The Fermata

Description

'The funniest book about sex ever written' Literary Review This is the story of Arno Strine, a modest temporary typist, who has perfected the knack of stopping time in its tracks and taking women's clothes off. He is hard at work on his autobiography, The Fermata, which proves in the telling to be a very provocative, very funny and altogether morally confused piece of work. Hilarious and totally original, Nicholson Baker's new novel is a triumphant comedy about sexual fantasy and fantastic sexuality.

Born in 1957 Nicholson Baker is the author of several acclaimed novels; A Box of Matches, Vox and The Fermata as well as essays, including the campaigning Double Fold for which the New York Times called him 'the Erin Brokovich of the library world'.

Lots of nakedness, quite a few surprises. His novels have the brazen, daring timidity of love letters you know you'll never post * Sunday Times * The book is bursting with sex and beauty, wound together profoundly and pornographically. It is bountifully Rabelasisan and intensely refined. I have never read anything quite like it. Misogynists will definitely not like The Fermata; there is not one iota of violence towards or contempt for women in this book. Wildly exhilarating and confirming. The Fermata should be celebrated -- Mary Gaitskill Witty, dry and thought-provoking, a great addition to Baker's unique observatory of contemporary life * Vogue *