Surplus Matter

I’m interested in people’s readings of the books. A novel doesn’t end when it’s written; in a way, that’s just the beginning: the ‘meaning’ isn’t enclosed within it but emerges from its meeting with other texts, other moments — all textbook deconstruction stuff, I know, but no less true for that. Having said that, some readings are much more productive than others. Ones that interpret Remainder, for example, as a straight allegory or ‘solve’ it by suggesting that the hero’s dead but doesn’t know it yet are interesting but limited. The critic Andrew Gibson, who’s just put out a book on Beckett and Badiou, told me that my work is about ‘the radical death of the world,’ adding that this is the theme of twenty-first century philosophy. I’m not sure I understand what he means but it sounds really good.

Mark Thwaite interviews Tom McCarthy in ReadySteadyBook.

Remainder is a deeply philosophical novel of the best kind — the kind without any philosophy in it.

Antoine Wilson on philosophy and physiotherapy in Remainder.

Remainder is “different and compelling, and definitely worth discussing”.

“Rebuilding of life forgotten is a story to remember.”

“Remainder is the kind of book that will make you giggle at its witty and meticulous descriptions, impress you with its near-perfect prose and leave you scratching your head.”

“A great answer to the question: What would you do if you had a million dollars?”

“From the sizzle of liver to the splatter of cats falling from rooftops, each detail is meticulous and intriguing. An apartment building has not been so interesting since 11 Rue Simon-Crubellier in Georges [tag]Perec[/tag]’s Life, a User’s Manual. For a first novel, Remainder shows a lot of promise and Tom McCarthy’s future work should deserve a harder look when making a States-side debut.”

“This is a book to be read and then reread, rich as it is with its insights, daring as it is with its contradictions.”

“First you’re fluid, in the moment, then suddenly your actions require additional care and precision. You’d long, I suppose, for the days when your actions felt as though they were yours. That’s the set-up for Remainder, a novel by Tom McCarthy that I recently finished, and which I highly advise checking out.”

“Tom McCarthy’s unnamed narrator in Remainder has recovered from an accident and is now millions of English pounds richer. He’s also without a memory and in the midst of a boring existential quandary: He just doesn’t feel right. (I was hoping, at this point, for his suicide.)”