
Rosemary and Reading Glasses 
Sounds beautiful! And coincidentally I am reading something that feels very similar (Snow Hunters)…it is quiet and observant and beautiful…I feel I have to be much more patient because of the visualization I have to do. It’s an intriguing kind of writing.
I’ve heard great things about Snow Hunters! I have it on request at the library.
It’s lovely! I’ll likely write a review on it next week, though without spoilers 😉
Looking forward to it!
I loved it so much as well! My story with Aridjis started when I found her first novel in the library by accident and I became a fan right away (I do recommend it by the way), so when Asunder came out, I made sure to acquire a copy right away.
I’ll look for her first novel 🙂
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