"A witty picaresque . . . Gordon is a fine creation. With his disarmingly straightforward narrative style, he makes for a convincing and likable hero . . . Writing with economy and comic generosity, Grattan pulls off an amiable, zippy novel that also smuggles in a sharp analysis of family, class and the intergenerational inheritance of gay men." —Charles Arrowsmith, The Washington Post
"A novel of quest, Gordon in search of remedy for youth’s various ills . . . An elegy for every gay reader rejected by a parent . . . I was happy to see Gordon not simply surviving but thriving. Getting old is bittersweet, but growing up is a relief." —Rumaan Alam, The New York Times Book Review
"One of the funniest novels in recent memory . . . Grattan’s novel is probably the most entertaining—not to mention cleverest—depiction of the art world (fiction or nonfiction) in quite some time, even if it never directly addresses the art world at all. The rare book that you’ll force yourself to put down just so you can savor it, this will quickly become required reading for New Yorkers and anyone who aspires to become one." —James Tarmy, Bloomberg
"[A] rollicking sophomore release . . . [a] delightfully modern comedy of manners." —Shannon Carlin, Time
"Grattan casts early adulthood as a period of inertia, in which a person is trapped between the urge to be present and the desire to move on—a time of life whose outward expressions are, above all, absurd." —The New Yorker
"In this fine, affecting novel, Grattan's subtle, true portrayals and sharp dialogue make a highly enjoyable read even more so." —Annie Bostrom, Booklist (starred review)
"Affecting . . . [Gordon] has a memorable voice: funny, dark, and eventually chastened. The novel builds on the self-involved, sometimes cruel protagonists of Edmund White’s early work, though Gordon learns to rein himself in instead of committing more mayhem. This story of a miscreant who grows up will stick with you long after the last page." —Kirkus (starred review)
"[An] impressive sophomore novel . . . In the author’s skilled hands, Gordon’s bad judgment and sentimental education make for terrific reading." —Publishers Weekly
"At first, In Tongues reads like a comedy of manners—a cute young man moves to Manhattan and takes a job as a dog walker/assistant to two older men from the art world. But then we watch the sexual, ethical, and monetary inequality turn dark. Thomas Grattan is a master of plot—that rare ability—which makes In Tongues a real roller coaster: funny, sad, shocking, and, finally, quite moving." —Andrew Holleran, author of Dancer from the Dance and The Kingdom of Sand
"Funny, touching, and authentic, In Tongues is about trying to survive in a declining society, a novel that should become the touchstone of a whole generation." —Edmund White
“Uncommonly vulnerable, In Tongues is a witty exposition of what ails all of us. Thomas Grattan does away with any false neutrality by detailing the raunchy violence of ambition. This is an excellent novel that sifts through the detritus of life and gives it vibrant meaning.” —Zain Khalid, author of Brother Alive
"In Tongues contains one of my favorite kinds of plots; the interlude that changed me forever. Thomas Grattan masterfully elucidates the life of an elegant hero—shattering friendships, sudden lovers, surprising moments of grace. Reading In Tongues felt like a deliciously banal and dangerous afternoon I never wanted to end. I love this beautiful, horny, honest, glamorous novel." —Marie-Helene Bertino, author of Beautyland
"Thomas Grattan has written a rare beauty of a novel, both thrillingly sexy and heartbreakingly human. His gift as a writer lies in his ability to reach deep into the messy flesh of his characters and extract all the awkward, barbed parts of them that make them feel so alive. With In Tongues, Grattan brings fresh wit and insight to the beloved gay, New York, coming-of-age novel. If you don’t see yourself in these pages, good luck to you." —Christopher Bollen, author of The Lost Americans
★ 2024-03-23
A young gay man grows from a life of “reckless impulses” into a reflective adult in this affecting novel.
Queer fiction is studded with vaguely amoral, menacing protagonists, characters who know they’re bad and relish it, tossing right back at the world the anomie thrust at them just for being queer. Gordon is 24, raised in Minneapolis by working-class parents who don’t like each other. It’s 2001, before the 9/11 attacks, when he lights out for New York City after having been dumped by his boyfriend—with the help of $200 he stole from said boyfriend. Eventually, he finds work as a dog walker for wealthy art gallery owners Philip and Nicola. They soon ask him to become their personal assistant; that’s when Grattan lets loose his piercing observations of how the rich exercise their power. Nicola is catty and resentful of Gordon’s presence while Philip, patrician and aloof, is kinder. Gordon has a lot to learn in order to maneuver the intricacies of their refined lives—until he makes a mistake that will sever the deep relationship among the three of them. Impish and careless for much of the novel, Gordon grows into someone whose badness diminishes, though his memory of it still pricks like a thorn in his side. It was a wise choice to have Gordon narrate the novel, and he has a memorable voice: funny, dark, and eventually chastened. The novel builds on the self-involved, sometimes cruel protagonists of Edmund White’s early work, though Gordon learns to rein himself in instead of committing more mayhem.
This story of a miscreant who grows up will stick with you long after the last page.
