In 'Luster,' Raven Leilani tells the captivating story of Edie, a young Black woman navigating the complexities of love, desire, and identity in modern-day Brooklyn. After an affair with a married man, she finds herself entangled in the chaos of his unconventional family and their artistic lives. As Edie grapples with her own ambitions and insecurities, she questions what it means to belong and be seen in a world that often overlooks her. With sharp wit and profound insights, Leilani explores themes of race, intimacy, and the search for connection. Will Edie discover her true self, or will the weight of her choices pull her under?
By Raven Leilani
Published: 2020
"In a world that demands clarity, we often find ourselves tangled in the beautiful mess of uncertainty, craving connection amidst the chaos."
Sharp, comic, disruptive, tender, Raven Leilani's debut novel, Luster, sees a young black woman fall into art and someone else's open marriage Edie is stumbling her way through her twenties—sharing a subpar apartment in Bushwick, clocking in and out of her admin job, making a series of inappropriate sexual choices. She's also, secretly, haltingly figuring her way into life as an artist. And then she meets Eric, a digital archivist with a family in New Jersey, including an autopsist wife who has agreed to an open marriage—with rules. As if navigating the constantly shifting landscapes of contemporary sexual manners and racial politics weren't hard enough, Edie finds herself unemployed and falling into Eric's family life, his home. She becomes hesitant friend to his wife and a de facto role model to his adopted daughter. Edie is the only black woman young Akila may know. Razor sharp, darkly comic, sexually charged, socially disruptive, Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make her sense of her life in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.
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“In a world that demands clarity, we often find ourselves tangled in the beautiful mess of uncertainty, craving connection amidst the chaos.”
Luster
By Raven Leilani
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Raven Leilani is an acclaimed American author known for her debut novel, "Luster," which was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and has received widespread critical acclaim. Born in 1993, Leilani's writing is celebrated for its sharp, incisive prose and its exploration of themes related to race, identity, and the complexities of modern relationships. Her work often delves into the intricacies of contemporary life and the search for connection within a fragmented society. In addition to "Luster," Leilani has contributed essays and short fiction to numerous literary journals, establishing herself as a distinctive voice in contemporary literature.
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