<p>So this is a <i>huh</i> of a book. Definitely not a <i>huh?</i> (with a question mark) <i>what the heck did I just read?</i> sort of book, but a book you finish and go <i>huh</i> or any other of your non-committal sounds of choice. His dad dies. He may or may not have lost his job as a radio host. He may or may not be in love with his radio producer. His sister may or may not be getting a divorce. His best friend may or may not be unhinged. His friend may or may not be a rapist. So, sure, let's go take his father's ashes to Kashmir, his father's homeland. And go skiing. And yes, there is a fugue state. And a death, and I always think of music fugues as death-y, so there's that. But in the end, it's just one of those books where </p>

<ol>
<li>lots of stuff happens, and yet</li>
<li>I can't shake the feeling that absolutely nothing has happened at all.</li>
</ol>

<p>No one seems wiser or smarter or even changed by the end. Except I guess the dad, who is dead. But maybe he's the same in death, so who knows?</p>

<p><A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/19217412/book/149122548">Fugue States</a> by Pasha Malla went on sale May 30, 2017.</p>

<p><small>I received a copy free from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</small></p>

Disclaimer: Thank you for a copy of this title to NetGalley, BookNet, and Alfred A. Knopf in exchange for a fair review.

I don't know what to say about Fugue States. The story does embody the meaning of "fugue states", but I don't find it an easy book to like.
The main character, Ash, and his friend. Matt, are truly flawed individuals (aren't we all?), but also extremely unloveable, even unlikeable.
I had a very hard time with what I perceived to be misogyny (on Matt's part, always trying to score). But fair enough, he provided a great foil to Ash.

I really only came to understand where the narrative was going in the last five or six chapters.
There, I understood the fugue state of the first and second generation immigrant, the fugue state of someone like Matt, who kind of "loved" everyone, yet loved no one.
In time, I may come to see my rating as too low. This book is one to think about, even re-read.

There was a lot I liked about this novel - the clever writing, the unlikeable and realistic characters. Ultimately, though, the humour (and the character of Matt in particular) started to annoy me. I know that readers who appreciate this sort of Canadian, literary humour will love this book - I like my reads a little darker though.

The book begins with the definition of fugue:
A fugue is a composition founded upon one subject, announced at first in one part alone, and subsequently imitated by all the other parts in turn… The name is derived from the Latin word, fuga, a flight, from the idea that one part starts on its course alone, and that those which enter later are pursuing it.

To understand the meaning of fugue is to look at the novel, Fugue States, by Pasha Malla, in its entirety.
From its inception, the reader is given its lead character, Ash, a successful author and radio host who must navigate the recent loss of his father and what that means to him as a son, a man, a writer.

And as the reader moves further into the book, the surrounding characters, too, in their individualism are not only affected by Ash’s loss and grief, but must also navigate their own pursuits in understanding who they are, how loss and pain has afflicted their own circumstances, and what they must do to survive and move through it themselves.

What’s wonderful about this novel is the realism of its narrative dialogue in bringing these characters to life through a genuine voice that depicts them vividly from:

Ash’s sombre and keen observation of others that almost feel lightly pessimistic and sad, yet witty, sarcastic, articulate, intelligent, yet insecure and self-critical—almost nostalgic with a deference to sentimentality or nostalgia; to Mona, his sister, who by career, is a successful lawyer, but openly emotional and sentimental; to _______ and Rick, his creative and hippie-living mother and stepfather; to Sherene, his intellectual and cultural equal, potentially his love-interest, but platonic co-worker and friend; to Chip, a zealously affectionate father to his son with special needs; to Matt, his polar opposite, a nomadic hedonist adventurer and long-time friend; to his late father, Brij, a latent writer-turned-doctor whose nostalgia for Kashmir and home haunted him and his son’s conversations and connection with one another.

The novel is as surprising as its non-traditional, non-linear plot, which include in its narrative both unexpected, almost absurd events, which seem surreal, if not adapted for film.

But, these events both pose as entertainment as they do emotional trauma and weariness, a sense of making memories as a way to cope and revitalize feeling, invigorate bravery, and an almost desperate attempt to make something happen—out of pain, disconnect, and loss.

The book is both dizzying in its ever-changing plot as it is in its open-ended questions, those literally unasked, yet assumed, by the lack of definitive conclusions and outcomes in the book. Yet, it’s a thoughtful narrative in the way the main character, Ash, shows through his actions and often times, his repressed actions, his emotional landscape, his ambition towards understanding the relationship he had with his father, what it means in understanding his own loss, and his own self-realization.

While the events in the book may at times seem far-fetched, the tender and serious tone of the unspoken and unsaid, resonates a story of the deep complexity of uncertain relationship and love—and the question of home, culture, and memory.

***
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Language/Narrative: 4 stars
Dialogue: 4.5 stars
Pacing: 3.5 stars
Cover Design: 3.5 stars
***
Zara’s Overall Rating: 4 stars
***

Note: I've also included the author bio and links to connect with the author.

This book was an experience! Humour throughout left me laughing at times while wondering if that was the author's intent. Fugue States honestly felt like an epic adventure for the reader!