Flesh

This was, quite simply, brilliant. From the opening paragraphs to the very last gut-wrenching sentence, this book grabbed a hold of me and had me immersed in its narrative throughout. The writing felt fresh in its starkness. The dialogue was absorbing with its monosyllabic style. And the story was genuinely moving, even if the protagonist, a Hungarian man named István, is not someone I ever truly warmed to.

The story follows István from a traumatic adolescence in Hungary through to his rise to wealth and status in London. It felt like a deeply human tale. There’s resonance with his story, his pain, his journey, even if my own life and circumstances in no way align.

As the title implies, there’s a focus in the story on physical existence over and above intellectual or emotional processing. István’s life is one that is experienced through physical actions, work, and relationships. It’s a bodily, fleshly journey that shines light onto the human experience because of its visceral edge.

It’s my favourite book of 2026 so far.