The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May
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| Author | Mark Z. Danielewski |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English language |
| Genre | Postmodern |
| Publisher | Pantheon Books |
Publication date | May 12, 2015 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 880 |
| ISBN | 978-0375714948 |
| Preceded by | Only Revolutions |
| Followed by | The Familiar, Volume 2: Into the Forest |
The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May is an American novel by writer Mark Z. Danielewski. Released in the United States on May 12, 2015, it is the first of a planned 27-volume story entitled The Familiar.[1] It was followed by Into the Forest in October 2015.
Plot summary
The story weaves together nine different, yet connected, narratives that are kick-started by the story of Xanther, a twelve-year old girl who finds a kitten. The novel takes place over the course of a single day. Each narrative is indicated with a different font and a different color in the corner of each page. The book's intricate and interwoven plot has been compared to Finnegans Wake.[2]
Main characters
- Xanther Ibrahim: a twelve-year old girl in Los Angeles with an idiosyncratic personality whose parents decide a pet may bring her out of her shell.
- Luther Perez: a gang member in Los Angeles going through his initiation.
- Anwar Ibrahim: Xanther's adoptive father and video game designer.
- JingJing: a man in Singapore who assists Tian Li, a healing woman.
- Astair Ibrahim: Xanther's mother and a therapist.
- Cas: a computer scientist in Marfa, Texas in possession of an orb, a mysterious artifact. Cas is also known as The Wizard.
- Özgür "Oz" Talat: a Los Angeles detective in the gang unit.
- Shnorkh Zildjian: A taxi driver in Los Angeles.
- Isandòrno: An existentialist in El Tajín, Mexico.
There are also the Narcons, beings who may or may not exist outside the narrative of the novel and provide commentary on it.
References
- ↑ "Danielewski Returns With A Long, Sideways Look At The Familiar". NPR. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ↑ Schaub, Michael. "The Familiar by Mark Z Danielewski review – what the font is going on?". The Guardian. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
External links
- The Familiar forum on markzdanielewski.com
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