Contemporary literature

Flesh by David Szalay follows the life of István through a fragmented narrative composed of selected moments from different stages of his existence. Rather than presenting a continuous chronological development, the novel offers a series of snapshots that reveal decisive experiences and turning points. The story begins with a shocking event: as a teenager, István enters into a sexual relationship with an older woman. The affair results in tragic consequences when her husband dies in an accidental confrontation involving István, leading to his placement in a correctional institution. Later, the novel follows other important episodes in his life, including his military experience in Iraq and his migration to the United Kingdom, where a fortunate encounter eventually contributes to his professional advancement.

As a reading experience, Flesh is both engaging and enjoyable. The novel is written in a style that makes it a pleasant and often compelling read. Some passages are particularly striking because of the way they offer access to the inner world of the characters. Szalay demonstrates an ability to capture thoughts and emotions with precision and originality. The intensity of these moments creates the impression of entering another person's consciousness, which is one of the novel’s greatest strengths and perhaps one of its most rewarding aspects.

However, despite these qualities, certain structural choices weaken the work. The episodic narrative can create the impression that the novel lacks unity. Events that would normally have a profound impact on an individual's identity and future development often disappear from the narrative almost entirely once they have occurred. For instance, the traumatic circumstances surrounding István’s adolescence and the accidental death that sends him to a correctional institution receive surprisingly little attention afterward. Similarly, his experience in Iraq seems to have almost no lasting presence once he returns home. Another example is the man who helps establish István’s career in the United Kingdom after István saves his life; once István enters a new phase of his existence, this important figure also disappears from the story. Such narrative choices may be intentional, perhaps reflecting the fragmented and discontinuous nature of life itself, but they can nevertheless leave the reader with the impression that the novel was not entirely thought through as a coherent whole.

Another aspect that feels underdeveloped concerns István's identity as an Eastern European immigrant in Britain. The novel provides surprisingly little exploration of this dimension of his experience. István quickly adopts a lifestyle that resembles that of an average British man, while his connections to Hungarian culture appear minimal. He has no visible Hungarian social circle, and questions of cultural displacement, belonging, or immigrant identity remain largely absent. As a result, the representation may seem somewhat detached from the lived reality of many immigrants. One has the impression that this aspect of the narrative lacks authenticity.

Despite these reservations, Flesh remains an enjoyable and worthwhile novel. While some structural and thematic elements could have been developed more fully, the quality of the writing and the psychological insight offered by certain passages make it a rewarding reading experience. Even if the novel occasionally feels fragmented, it succeeds in holding the reader’s attention and offers moments of genuine literary pleasure.