The Seaplane on Final Approach

A young woman's summer on a remote Alaskan homestead takes a disturbing turn in Carmen Maria Machado's debut novel, "The Seaplane on Final Approach." Mira, the lodge's baker and housekeeper, is obsessed with building a working theory of sleaze and pursuing a young fisherman. As the lodge spirals into chaos, the inhabitants realize how isolated Lavender Island is. The novel is hilarious, sensual, and charged with menace.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 13 July 2023
Publisher: Granta Books

A Captivating Debut Novel:


"The Seaplane on Final Approach" is an electrifying debut novel that delves into the depths of a young woman's desire for sleaze and the unsettling turn her idyllic summer on a remote Alaskan homestead takes. Written by Carmen Maria Machado, this captivating story blends elements of romance, darkness, and strangeness to create a perfect blend of suspense and intrigue.




Puppy love meets jaded lust as they dance their death spiral inside the young woman's head, captivating the reader with its raw and unapologetic portrayal of human emotions. Nell Zink's prose is vivid and evocative, drawing the reader into the intricate world of Lavender Island Wilderness Lodge in the Kodiak Archipelago. Tourists arrive at the lodge expecting adventure, but what they encounter is a meticulously scripted authentic Alaskan wilderness experience. However, the spontaneity of the real danger that rears its head adds a thrilling layer of suspense to the story.




Stu and Maureen Jenkins, the owners of the lodge, are facing financial difficulties, and their marriage is on the brink of collapse. Mira, a young baker and housekeeper, has been hired for the season, but her true passion lies in pursuing a young fisherman whom she deems the embodiment of all things deliciously sleazy. Her plans become more perverse and elaborate as she delves deeper into her obsessions, even as life on Lavender Island starts to unravel.




As the midseason approaches, it becomes clear that Stu, the jovial and predatory patriarch of the lodge, has turned his sexual attentions to another young employee. The atmosphere at the lodge spirals into chaos, and the inhabitants realize just how isolated Lavender Island is. "The Seaplane on Final Approach" is a hilarious, sensual, and charged novel with menace. It brilliantly illuminates the mirage-thin line between the artificial and the feral, peeling away the facade of good manners to reveal our deepest needs and naked desires.




Carmen Maria Machado's debut novel is a testament to her talent as a writer, and it leaves the reader eagerly anticipating her future works. With its captivating characters, intricate plot, and bold exploration of human emotions, "The Seaplane on Final Approach" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller with a dark and twisted twist.

Weight: 204g
Dimension: 198 x 129 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783786084