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The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez

The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez Roelia ReadsThe Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez is a novel that explores the effects of the COVID pandemic on the lives of a writer and her unexpected companions: a college drop-out and a parrot. The novel is a blend of fiction and essay, as the narrator reflects on various topics related to literature, writing, and human nature.

“Which three authors, dead or alive, would you invite to a literary dinner party? is a question often asked of authors interviewed for The New York Times Book Review. What Edmund White said James Merrill said about a young fan: “Why does he want to meet us in the flesh? Doesn’t he realise the best part of us is on the page and all he’ll be meeting is an empty hive?”

The novel is not plot-driven, but rather character-driven, as we follow the narrator’s thoughts and feelings as she adjusts to her new situation. She is asked to house sit in a luxurious apartment by a friend who is fleeing the city, and she agrees to take care of his parrot, Eureka, who has a personality of his own. She also shares the apartment with a young man named Leo, who is the son of the building’s superintendent and who suffers from depression and anxiety. The narrator forms a bond with both Leo and Eureka, as they cope with the isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic.

“I don’t remember who said, Insomnia is the inability to forget.”

The novel is also a meditation on writing, as the narrator often digresses into her opinions and insights on various authors, books, and genres. She discusses the role of writers in society, the challenges and joys of writing, and the influence of literature on her life. She also reveals some details of her own personal and professional history, such as her failed marriage, her teaching career, and her literary aspirations.

The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez“Only when I was young did I believe that it was important to remember what happened in every novel I read. Now I know the truth: what matters is what you experience while reading, the states of feeling that the story evokes, the questions that rise to your mind, rather than the fictional events described. They should teach you this in school, but they don’t.”

The novel is written in a conversational and intimate tone, as if the narrator is confiding in the reader. The style is simple and elegant, with occasional flashes of humour and wit. The novel is short, but it packs a lot of ideas and emotions into its pages.

“I believe there are more good people in the world than bad people. What does not follow, though, is that, thanks to the numbers, the good will prevail. What cannot be left out of account is that, under certain circumstances, the bad can get the good to act badly, and furthermore, in order to achieve certain goals—victory in wartime, for example—getting the good to act badly rises to the level of a necessity.”

The novel may not appeal to everyone, as some readers may find it too slow, too ruminative, or too detached from the reality of the pandemic. However, for those who enjoy a thoughtful and introspective read, The Vulnerables is a rewarding and engaging novel that offers a unique perspective on the pandemic and its impact on the human condition. It is a novel that celebrates the power and beauty of writing, and the resilience and creativity of the human spirit, and I absolutely loved it!

Thanks to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book!

About this book: Exclusive Books – The Vulnerables

About the author: https://sigridnunez.com/