Agnes by Peter Stamm, John Cullen Published by Other Press on October 25th 2016
Genres: Literary Fiction
Pages: 176
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley & Other Press
Peter Stamm's best-selling debut novel, Agnes, now available for the first time in the United States. "Write a story about me," Agnes said to her lover, "so I know that you think of me." So he started to write the story of everything that had happened to them from the moment they met. At first, he works with Agnes to create a narrative that is most true to life, but as time passes and he grows more enamored with the narrative he has begun, he continues writing on his own, imagining a future for them after he reaches the present. Happy couples do not necessarily make for compelling reading, and as Agnes sees the unexpected plot he has planned for her, the line between fiction and reality begins to blur. In this unforgettable and haunting novel Stamm incisively examines the power of storytelling to influence thought and behavior, reaching a chilling conclusion.
**Special thanks to NetGalley & Other Press for supplying my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
Agnes is the debut novel by Peter Stamm. The book has first been printed in 1998, but this reprint is the first English translated version.
Agnes asks her lover to write a story about her. She says “Write a story about me”. Wanting to fulfill her wishes, he starts writing the story. They sit together every day to write and modify the story. They want it to be the story of their life together, capturing the events of this life.
However, by time, he starts writing the story on his own. He writes different scenarios of what might and might not happen.
I truly loved this book. First of all, it was the simplicity that caught my interest. The book was so simple in its words but also captivating to me. I loved the way he wrote about his love to Agnes and what he liked about her. I loved seeing her through his eyes. I loved seeing it all through his eyes.
It was also very compelling. The main question of the book is “To what extent can storytelling influence our lives?” When you set to write every single event in your life, can this turn on you? Can the roles be switched and the book becomes the dictator of your actions? The concept is magnified by the conclusion of the book.
About Peter Stamm
