The Booker-winning novel that feels like Sally Rooney’s world - only darker

Many readers say that the Booker Prize isn’t reserved strictly for the “best” or most widely praised books, but rather for those unusual novels whose authors aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zones and experiment with style and theme. Still, there’s no denying that the award celebrates works of exceptional literary quality. Last year, the Booker Prize went to Samantha Harvey for Orbital, a philosophical drama with elements of science fiction that left some readers speechless, while others described it as “frustrating.” It’s no wonder, then, that this year we were all eagerly waiting to see which of the outstanding shortlisted novels would receive this prestigious honor.

Among the finalists who gathered last night at the awards ceremony in London – Andrew Miller (The Land in Winter), Ben Markovits (The Rest of Our Lives), David Szalay (Flesh), Katie Kitamura (Audition), Kiran Desai (The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny), and Susan Choi (Flashlight) – the Booker Prize for Best Novel of the Year went to Szalay. His novel Flesh, published in March this year, quickly captivated readers with its intriguing writing style that defies all conventions and reminds many of the work of one of today’s most acclaimed authors, Sally Rooney.. The book might be especially interesting to readers in this region, as part of the story takes place in Hungary.

What is Flesh about?

Flesh is a brutally realistic novel that follows the life of István, beginning with his adolescence and upbringing with his single mother in a quiet apartment in Hungary. The intriguing protagonist resists social conventions and, as a result, becomes isolated—from his mother and from everyone around him. We follow his life over the decades, from the moment his childhood is abruptly interrupted by a traumatic event, through a life shaped by the consequences of that trauma and the pressures of modern society.

This is a story about a man in conflict with the world and with himself, simply playing the roles life assigns to him while haunted by the shadow of a past tragedy. The novel examines how unresolved trauma can shape a person’s life in a world marked by indifference and instability, set meaningfully in the heart of Europe, questioning the relationship between the individual and society with remarkable insight and deep empathy.

The best novel of the year, according to the Booker Prize, is now available in bookstores across the region.