The Secret Talker A Novel
The Secret Talker A Novel by Geling Yan is a First Edition published by HarperCollinsPublishers in 2021. This 151-page literary work explores the complexities of communication and the intricacies of commitment through the lens of a marriage that appears perfect from the outside. Hongmei, a devoted Chinese wife, and Glen, her American husband, navigate their faltering relationship primarily through notes left on the fridge, highlighting the emotional distance between them.
Readers will find a psychological narrative that delves into themes of desire and identity as Hongmei becomes entangled in an emotional affair with a mysterious email correspondent. As she reveals her past as a military intelligence officer-in-training in China, the story unfolds into a tense exploration of self-discovery and the consequences of repressed emotions. The Secret Talker examines how silence and hidden truths can disrupt even the most seemingly idyllic lives, leading to a gripping journey that challenges the boundaries of love and personal agency. Translated from the Chinese by Jeremy Tiang, this edition invites readers to reflect on the profound impact of communication in relationships.
Official synopsis Publisher
“The Secret Talker is a profound meditation on love, the difficulties of communication and the agonizing joy and brutality of commitment.” — THE NEW YORK TIMES
A NEW YORK TIMES BEST THRILLER OF 2021 AND “GLOBETROTTING” PICK!
A woman reclaims her own story in this taut and wholly original literary tale from one of China’s literary superstars.
Hongmei is the perfect Chinese wife: beautiful, diligent, passive. Glen is the perfect American husband: intelligent, caring, well-off. From the outside, Hongmei and Glen’s life in the San Francisco Bay Area seems perfect. But at home, their marriage is falling apart. Post-its left on the fridge are their primary form of communication.
When Hongmei receives a beguiling email from a secret admirer, naturally she’s intrigued. But what starts out as harmless flirting with an internet stranger quickly turns into an all-consuming emotional affair. As Hongmei spills more and more about her dark past as a military intelligence officer-in-training in China, she falls deeper and deeper into a tense cat-and-mouse game. Desperate and self-destructive, she embarks on an investigation into her emailer’s secret history…one that may tear her life and marriage apart forever.
A psychological story at its core, The Secret Talker elegantly examines how repressed desire and simmering silence can upend even the most idyllic marriage. As Hongmei pursues her stalker, her identity and agency come into question, and the chase curveballs into a captivating journey of self-actualization. Yan Geling pierces the human psyche to reveal devastating and emotional truths – and an ending that will leave readers speechless.
Translated from the Chinese by Jeremy Tiang
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