Drifts

Drifts by Natasha Burge is a stunning exploration of identity and place, probing the intertwined strands of her being and exploring the Arabian Gulf and the myths surrounding autism. It is a work of dazzling insight, sensitivity, and awareness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2023
Publisher: Footnote Press Ltd

Surreal, Vivid, Haunting, Mischievous, Visionary



Lauren Elkin's Drifts is a stunning achievement that invites us to see the world differently, as if through a kaleidoscope for the first time. The novel takes us on a journey through various locations, including the Gulf War, the falling Twin Towers of Manhattan, London, Bahrain, Texas, Dhahran, souqs, sandstorms, slantways Arabic, and cats with weeping eyes. It is a rich and immersive experience that transports readers to different parts of the world and immerses them in the lives of its characters.



Hassan Melehy, a reviewer for The Guardian, praised Drifts for its ability to capture the essence of different places and cultures. He noted that the novel "encounters not only the Gulf War and the falling Twin Towers of Manhattan but also London, Bahrain, Texas, Dhahran, souqs, sandstorms, slantways Arabic, and cats with weeping eyes." Melehy continued, "This is wonderful - we encounter not only the Gulf War and the falling Twin Towers of Manhattan but also London, Bahrain, Texas, Dhahran, souqs, sandstorms, slantways Arabic, and cats with weeping eyes. Read on. Drift on."



John Schad, a reviewer for The New York Times, also praised Drifts for its exploration of identity and place. He wrote, "Natasha Burge was born and grew up in Saudi Arabia, where her family lived for more than half a century. Through various departures and returns - a year at boarding school in New England, university in London, a small town in Texas where there are more cows than people, back to work in Bahrain - the years of difficulty, isolation, and severe anxiety take their toll. Finally, at 37 years old, she received the life-changing news that she is autistic."



In this striking exploration of identity and place, Burge probes these intertwined strands of her being: what it means to grow up at the interstices of different cultures, and what it is to experience unrecognised neurodivergence and a late diagnosis of autism. From the cosmopolitan heritage of Muharraq's Pearling Path to the jebels of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, Burge charts a new course through the stories of the Arabian Gulf and the myths surrounding autism. The result is a work of dazzling insight, sensitivity, and awareness.



Drifts is a remarkable achievement that offers readers a unique and captivating perspective on the world. It is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to explore the complexities of identity, culture, and place.

Weight: 180g
Dimension: 136 x 216 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804440100