Telephone by Percival Everett

I read this novel in a heady twenty-four-hour daze, which is something I rarely do these days. I even stayed up to read it, which is something this sleep-deprived mama really does rarely do. So while I felt very emotionally connected to and shattered by this book, looking back I don’t remember much about it, kind of like I read it in a dream. So that’s… helpful, I’m sure!

One of the first things to note is that this book has three versions with three endings, only one of which I’ve read. I’m definitely going to look out for the other copies (there are subtle cover differences) so I can read the other endings, but I thought this was an extremely interesting way to go about publishing a book. Everett is a prolific author (he has written 23 novels!) and it seems he is often considered a bit underrated; a hidden gem, if you will. This did get shortlisted for the Pulitzer in 2021 though, so he is hardly an unknown. Certainly, this was a very clever book with excellent, controlled prose, though much of this went right over my head as I devoured it (this lithub review is a really excellent, in-depth piece and if you read the book I highly recommend it). In short, it’s about paleobiologist/geologist Zach, who learns that his daughter has a degenerative disease, turning life into a game of telephone. I think it was this parenting aspect that really struck me, but there were so many interesting layers to this book that I think I will reread it when I can get my hands on the other copies. It is a little meandering, a little nonsensical and bizarre and discomfiting, but I found it to be a profound and sensitive (and unusual!) portrayal of parenthood, grief and morality. I’m only sorry I can’t really do it much justice in my review.