THE GIN CLOSET

My Friday BNF pick…

THE GIN CLOSET
by Leslie Jamison

Within the first ten pages of Jamison’s debut novel, I wondered how many other books she has hidden away on her C drive. Because prose this beautiful can only come from years and years, and pages and pages, of practice.

This is the tale of young, hip, existentially dissatisfied Stella, who reaches out to her family’s black sheep — former-prostitute, alcoholic aunt Tilly. The two women tell the story through alternating first-person accounts. At first, Stella seems to be the wise and stable one, and perhaps the only person who can help Tilly. But as the narrative unfolds, we find the two to be rather similar. The way they see the world and express their views on it are different, sure, but they’re both contending with the specific disillusionment that is the province of women (i.e., struggles around men, self-identify, etc.).

The skinny: POETIC, GUT-WRENCHING PROSE.

THE DREAM OF PERPETUAL MOTION

My Friday BNF pick...

THE DREAM OF PERPETUAL MOTION
by Dexter Palmer

Does “sci-fi” generally make you gag? Me, too. But while this book may be classified as such, don’t let it turn you off. Palmer’s debut novel is more of a literature/sci-fi hybrid. More importantly, it’s an absolute wonder.

The story begins in an alternate universe where a young boy (Harold Winslow) has his deepest wish magically granted...and it all goes haywire from there. As narrator, Harold’s voice is fresh and strange, and the story he weaves — a montage of dreams and journal entries and bizarre monologues — acts like a sort of centrifugal force: flailing you to the edges of your mental orbit, but keeping you reeled in the whole time.

The skinny: A DARK, FANTASTIC VOYAGE.

Welcome to BNF: Best New Fiction!

Hey there.

If you’re a fiction lover — moreover, if you have a special affinity for literary fiction — you’re gonna be glad you found me.

There is soooo much great literature entering our stratosphere...but most of it goes undetected by the populist radar. That’s why I’m here. So each week, I’m going to shed light on a new piece of outstanding literature — a novel or short-story collection that you just NEED to know about.

That’s pretty much it. So add me to your “favorites,” kick back, and wait to hear from me each Friday. Ciao!

- Liz “The Book Babe”

P.S. Feel free to email me if you want to talk. I love hearing from like-minded fiction philes.