Nathan Newman's debut novel, How to Leave the House, unfolds in a single day, delving into the lives of various townspeople through the protagonist Natwest’s perspective. With a diverse cast including a teacher, dentist, and an Imam, the novel intricately examines how perspective shapes our understanding of ourselves and others. Newman's storytelling is marked by humor and emotional resonance, inviting readers to engage with the complexities of life. The narrative challenges the notion of a typical debut by emphasizing interconnectedness and the shared human experience, making it both intimate and expansive.
I was desperate for the book not to feel like a typical debut. So many contemporary debuts feel quite closed off. This one is expansive.
NatWest thinks he’s the main character in his life, but the story's journey illustrates that he isn’t the center of the universe.
The novel offers an explosion of perspective, reflecting on how NatWest struggles to imagine others’ lives beyond his own.
It’s hard to show a big, grand emotional change in one day, but that’s broadly the journey he goes on.
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