White on White
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- £8.99
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- £8.99
Publisher Description
'I loved this book for its depth and perception, for its beauty and eerie rhythms, but most of all for its wonderfully dream-like spell. It's breathtaking' Brandon Taylor
A student moves to the city to research Gothic nudes, renting an apartment from a painter, Agnes, who lives in another town with her husband. One day, Agnes arrives in the city and settles into the upstairs studio.
Agnes tells stories of her youth, her family, her marriage, and ideas for her art. As the months pass, it becomes clear that Agnes might not have a place to return to. Her stories are frenetic; her art scattered and unfinished, white paint on a white canvas.
White on White is a sharp exploration of what it means to be truly vulnerable and laid bare.
'Deeply humane, quietly devastating, mesmerisingly beautiful' Olivia Sudjic
'Marvellous' Lauren Groff
'Gentle, mysterious and profound' Marina Abramovic
'Enthralling' Observer
'An exceptionally elegant, intelligent, and original writer' Sigrid Nunez
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Savas (Walking on the Ceiling) offers an alluring if elusive story about the intricate relationship between an art history student and her landlady, a painter. The unnamed narrator needs a place to stay in order to complete her doctoral research, and the rent for Agnes and her husband's flat is so low that she's able to overlook the fact that Agnes will be using the upstairs studio from time to time. During their first encounters, Agnes's "poised manner" leaves a strong impression on the narrator. As they start discussing Agnes's childhood, marriage, and career, it becomes obvious that underneath her carefully constructed persona, she's deeply insecure, which is also reflected in her restrained work, often unfinished and consisting of white paint on white canvas. The unraveling of Agnes's life and self often has parallels with art and scripture (for example, her lack of empathy at the financial ruin of her aunt and cousin after her uncle's death is eerily similar to the parable of the 10 bridesmaids in the New Testament's book of Matthew). Some of these fleeting anecdotes feel expendable, but the account of the perfect Agnes's slow crumbling builds to an unsettling conclusion. Fans of Rachel Cusk's Outline trilogy will appreciate this striking portrait.
