Septology

"Okay, I might be stretching it a little to describe Jon Fosse’ s monumental stream-of-consciousness sequence Septology as a ‘2022 novel’ (the first two installments were released in 2019), but 2022 has certainly been the Year of Septology. A dual edition of Damion Searles’s masterful translations of books VI and VII (beautifully produced by Fitzcarraldo Editions) was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize , and this year it was collected in English for the first time by US publisher Transit Books, which released a handsome, seven-part hardback edition. How to explain Septology ? It is a contemplative narrative from the point of view of an ageing painter, living in rural Norway, who is greatly taken up with his relationship with another artist, an alcoholic with the same name and appearance—perhaps another version of himself, having made different life choices. When I spoke to the chair of the International Booker Prize judges, Frank Wynne, he described the reading experience as “luminous… like swimming in an open sea. You can’t see land in any direction.” I quite agree. It’s a challenging read, in much the same way that Lucy Ellman’s Ducks, Newburyport was challenging: it’s long, disorienting, and each section is comprised, essentially, of a single, infinitely unfurling sentence. But it’s a unique experience that rewards your time and attention. I loved what the critic Merve Emre had to say about it, which is what finally convinced me to give Septology a go myself: “the closest I have come to feeling the presence of God here on earth.” Surrender yourself into the void that is Septology. Of course—any ostensibly definitive list of ‘novels of the year’ is uncomfortably subjective. Not only are these choices a matter of taste, but it is also difficult to compare books read across such a long time period and in so many different contexts. The appreciation of any novel, I feel, is coloured by one’s state of mind while reading it. Some books I read with a pencil in hand, in order to review them; other books I flipped through while waiting for buses; others on a glowing screen in a darkened room beside my sleeping partner. Get the weekly Five Books newsletter I’ve been recommending Elizabeth Strout’s Oh William! to all those looking for a gentle domestic novel of unexpected profundity. Lillian Fishman’s Acts of Service and Julia May Jonas’s Vladimir to fans of Mary Gaitskill and Raven Leilani—that is, those who enjoy racy romantic encounters with a moral grey area. And Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow will suit those looking for an easy read that nonetheless tackles interesting questions of creativity and the meaning of art. These are all novels that intrigued, surprised, and amused me this year—but I’m only one person and I can’t read everything. I’m always interested to hear from you, our readers: What, in your opinion, were the best novels of 2022? Let us know. Part of our best books of 2022 series."