Something Rotten is a literary novel by Andrew Lipstein. It was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2025.
| Author | Andrew Lipstein |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
Publication date | January 21, 2025 |
| ISBN | 9780374613358 |
Plot summary
editReuben loses his job as an NPR radio host after accidentally performing a compromising act on a Zoom conference call. His wife Cecilie, a reporter for The New York Times, has family in Denmark and they decide to spend her maternity leave in Copenhagen. There, Cecilie is contacted by her ex-boyfriend Jonas, who has a life-threatening neurological condition. A disillusioned Reuben begins to cling to Mikkel, who represents the self-confidence and directness that Reuben feels he lacks.
Themes
editReuben's feeling of emasculation and inefficacy are explored throughout the novel, exemplified by the loss of his job and his becoming a stay-at-home dad, and the linguistic and cultural barriers he finds in Denmark.[1][2]
Reception
editCritics praised the novel's premise, plot twists and exploration of ethical quandaries.[3][4]
References
edit- ^ "Something Rotten: A Novel | Washington Independent Review of Books". www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ Robinson, Kazuo (2025-01-24). "Andrew Lipstein's "Something Rotten": The Death of Truth or the Truth of Death?". Chicago Review of Books. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
- ^ SOMETHING ROTTEN | Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ "Something Rotten by Andrew Lipstein". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2025-01-28.