09 February 2022

The Singer's Gun

The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel is a story of life choices.

Anton Walker was raised by the owners of an antiques salvage shop in New York City. In this case, salvage mostly means stolen. His dream as a kid was to work in an office, but out of high school he and his cousin Aria started a forgery business - helping immigrants work quasi-legally.

Anton was originally saving money for college, but at some point, decided to skip the classes and make himself a diploma. Now he works in an office in Manhattan. He is engaged to a cellist, has a rescued cat, and is kinda happy.

When his honeymoon location is convenient to a job Aria is working, she offers to pay him a lot of money to receive and envelope and pass it on to someone. Then he will be clear of the business and she will forgive him for leaving it in the first place. 

Mandel is an amazing writer - both they type whose words make you stop and reread a beautiful sentence, and the type whose twists and turns make for a mesmerizing ride.

Mandel, Emily St. John. (2010). The Singer's Gun. New York: Unbridled Books.

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