I saw this on BookPage this week - Jeffrey Eugenides has a new book in the works. For you Middlesex fans out there, this is exciting news.
It is called The Marriage Plot, and it's due out in October. Here's what Eugenides has to say about it:
I don’t quite know how to describe it. A college love story? Maybe. It begins on graduation day, in 1982, and involves three main characters. The sweep of the action takes place over the next year or so, as the characters begin their lives outside the university gates. The book deals, among other things, with religion, depression, the Victorian novel, and Roland Barthes. I really don’t like to talk about it. It’s about 400 pages long so far, and two-thirds done. I don’t think it will be a long book, not as long as Middlesex, anyway. It’s different from my other books. More tightly dramatized, less fanciful. What else? It’s not a Detroit book, not this time. Though one of the characters comes from Detroit, the new book ranges in setting from Providence, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod to Calcutta.
A college love story set in Rhode Island? Count me in. Great news!
I wasn't able to make it through Middlesex but this one does sound good. Great locations and the Victorian novel. This book might be more my speed. But 400 pages and 2/3 done. Wow. How can it not be as long as Middlesex.
Posted by: Nicole | February 16, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Nicole - I thought the same thing. Am hoping that he's building in some editing time!
Posted by: Gayle | February 16, 2011 at 10:15 AM
I saw this on Book Page too. I can't wait to read it. I don't care how long it is. If it's good, page count doesn't matter.
Posted by: Ti | February 16, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Gayle, you know he went to Brown, right? Go Brown! :) The New Yorker excerpted this at some point, must've been last year. I loved Middlesex I admit but the excerpt I was more interested in for the Providence references.
Posted by: ylee | February 16, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Yishane - of course! Another reason I am so excited for it. I thought I read the New Yorker piece as well, but for some reason I can't remember it at all. Maybe I never read it.
Posted by: Gayle | February 16, 2011 at 11:25 PM
I really enjoyed Middlesex. It was long but I really enjoyed the details. Looking forward to "The Marriage Plot".
Posted by: Sarah | February 17, 2011 at 09:34 AM
I was fascinated by Middlesex mostly by Eugenides' style of writing . I usually read non fiction so if I read any fiction it has to be outstanding....and this was! I can hardly wait til The Marriage Plot comes out !. Franzen and his Freedom was a big disappointment, so this one by Eugenides will surely make me happy.
Posted by: Virginia Selanik | July 08, 2011 at 10:13 PM