Seesaw

Amit Chaudhuri's 'Seesaw' is a funny, intelligent, and engaging novel about Frank Jasper, a recovering writer who is plucked from obscurity in Port Jumbo in Nigeria to attend the prestigious William Blake Program for Emerging Writers in Boston. However, it becomes clear that he and the other Fellows are expected to meet certain obligations as representatives of their cultures. Expelled from the fellowship for 'non-performance and 'non-participation, Frank sets off on a trip to visit his father's college friend in Nebraska, where he learns surprising truths about his father and how to parlay his experiences into a lucrative new career as a commentator on American life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 04 November 2021
Publisher: Swift Press

Amit Chaudhuri’s novel is a hilarious, astute, purposefully resistant, and emotionally moving piece of writing. Frank Jasper, a recovering writer with his first novel riddled with typos and selling only fifty copies, is plucked from obscurity in Port Jumbo, Nigeria, by Mrs. Kirkpatrick, a white woman and wife of an American professor, to attend the prestigious William Blake Program for Emerging Writers in Boston. Once there, it becomes painfully clear that he and the other Fellows are expected to meet certain obligations as representatives of their cultures. His colleagues, veterans of residencies in Europe and America, know how to play up to the stereotypes expected of them, but Frank isn't interested in being the African Writer at William Blake – any way, there is another Fellow, Barongo Akello Kabumba, who happily fills that role. Eventually expelled from the fellowship for 'non-performance and 'non-participation, Frank Jasper sets off on a trip to visit his father's college friend in Nebraska – where he learns not only surprising truths about his father, but also how to parlay his experiences into a lucrative new career once he returns to Nigeria: as a commentator on American life.

Seesaw is an energetic comedy of cultural dislocation – and in its humor, intelligence, and piety-pricking, it is a refreshing and hugely enjoyable act of literary rebellion. The novel is a hilarious exploration of the clash between different cultures and the challenges of navigating a foreign world. Frank Jasper, a self-effacing and relatable protagonist, is a perfect vehicle for Chaudhuri's witty and insightful storytelling. The novel's humor is derived from its sharp observations of cultural differences, as well as its clever use of language and humor. Chaudhuri's writing is characterized by its astute analysis of human behavior and its ability to capture the nuances of emotion and relationships. The novel's characters are well-developed and nuanced, with each having their own unique quirks and motivations. The novel's exploration of the complexities of identity and belonging is particularly powerful, as Frank Jasper grapples with his own cultural identity and his place in the world. The novel's ending is satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving the reader with a sense of hope and possibility. Seesaw is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good laugh, a thoughtful exploration of culture, and a compelling story.

Weight: 294g
Dimension: 137 x 216 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800750166