Why people recommend it
Flesh by David Szalay is a sprawling, contemporary novel following its protagonist across various international locations. The book received notable attention on The Book Review podcast, where Jumanna Senan recommended it on the episode The Best Books of the Year (So Far) in July 2025, describing it as a tactile and global narrative that follows a man from Hungary to London. Later that year, on the December 2025 episode Our Book Critics on Their 2025 in Reading, Gilbert Cruz brought up the novel again to discuss its major literary achievement, noting that it was a significant book from the year because it won one of the major literary awards, specifically the Booker Prize, solidifying its place in contemporary fiction. Critics on the podcast highlighted both its thematic scope and its prestigious win, cementing its status as a major publication. Listeners interested in sweeping contemporary fiction driven by geography and character development found the recommendations particularly compelling, given the acclaim from both Senan and Cruz regarding its international setting and award-winning pedigree.
Who recommended it
- Gilbert Cruz Discussed
- Jumanna Senan Recommended
Gilbert Cruz — 1 mention
“A big book from this year, and I say big because it won one of the year's big literary awards, the Booker Prize, was a novel called Flesh by a Hungarian British author named David Zoloy.”
Jumanna Senan — 1 mention
“This is Flesh by David Soloy.”