Beyond Okay

Last year, David Szalay won the Booker Prize for his novel Flesh (2025).  I read the synopsis and wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this book, but I bought a copy anyway and it has been on my shelf for a long time. But with the Sydney Writers' Festival a month away, and Szalay one of the international authors I will be seeing, I thought I should give it a go. I am so glad I did as Flesh is a remarkable novel, unlike anything I have read before.

Flesh begins in Hungary with fifteen year old Istvan living with his mother in an apartment complex. They moved to this town recently and Istvan has few friends. A shy boy, he is quite isolated and does not say much. His mother volunteers him to assist a neighbour with her groceries, accompanying her on shopping trips and carrying her groceries up the stairs to the apartment. The woman, who is about the same age as his mother, feeds Istvan after the shopping expeditions and becomes his only companion. Slowly, she begins grooming him for a clandestine affair, and Istvan is soon caught up in this relationship which is destined to end badly. 

Istvan's first job is in the army, stationed in Iraq, where he witnessed tragedy on a daily basis. Following that he moves to London and gets a job in security, eventually employed as a driver by a wealthy family. Here he is exposed to the lives of the rich, but remains on its periphery until he forms a relationship with a woman which allows him to join the inner circle.  

István is a fascinating character, and I was intrigued that Szalay did not describe his appearance, leaving the reader to imagine what he looks like. Istvan  doesn't give much away, speaking in short sentences (he mostly says 'okay'), and he appears almost detached, as if life happens to him and he is a passive participant. We know little of his inner life. It is the women around Istvan who compel the action - his mother, the neighbour, Helen - challenge Istvan to express himself more fully. When tragedy strikes, we can see the impact of trauma on Istvan, even if he cannot see it himself. 

Szalay is sparse in his writing, requiring readers to fill in the blanks. There is a lot of dialogue, but that too is scant as Istvan speaks in staccato sentences. I admired this minimalism and restraint. I found myself sucked into this story and was surprised how much I enjoyed Flesh.  I read the book along with the audiobook wonderfully performed by actor David Weyman which greatly enhanced my reading experience.