David Szalay’s Flesh reminded me that an ordinary life can hold the weight and shape of a novel. There is nothing spectacular about the protagonist—no grand triumphs, no dramatic downfall—yet Szalay’s quiet, precise writing reveals meaning in the small, unspoken moments that make up a life. What stayed with me most was a simple realization: stories don’t need to be extraordinary to matter. Even a life that feels plain, uncertain, or unfinished can be seen—and understood —as literature. And somewhere in that realization, I felt something shift. Maybe my life, too—with its doubts, detours, and quiet hopes —could one day become a story worth reading. jonathancapebooks #flesh #davidszalay #bookerprize2025