"Flesh" by David Szalay

Join us for our first-ever meeting: a discussion of last year's Flesh by David Szalay, winner of the Booker Prize. It’s a slim but intense novel that follows a withdrawn man through fragments of his life, obsessed with the body—its appetites, vulnerabilities, and awkward presence in the world. The prose is cool and precise, the mood is bleakly funny and unsettling, and it’s the kind of book that leaves you asking, “Wait, what exactly did I just read?” in the best way.

We’ll meet at Midwest Coast Brewing, where there’ll be a food pop-up on site and BYO food is allowed, so think of this as meal-optional: come for an early dinner, a snack, or just a beer and a book.

We’ll do quick introductions, then a spoiler-friendly discussion focused on Szalay’s style, structure, and themes—body vs. self, masculinity, desire, shame, memory, and what it means to look at a life mostly from the outside. If you don't finish the book, don't let that stop you from joining us!

And if you need a copy of the book, DM the host, Vaidehi--she can send you a digital copy.