by Louis Begley
First published 2019
Ben has built himself into everything the world admires. The brilliant student became a top associate at a major investment bank without visible effort. He perfected the art of reinvention, transforming himself into a sophisticated aesthete and sardonic lover. He buried what he believes are the unspeakable memories of childhood under German occupation in Central Europe. But phantom pain from an amputated limb never stops. Ben conquers lovers and deals across Paris, New York, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro. These victories shine only against the darkness of his personal collapse. Ben knows the truth about himself. He remains hopelessly late, having missed everything he truly wanted. His professional triumphs and romantic conquests cannot fill the void left by his authentic desires. The polished surface he presents to the world conceals a man who lost himself in the process of becoming someone else.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: dark-protagonist, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Central Europe, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro
Period: German Occupation
268 pages · Paperback · Grasset
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness