In 'The Nix', Nathan Hill weaves a multi-layered narrative that follows Samuel Anderson, a struggling college professor whose life is upended when his estranged mother resurfaces. As he delves into the complexities of their fractured relationship, he uncovers a tumultuous history involving political unrest, cultural upheaval, and personal betrayal. This intricate tale spans decades and explores themes of identity, memory, and the impact of the past on the present. With sharp wit and poignant observations, Hill crafts a story that is both a literary epic and a character study. Prepare for a captivating journey that raises profound questions about love, loss, and redemption.
By Nathan Hill
Published: 2017
""The past is a story we tell ourselves about who we are, and the truth is, we are all just searching for the narratives that define us.""
A New York Times 2016 Notable Book Entertainment Weekly's #1 Book of the Year A Washington Post 2016 Notable Book A Slate Top Ten Book “Nathan Hill is a maestro.” —John Irving It’s 2011, and Samuel Andresen-Anderson hasn’t seen his mother, Faye, in decades—not since she abandoned the family when he was a boy. Now she’s reappeared, having committed an absurd crime that electrifies the nightly news and inflames a politically divided country. The media paints Faye as a radical hippie with a sordid past, but as far as Samuel knows, his mother was an ordinary girl who married her high-school sweetheart. Which version of his mother is true? Two facts are certain: she’s facing some serious charges, and she needs Samuel’s help. To save her, Samuel will have to embark on his own journey, uncovering long-buried secrets about the woman he thought he knew, secrets that stretch across generations and have their origin all the way back in Norway, home of the mysterious Nix. As he does so, Samuel will confront not only Faye’s losses but also his own lost love, and will relearn everything he thought he knew about his mother, and himself.
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“"The past is a story we tell ourselves about who we are, and the truth is, we are all just searching for the narratives that define us."”
The Nix
By Nathan Hill
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Nathan Hill is an acclaimed American author known for his debut novel, 'The Nix', which was published in 2016 to critical acclaim and became a bestseller. His writing is characterized by a masterful blend of humor and poignancy, tackling complex themes such as family dynamics, political unrest, and the impact of technology on modern life. Hill's storytelling is rich in detail, intertwining various narratives and characters, which reflect his nuanced understanding of contemporary society.
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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 'A delicious, important novel' The Times 'Alert, alive and gripping' Independent 'Some novels tell a great story and others make you change the way you look at the world. Americanah does both.' Guardian As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. Ifemelu--beautiful, self-assured--departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze--the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor--had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Thirteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion--for their homeland and for each other--they will face the toughest decisions of their lives. Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today's globalized world.
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