Menage A Novel

Menage A Novel by Alix Kates Shulman, published by Other Press, LLC on May 15, 2012, is a work of fiction that delves into the complexities of family life and relationships. The narrative follows Heather and Mack McKay, a seemingly perfect couple living in the suburbs with their two children and nannies. However, their marriage has become stale, prompting Mack to invite exiled writer Zoltan Barbu into their home, hoping to rekindle Heather’s passion for writing and enhance his own cultural status.
As the story unfolds, readers will encounter a blend of humor and poignancy as the trio navigates the intricacies of their unconventional living arrangement. The dynamics shift among Heather, Mack, and Zoltan, leading to unexpected alliances and romantic entanglements. Shulman explores themes of ambition, dissatisfaction, and the quest for fulfillment, all while providing a satirical look at contemporary life. This original edition spans 288 pages and is presented in English, offering a thoughtful examination of modern relationships and personal aspirations.
Official synopsis Publisher
Heather and Mack McKay seem to have it all: wealth, a dream house in the suburbs, and two adorable children along with the nannies to raise them. But their marriage has lost its savor: she is a frustrated writer and he longs for a cultural trophy to hang on his belt.
During a chance encounter in LA, Mack invites exiled writer Zoltan Barbu—once lionized as a political hero, now becoming a has-been—to live with him and his wife in their luxurious home. The plan should provide Heather with literary companionship, Mack with cultural cachet, and Zoltan himself with a pastoral environment in which to overcome his writer’s block and produce a masterpiece.
Of course, as happens with triangles, complications arise—some hilarious, some sad—as the three players pursue a game that leads to shifting alliances and sexual misadventures. Shulman pokes fun at our modern malaise (why is having it all never enough?), even as she traces the ever-changing dynamics within a marriage. Ménage is a bravura performance from one of America’s most renowned feminist writers.
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