In 'There But For The', Ali Smith explores the ripple effects of one man's mysterious decision to lock himself in a stranger's room at a dinner party. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of various characters interconnected by this peculiar event, each revealing their own stories and philosophies. As the story delves into themes of time, identity, and the nuances of human relationships, it invites readers to ponder the significance of presence and absence in our lives. Smith's distinctive style interweaves humor and poignancy, creating a tapestry of modern existence. This thought-provoking novel begs the question: what happens when one person’s choice alters the lives of many?
By Ali Smith
Published: 2012
""Every moment is a forever, every connection a reflection; in our stilled worlds, we find the narratives that bind us all.""
From the acclaimed, award-winning author—when a dinner-party guest named Miles locks himself in an upstairs room and refuses to come out, he sets off a media frenzy. He also sets in motion a mesmerizing puzzle of a novel, one that harnesses acrobatic verbal playfulness to a truly affecting story. Miles communicates only by cryptic notes slipped under the door. We see him through the eyes of four people who barely know him, ranging from a precocious child to a confused elderly woman. But while the characters’ wit and wordplay soar, their story remains profoundly grounded. As it probes our paradoxical need for both separation and true connection, There but for the balances cleverness with compassion, the surreal with the deeply, movingly real, in a way that only Ali Smith can.
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“"Every moment is a forever, every connection a reflection; in our stilled worlds, we find the narratives that bind us all."”
There But For The
By Ali Smith
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Ali Smith is a celebrated Scottish author known for her innovative and playful approach to narrative and time. Born in 1962 in Inverness, Scotland, she has garnered numerous accolades, including the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction and the Goldsmiths Prize. Among her notable works are "Hotel World," "The Accidental," and the seasonal quartet, which includes "Spring" and "Autumn." Smith's writing often blurs the lines between genres, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the human experience with both wit and poignancy. Her work is characterized by rich language, clever wordplay, and an acute sense of the complexities of contemporary life.
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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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