Black Swan Green

Meer over het boek

From acclaimed two-time Man Booker finalist David Mitchell comes a meditative novel exploring boyhood on the brink of adulthood and the old transitioning to the new. Known for his narrative scope and mastery of multiple voices, Mitchell has impressed critics, with The New York Times Book Review praising his genius and ambition. This novel shifts focus from the expansive narrative of Cloud Atlas to a single year in 1982, capturing the life of 13-year-old Jason Taylor in a sleepy village in Worcestershire, England, during the Cold War. The thirteen chapters create a richly detailed world that is far from dull. The narrative is pointed, funny, profound, and elegiac, embodying the essence of life. In an excerpt, Jason reflects on the experience of being a picked-on kid who feels invisible to avoid further bullying, a stammerer trying to evade embarrassment, and a child of arguing parents trying to prevent conflict. He describes himself as the "Triple Invisible Boy," revealing glimpses of his true self only in moments of solitude or creativity. The woods serve as a sanctuary where he connects with his inner self, exploring paths and memories that evoke a timelessness deeper than clocks. This work stands as Mitchell’s most subtle yet accessible achievement, offering a poignant exploration of youth and the complexities of growing up.