Review: Flesh by David Szalay

The winner of the 2025 Booker Prize is the story of one man's life. It opens with Istvan as a shy fifteen year old living in Hungry. The new kid in town, he is looked down upon by his peers. Sexually abused by a neighbour, he has little understanding of what has been done to him. From there, each event in his life seems to be a matter of chance and circumstance, as he finds himself in juvenile detention, then unemployable, then a well-respected military man, then chance leads him to him eventually moving among the circles of the wealthiest people in London. But, the funny is thing about chance and social climbing is well, everything can change in an instant.

This was a well written story, detailing a number of key events that made up Istvan's life, showing the many changes in his circumstances. For me, the most infuriating part of the book was probably also the very point that the author was trying to make. Istvan is almost completely passive in his own life, except for when he is acting out physically. With the exception of his mother, the defining characteristic of each woman in the book is whether they are sexually interested in Istvan or not. The scene where he and his military friend pick up two women at a bar, and what happens is particularly confronting. I found the aspect of his social climbing and his eventual downfall to be the most compelling part of the book.

Overall, an interesting story of one mans life and how much people can be shaped by chance and circumstance.

Recommended.

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