In Tongues
Ratings3
Average rating3.7
Named a Most Anticipated Book by Time, Bloomberg, and Electric Literature "Thomas Grattan is a master of plot—that rare ability—which makes In Tongues a real roller coaster: funny, sad, shocking, and, finally, quite moving." —Andrew Holleran, author of Dancer from the Dance A young gay man upends the lives of a powerful art-world couple in this steamy novel of self-discovery. It’s 2001, and twenty-four-year-old Gordon—handsome, sensitive, and eager for direction—takes a bus from Minnesota to New York City because it’s the only place for a young gay man to go. As he begins to settle into the city’s punishing rhythm, he gets a job walking rich Manhattanites’ dogs. But it isn’t until he stumbles into the West Village brownstone of two of his clients, the powerful gallery owners Phillip and Nicola, that Gordon learns how much the world has hidden from him—and what he’s capable of doing in order to get it for himself. A lush, heart-quickening novel about family and art, sex and class, and the terror of self-discovery, Thomas Grattan’s In Tongues chronicles Gordon’s perilous pursuit of belonging from the Midwest to New York and, later, to Europe and Mexico City. As he floats further into Phillip and Nicola’s exclusive universe, and as lines blur between employee, muse, lover, and mentor, Gordon’s charm, manipulation, and growing ambition begin to escape his own control, in turn threatening to unravel the lives, and lies, of those around him. Anchored by winsome lyricism, glinting intellect, and a main character whose yearnings and mistakes come to feel like our own, In Tongues crackles with fierce longing and pointed emotion, further confirming Grattan as a rare chronicler of young adulthood’s joys and devastations.
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This book started in a downward trajectory for me because it was giving a very similar vibe as “The Guest” by Emma Cline and I did not like that book. The thing that made this book ok for me that is had more of a conclusion to it and you could actually see the growth in the main character. Something about how the style of how it was written I did not appreciate. To me the book did not have a good flow to it. The thing I did appreciate the most was the characters and the interactions were very realistic.
My favorite read of 2024, so far. The book follows the journey of Gordon, a young gay man, who, post-breakup, impulsively moves from Minnesota to New York City. Grattan expertly captures the pain of isolation and the desperate search for identity and belonging.
The story is a quest for answers to the troubles of youth, and its pace is brisk. Gordon quickly finds himself in the city's underbelly, working a lowly job and living in a bleak apartment. Yet, he finds solace in the company of a friendly barkeep and the company of strangers he meets under the cover of the night.
One of the book's most striking elements is its frankness. Grattan doesn't shy away from exploring the raw realities of Gordon's life. He seeks validation and purpose, which he eventually finds as a personal assistant to the sophisticated West Village couple, Philip and Nicola.
The author explores the themes of seeing and being seen, longing for attention and validation. Gordon's journey is a mix of cringe-worthy attempts to fit into a world he doesn't fully understand and heartbreaking moments of rejection and loss.
The end of the story sees Gordon maturing and coming into his own. The novel becomes an elegy for every young gay person rejected by their family. It is not just about surviving but about thriving in spite of adversity.
“In Tongues” is a compelling, well-paced, and tender novel. It is a must-read for anyone seeking a story that navigates the complexities of identity, belonging, and self-discovery amidst the harsh realities of life.
