"Flesh" by David Szalay

"How do I get out of a reading slump? This is the book to do that."
―Rhianna Dhillon, BBC Radio 4

Our first book for discussion in 2026 is... FLESH by David Szalay.

• WINNER OF THE 2025 BOOKER PRIZE
• Finalist for the Kirkus Prize
• Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence

“Spare and detached on the page, lush in resonance beyond it” (NPR), Flesh traces the imperceptible but indelible contours of unresolved trauma and its aftermath amid the precarity and violence of an ever-globalizing Europe with incisive insight, unyielding pathos, and startling humanity.

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Teenaged István lives with his mother in a quiet apartment complex in Hungary. Shy and new in town, he is a stranger to the social rituals practiced by his classmates and is soon isolated, drawn instead into a series of events that leave him forever a stranger to peers, his mother, and himself. In the years that follow, István is born along by the goodwill, or self-interest, of strangers, charting a rocky yet upward trajectory that lands him further from his childhood, and the defining events that abruptly ended it, than he could possibly have imagined.

A collection of intimate moments over the course of decades, Flesh chronicles a man at odds with himself—estranged from and by the circumstances and demands of a life not entirely under his control and the roles that he is asked to play. Shadowed by the specter of past tragedy and the apathy of modernity, the tension between István and all that alienates him hurtles forward until sudden tragedy again throws life as he knows it in jeopardy.

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“A masterpiece, told with virtuosic economy… Pure brilliance from the first to the (devastating) last sentence."
―India Knight

"Brilliance on every page."
―Samantha Harvey

“So brilliant and wise on chance, love, sex, money."
―David Nicholls

“Compelling and elegant, merciless and poignant."
―Tessa Hadley

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The discussion will take place at the beautiful rooftop bar, Las Palmas, on Sunday, January 18th at 3:00 PM. Please support the venue by ordering at least one drink.

Following the discussion, our next book will be chosen by a group poll—so come prepared to champion your pick.

Each month, we explore a different genre, enriching our reading experience and broadening our perspectives. For the February discussion, please bring at least one non-fiction book recommendation.

If your suggestion triumphs in our friendly voting war, your book takes center stage! And even if it doesn’t, you’ll still gain the joy of stepping beyond your usual reading horizons.

FAQ)

1)"Do I have to finish reading the book to join the event?"
YES. We’re here to discuss the book! To ensure a rich and meaningful conversation for everyone, all participants are expected to read the book in full before attending.

2)"Can I just listen and not join the discussion?"
NO. We gather in person to share ideas. Your voice matters! Whether you agree, disagree, or interpret things differently, every perspective helps deepen our understanding of the book. There’s no right or wrong answer, and every opinion is equally cherished.

Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions.
See you in the New Year, bookflies🦋!