Intimacies: A Novel
“A perfect novel - taut and seductive.” (Brandon Taylor, author of Real Life and Filthy Animals)
“Intimacies is a haunting, precise, and morally astute novel that reads like a psychological thriller.... Katie Kitamura is a wonder.” (Dana Spiotta, author of Innocents and Others and Eat the Document)
A novel from the author of A Separation, an electrifying story about a woman caught between many truths.
An interpreter has come to The Hague to escape New York and work at the International Court. A woman of many languages and identities, she is looking for a place to finally call home.
She's drawn into simmering personal dramas: her lover, Adriaan, is separated from his wife but still entangled in his marriage. Her friend Jana witnesses a seemingly random act of violence, a crime the interpreter becomes increasingly obsessed with as she befriends the victim's sister. And she's pulled into an explosive political controversy when she’s asked to interpret for a former president accused of war crimes.
A woman of quiet passion, she confronts power, love, and violence, both in her personal intimacies and in her work at the Court. She is soon pushed to the precipice, where betrayal and heartbreak threaten to overwhelm her, forcing her to decide what she wants from her life.
In "Intimacies: A Novel," Katie Kitamura crafts a poignant and introspective narrative that explores the complexities of intimacy and identity in the modern world. The novel centers around the experiences of a young woman named Nikki, an interpreter working at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
As Nikki navigates the challenging world of international justice, she finds herself entangled in a web of relationships that both challenge and redefine her understanding of intimacy. Through her interactions with colleagues, lovers, and strangers, Nikki grapples with questions of trust, betrayal, and the elusive nature of true connection.
Kitamura's writing is marked by its lyrical and evocative prose, skillfully capturing the nuances of human emotion and experience. She paints vivid portraits of the characters, delving into their inner thoughts and motivations with remarkable depth and sensitivity.
As Nikki's journey unfolds, she encounters a series of intimate moments that both unravel and redefine her sense of self. From fleeting encounters to profound connections, Kitamura explores the myriad ways in which intimacy can manifest in our lives.
At its core, "Intimacies" is a novel that interrogates the nature of human connection and asks probing questions about the boundaries of intimacy. Through Nikki's experiences, Kitamura invites readers to contemplate the complexities of relationships, the search for meaning in a fragmented world, and the ways in which we can find solace and connection amidst uncertainty.
Rating:
