The Fetishist is the story of three people: a young punk rocker named Kyoko; Daniel, a now-middle-aged violinist who finally reconciles with his past; and Alma, a superb cellist, the love of Daniel’s life, who feels she was never truly loved as a young woman. Kyoko’s mother had an affair with Daniel that broke up her marriage and led to her suicide. Kyoko has carried her anger over her mother’s death for years—and blames Daniel. He is now playing music for the dying while mourning the breakup of his own marriage.
The author’s note to The Fetishist state that it is a “fairy tale of sorts, about three people who begin in utter despair.” As the reader delves into the novel, they readily identify the treasure, the hero, the ogre, and the sleeping beauty. As in many fairy tales, there is a thread of darkness and often a happy ending. The novel looks deeply at our culture, its racism, its tendency toward colonialism, and the dynamics in which men wield power and some of those men fetishize Asian women. A fascinating own-voices read with black comedic undertones.
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The Fetishist (G.P. Putnam, January 30, 2024) is available through:
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