Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa Inside Flesh: David Szalay Answers Your Questions
7 snips
Oct 21, 2025 In this discussion, award-winning author David Szalay shares insights on his novel, Flesh. He reveals how his Hungarian roots influence the story and its setting. Szalay's writing style embraces deliberate restraint, capturing meaning in mundane moments. He emphasizes character creation through intuition, often inspired by fleeting encounters. Additionally, he discusses the effectiveness of fragmentary narratives and aims for complex emotional responses from readers, making this conversation an enlightening listen for fans of his work.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Hungarian Roots Shaped The Novel
- David Szalay lived in Hungary while writing Flesh and deliberately set much of the novel there with a Hungarian protagonist.
- He is pleased Flesh will be translated into Hungarian, reflecting the book's deep connection to his heritage.
Calculated Restraint Amplifies Emotion
- Szalay began Flesh with a deliberately restrained, almost detached voice to heighten emotional impact around shocking events.
- That restraint became the novel's natural voice and guiding modus operandi while writing.
Everyday Moments Carry Big Weight
- Szalay is drawn to banal everyday moments and uses them to frame even large dramatic events in Flesh.
- He writes the texture of ordinary life to reveal how small details carry emotional weight.
