C is the latest novel by Tom McCarthy, whose previous book Remainder is one of my all-time favorites. C didn't speak to me in the same (inexplicable) way, but it shows McCarthy's range and confirms that he is a very good writer.
The main character is Serge Carrefax, born around the turn of the 20th century on an English estate where his mother produces silk and his father runs a school for deaf children. The story follows Serge from his childhood through his tour as a pilot during World War I to his post-war adventures.
Despite spending so much time with Serge, we don't really get a good sense of his character other than his tendency to see the world in a two-dimensional "plan view." However, I did get a good sense of the places Serge goes to. McCarthy creates several impressive set pieces: at the estate, at a German health spa, on the war front, in post-war Egypt. He has some grand themes just below the surface of the story, but even if you ignore (or miss) them, the settings were interesting and entertaining for their own sake.
I look forward to McCarthy's next book.
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