54 pages • 1 hour read
Intimacies
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Book Brief
240
Novel • Fiction
The Hague • Contemporary
2021
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Intimacies, an unnamed narrator working as a language interpreter for the World Court in The Hague grapples with moral ambiguities within the diplomatic world while also dealing with personal grief and a complex romantic relationship with a married man. The story explores love, secrecy, and the blurred boundaries that define human connections.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Unnerving
Melancholic
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
40,846 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura is praised for its evocative language and atmospheric narrative. Reviewers appreciate the nuanced exploration of relationships and the protagonist's inner life. However, some find the pacing slow and the plot underwhelming. Overall, it captivates those who favor character-driven stories.
Who Should Read Intimacies?
A reader who would enjoy Intimacies by Katie Kitamura is one who appreciates introspective narratives and complex character studies. Fans of Rachel Cusk's Outline or Jhumpa Lahiri's The Lowland will relish Kitamura's exploration of identity, ambiguity, and the human condition. Ideal for those drawn to sophisticated literary fiction.
40,846 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
ADRIAAN
ADRIAAN
The narrator's love interest and connection in The Hague, whose complex relationship with the narrator is influenced by his marriage and family ties.
JANA
JANA
The narrator's friend and an art museum curator in The Hague, who plays a key role in advancing the plot and acts as a foil to the narrator's guarded nature.
ANTON DE RIJIK
ANTON DE RIJIK
The victim of a mugging who owns a bookshop and becomes intertwined with the narrator's life following a violent attack outside Jana's apartment.
THE DEPOSED PRESIDENT
THE DEPOSED PRESIDENT
A character on trial at the international court where the narrator works, based on a former leader accused of war crimes, whose trial challenges the narrator's sense of morality.
240
Novel • Fiction
The Hague • Contemporary
2021
Adult
18+ years
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