Zoe Williams, a Guardian columnist, recounts her rediscovery of fiction after a long hiatus. She never consciously decided to stop reading novels but simply fell out of the habit, citing the need for patience, free time, and inner peace to immerse oneself in a story. She describes how worries about the world, to-do lists, and nonfiction about trade wars and politics kept her from fiction. Eventually, she adopted a dismissive attitude, claiming that imaginary characters walking into a room were not compelling.
A Friend's Recommendation Breaks the Spell
A cherished friend from university insisted she read Jonathan Franzen's 'Crossroads'. Despite initial reservations about the novel's religious themes and large cast of children, Williams was captivated within five pages. She describes living inside the book, only emerging for food. The novel became a talking point, reminiscent of late 20th-century debates about highbrow versus middlebrow literature, which were largely resolved when Franzen published 'The Corrections' in 2001, a book that was both intellectually rigorous and unputdownable.
The Tortoise Pace of a Master Author
'Crossroads', appearing two decades after 'The Corrections', ends with an ambiguity that Williams finds both satisfying and frustrating. She notes that a middlebrow book would call it a cliffhanger, but highbrow literature calls it ambiguity. The novel is the first of a trilogy, but no publication date for the second part exists, with estimates of 'within the next year or two'. Williams jokingly considers writing a complaint to Franzen, wondering what he did during the Covid pandemic if not writing, drawing a parallel to Hilary Mantel's eight-year gap between 'Bring Up the Bodies' and 'The Mirror & the Light'.
The Challenge of Waiting for the Next Installment
Williams feels it would be callow to start another novel while waiting, comparing it to getting a new cat after one is run over. However, a friend's emotional reaction to the latest Elizabeth Strout novel, despite being on anti-anxiety medication, serves as a compelling recommendation. Williams concludes by reflecting on the joy of being back in fiction's arms, relishing every minute of the experience.
