Nelson Henricks

“Batlava Lake”, Adam Mars-Jones, 97 pages (2021) – I bought this book at a moment in my life when I had decided that I would by anything published by Fitzcarraldo Editions whenever I saw it, because they are usually very good books. This seems crazy to me now. Anyway, this book is about an inarticulate guy named Barry, a British electrical engineer who winds up in Kosovo after the war, rebuilding civic infrastructure alongside the army. One thing I couldn’t get my head around: how can a character who doesn’t seem to read, who hates writing and abhors speaking, write something as good as this? It’s not an interior monologue. It’s like Barry is sitting right in front of you, talking to you. This book reminded me of a lot of people I know, and maybe you know some too: people who can’t articulate their subjectivity, but who are good at fixing things. I read this in 24 hours. Compelling. Purchased at @saint.henri.books #batlavalake #adammarsjones @fitzcarraldoeditions