Lily Allen's West End Girl album has spawned a flurry of media attention, with the public's fascination extending beyond the musician's music to her personal life, specifically her marriage to David Harbour and their reported dalliance with polyamory. The album serves as a soundtrack for Allen's own heartbreak, with its catchy yet emotionally raw tracks capturing the pain and anger that followed the breakdown of her relationship.
But what makes infidelity such a compelling topic in literature? It's not just about the cheating itself, but about the complex emotions and power dynamics at play. Recent novels have tackled this subject from various angles, often using non-traditional narrative structures to explore the intricacies of relationships and desire.
Take Andrew Miller's Booker-shortlisted The Land in Winter, for instance. Set against the backdrop of rural England in 1962, the novel follows two couples as they navigate their relationships and desires. The story is told through the eyes of a country doctor who becomes embroiled in an affair with a wealthy woman, raising questions about the nature of love, loyalty, and identity.
Miranda July's All Fours, on the other hand, offers a more comedic take on infidelity, following the story of a mid-40-year-old woman who embarks on a cross-country road trip to pursue an affair with a young Hertz employee. What makes this novel so subversive is its unexpected twist: instead of sleeping with Davey, she sleeps with his mother's friend, adding a darkly bizarre layer to the narrative.
Other recent novels have approached infidelity from more conventional angles, such as Sarah Manguso's Liars and Catherine Lacey's The Möbius Book. Both books share a sense of anger and resentment towards the cheating partner, but also fall short in their refusal to offer a deeper exploration of the emotions at play.
However, Lauren Elkin's Scaffolding offers a refreshing alternative. By centering desire and relationships, the novel explores the complexities of long-term monogamy and its disintegration. The dual structure of the narrative echoes Anna's own experiences as a psychoanalyst, creating a sense of universality and connection to everyday life.
Ultimately, the enduring appeal of novels about infidelity lies in their ability to tap into our collective longings, fears, and anxieties. As one character remarks in Scaffolding, "The most interesting part of infidelity isn't will they or won't they... it's everything else around it." These stories remind us that relationships are messy, complicated, and multifaceted – and that the true power lies not in the cheating itself, but in the emotions, desires, and fears that make up our shared human experience.
But what makes infidelity such a compelling topic in literature? It's not just about the cheating itself, but about the complex emotions and power dynamics at play. Recent novels have tackled this subject from various angles, often using non-traditional narrative structures to explore the intricacies of relationships and desire.
Take Andrew Miller's Booker-shortlisted The Land in Winter, for instance. Set against the backdrop of rural England in 1962, the novel follows two couples as they navigate their relationships and desires. The story is told through the eyes of a country doctor who becomes embroiled in an affair with a wealthy woman, raising questions about the nature of love, loyalty, and identity.
Miranda July's All Fours, on the other hand, offers a more comedic take on infidelity, following the story of a mid-40-year-old woman who embarks on a cross-country road trip to pursue an affair with a young Hertz employee. What makes this novel so subversive is its unexpected twist: instead of sleeping with Davey, she sleeps with his mother's friend, adding a darkly bizarre layer to the narrative.
Other recent novels have approached infidelity from more conventional angles, such as Sarah Manguso's Liars and Catherine Lacey's The Möbius Book. Both books share a sense of anger and resentment towards the cheating partner, but also fall short in their refusal to offer a deeper exploration of the emotions at play.
However, Lauren Elkin's Scaffolding offers a refreshing alternative. By centering desire and relationships, the novel explores the complexities of long-term monogamy and its disintegration. The dual structure of the narrative echoes Anna's own experiences as a psychoanalyst, creating a sense of universality and connection to everyday life.
Ultimately, the enduring appeal of novels about infidelity lies in their ability to tap into our collective longings, fears, and anxieties. As one character remarks in Scaffolding, "The most interesting part of infidelity isn't will they or won't they... it's everything else around it." These stories remind us that relationships are messy, complicated, and multifaceted – and that the true power lies not in the cheating itself, but in the emotions, desires, and fears that make up our shared human experience.
I think what's really interesting is how they all take different approaches to exploring the complexities of relationships and desire. Some are super funny like Miranda July's All Fours 
, while others are more serious and emotional like Lily Allen's album.
Like, we've all been there, wondering if someone will end up with us or not, but really, it's all about what happens when that relationship falls apart.
. And I love how some of them try new things with the storytelling, like The Land in Winter and All Fours... they keep me guessing 
.
I mean, we've all been there at some point or another where things just get stuck and you don't know what's going on anymore 
. Lauren Elkin does a great job of exploring those feelings and desires in a way that feels really relatable. I love how the dual structure of the narrative echoes Anna's own experiences as a psychoanalyst, it gives me chills 
anyway, these recent novels are tackling it from all angles - some funny, some serious, but they're all making me think about my own relationships and desires in a whole new way... i'm low-key obsessed with scaffolding rn! 
. We've all been there - wondering if someone we trust is lying to us 
, or feeling like we're in a rut in our own relationships 
. Novels that explore these feelings and desires are like a mirror held up to ourselves, reflecting our deepest fears and anxieties 
. And yeah, the complicated web of emotions and power dynamics can be super messy and uncomfortable, but that's what makes it so fascinating 
.
and honestly, who needs to read about someone else's cheating problems when there are so many more fascinating stories out there? like, have you read any good thrillers lately? those are way more compelling than some dude's midlife crisis 
It's like how everyone talks about relationships like they're some sort of fairy tale romance, but no one really wants to admit the messy reality that comes with them 
!
It's such a vulnerable feeling, but at the same time, it's also super humanizing 
.