Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte

In August, we will be discussing the book, Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte.

Rejection is a darkly funny, outrageously sharp, and formally daring novel-in-stories that explores the volatile intersections of modern romance, identity, online subcultures, and self-acceptance.

Refusing safe or easy answers, Rejection offers a brilliant, unfiltered look at the social structures we construct and the painful ways we fail them. It is an audacious, unforgettable mosaic that redefines what it means to be rejected by lovers, friends, society, and oneself.

🏆 Accolades & Recognition:

• Longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction
• Named a Best Book of 2024 by The New York Times
• Named one of the 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 by TIME Magazine
• Selected as a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly and Esquire

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The Story

A provocative mosaic of our current cultural moment, Rejection uses seven interconnected stories to dissect the many forms of social, romantic, and self-inflicted rejection in a hyper-connected world. Tulathimutte’s characters—a self-proclaimed male ally devolving into radicalized online forums, a woman caught in a toxic, controlling relationship, and late-bloomers navigating dating apps—are candid windows into modern alienation and loneliness.

The narratives delve into the complexities of desire, the performance of online identities, and the absurdities of group chats, internet discourse, and modern intimacy.

Rather than seeking a clean, redemptive arc, Tulathimutte leaves his characters confronting the messy, unfiltered reality of their own delusions and longings, creating a portrait of contemporary life that is as unsettling as it is razor-sharp.

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"A hilariously brazen and existentially unsettling portrait of modern life, love, and identity."
— Kirkus Reviews

"A master comedian with a virtuoso prose style has produced an audacious, original and highly disturbing book . . . an incandescent satire."
— Giles Harvey, The New York Times Magazine

"Tulathimutte is a pervert and a madman and a stone-cold genius."
— Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties

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📆Event Details

• Date & Time: Sunday, August 16th, 3:00 PM
• Venue: Las Palmas rooftop bar
• Note: Please support the venue by ordering at least one drink.

📚Club Guidelines

• Discussion: Please review the discussion questions before joining! You can find them via the link below a week prior to the event. So please check back as we get closer to the date.
• Next Month's Pick: Following the discussion, our next book will be chosen by group poll—come prepared to champion your pick. Each month, we explore a different genre; for September, please bring at least one non-fiction recommendation. If your suggestion wins the vote, your book takes center stage! Even if not, you’ll get to explore beyond your reading comfort zone.

❓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.

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