The Nix: A novel
The Nix: A novel by Nathan Hill, published by Random House Audio on August 30, 2016, is an unabridged edition that spans 22 pages. This narrative follows Samuel Andresen-Anderson, a college professor and stalled writer, as he navigates the complexities of his relationship with his mother, Faye, who abandoned him during his childhood. Faye’s unexpected reappearance, following an absurd crime that captures national attention, forces Samuel to confront the contrasting narratives surrounding her life and their shared past.
Readers will find a blend of humor and poignant reflection as the story unfolds, exploring themes of family life and personal identity against the backdrop of significant historical events, including the 1968 Chicago riots. The Nix delves into the intricacies of love, loss, and the search for truth, as Samuel embarks on a journey to uncover long-buried secrets that connect his family to their Norwegian roots. This edition offers a concise yet impactful exploration of the resilience of home and the complexities of familial bonds.
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Winner of the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction
A New York Times 2016 Notable Book
Entertainment Weekly’s #1 Book of the Year
A Washington Post 2016 Notable Book
A Slate Top Ten Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“The Nix is a mother-son psychodrama with ghosts and politics, but it’s also a tragicomedy about anger and sanctimony in America. . . . Nathan Hill is a maestro.” —John Irving
From the suburban Midwest to New York City to the 1968 riots that rocked Chicago and beyond, The Nix explores—with sharp humor and a fierce tenderness—the resilience of love and home, even in times of radical change.
It’s 2011, and Samuel Andresen-Anderson—college professor, stalled writer—has a Nix of his own: his mother, Faye. He hasn’t seen her in decades, not since she abandoned the family when he was a boy. Now she’s re-appeared, having committed an absurd crime that electrifies the nightly news, beguiles the internet, and inflames a politically divided country. The media paints Faye as a radical hippie with a sordid past, but as far as Samuel knows, his mother was an ordinary girl who married her high-school sweetheart. Which version of his mother is true? Two facts are certain: she’s facing some serious charges, and she needs Samuel’s help.
To save her, Samuel will have to embark on his own journey, uncovering long-buried secrets about the woman he thought he knew, secrets that stretch across generations and have their origin all the way back in Norway, home of the mysterious Nix. As he does so, Samuel will confront not only Faye’s losses but also his own lost love, and will relearn everything he thought he knew about his mother, and himself.
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