Butter: Novellas, Stories and Fragments

Gayl Jones is a renowned literary giant, known for her intricate prose and subversive storytelling. Her new collection of short fiction showcases her unique talents in a range of settings and styles, exploring complex identities and unorthodox longings. With sharp observation, wit, and poignancy, Jones' writing blends narrative and lyricism, offering devastating insight into the human experience.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 06 April 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Gayl Jones, a literary giant and one of my absolute favorite writers, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with her remarkable talent. Her prose is a tapestry of intricate, mesmerizing, and endlessly inventive and subversive elements, drawing readers into a world of profound exploration and reflection.

Deesha Philyaw, author of "The Secret Lives of Church Ladies," aptly describes Jones's writing as "a literary masterpiece that defies categorization." Her long career, which began with her blistering 1975 debut, "Corregidora," edited by the legendary Toni Morrison, has steadily gained her recognition as one of the great literary writers of the twentieth century.

In this captivating new collection of short fiction, Jones showcases her unique talents across a range of settings and styles, from the hyper-realist to the mystical. The stories are novella-length, intricate multi-part narratives, and compelling fragments that transport readers to different corners of the world.

Endlessly inventive, challenging, and surprising, Jones's writing explores the diverse tapestry of our world. Her characters are a diverse cast of spies, photographers, baristas, cartoonists, and revolutionaries, inhabiting historical and contemporary settings in Europe and the Americas. With sharp observation, wit, and poignancy, Jones delves into the complex identities of her protagonists, unearthing their unorthodox longings and desires.

What sets Jones's writing apart is her masterful blend of narrative and lyricism. Her imagination knows no bounds, constantly outstripping expectations and pushing the boundaries of storytelling. Her prose is a testament to her exceptional creativity and her ability to evoke deep emotions in her readers.

Every publication by Gayl Jones is a major event, but this one holds a special place in my heart. The settings, which span time and geography, are as diverse as the identities of her protagonists, who include women and men, Black, brown, and Indigenous people, artists, and spies. The common threads that unite these characters are their creativity and their devastating insight into the human condition.

Oprah Daily, in its list of "The Books We Can't Wait to Read in 2023," aptly describes Jones's writing as "a literary treasure that demands to be savored." Her stories are a testament to the power of literature to transcend boundaries and connect people from different walks of life.

In conclusion, Gayl Jones is a literary giant whose writing is a testament to the power of words and the limitless possibilities of storytelling. Her prose is a masterpiece that captivates readers with its intricate depth, challenging perspectives, and endless creativity. This new collection of short fiction showcases her unique talents in all their glory, leaving us eagerly anticipating her future works.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 142 x 223 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780349016887