Sea State

Sea State is a novel by Jon McGregor that was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize and the Portico Prize. It follows Tabitha Lasley, who leaves her job, relationship, and London to meet offshore oil rig workers in Aberdeen. She enters into a reckless affair with the first rig worker she meets, exposing them both to the wreckage of her former life. McGregor's writing is praised for its acidic, addictive reporting with a fictional veneer.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Sea State marks the arrival of a gifted and exciting new voice, Jon McGregor, author of Reservoir 13, which was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize and the Portico Prize. The Guardian named it one of the Best Books of 2021, describing it as extraordinary and taking readers to places few books do. The Observer praised McGregor's acidic, addictive reporting with a fictional veneer, stating that his writing alone is worth the admission price. Tabitha Lasley, a journalist, left her job, relationship, and London to meet offshore oil rig workers in Aberdeen. She embarked on a journey to explore the nature of men when surrounded by no women. However, she soon discovers the true essence of her being when alone, save for the itinerant men who spend half their lives stranded in the middle of the sea. In this introspective state, she embarks on a tumultuous relationship with the first rig worker she meets, a reckless affair that exposes them both to their vulnerabilities. McGregor's skill lies in inflecting non-fiction material subjectively, akin to the style of Joan Didion. He assesses situations via his nervous system, creating a unique and captivating narrative that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. Sea State is a testament to McGregor's talent and a must-read for anyone seeking an extraordinary literary experience.

Weight: 176g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008390976