A great debut novel from the author who found acclaim with The Topeka School. Leaving Atocha demonstrates both Lerner's potential and his erudition. It is very postmodern, a discussion of the role of literature and its authenticity as a medium for reflecting life, written — obviously — as a novel. Adam, the poetically gifted narrator, is an American in Madrid, keen to be living an “authentic” experience (albeit one mediated by cannabis and tranquilizers) while in Spain. His constant deconstruction and reconstruction of events allows for much musing on this topic and literary gymnastics on the part of Lerner. The culmination of this project (a word much used in the novel) is the March 11th train bombings at Atocha Station. These had a significant bearing on Spain's election that immediately followed — and Adam/Lerner necessarily wanders about his feelings around this event — both given the shadow of 9/11 and when thinking about literature's response. At no stage, however, does Leaving Atocha feel heavy, partly because Lerner is too deft an author, but also since the novel is highly humorous — both deadpan and laugh-out-loud. Reading part of it while in Spain only heightened my enjoyment. 8 out of 10.
By Ben Lerner