Laurent Mauvignier‘s The Birthday Party, translated into English by Daniel Levin Becker, begins with a nearly 275-word sentence that takes up the entire first page. It’s intimidating upon first glance—introductions are daunting enough, insisting that readers dive in blindly and trust the writer to orient them—and one might get through the sentence, flip the page, notice that nearly all the sentences are like that, and give up. I mean, over 400 pages of extraordinarily long sentences? Who wants to read that?
Me!
I’m not exactly sure when or where my affinity for long sentences began, but it notably reached a peak (and has not yet gone back down) in September of 2023, when I read my now-favorite novel, Nathan Hill‘s The Nix. I remember reading a pages-long chapter that was made up of one sentence; I turned to my friend and announced what I’d just encountered. Usually reading is a solitary experience for me (unless I’m reading with my mom, which is my favorite way to read [Hi, Mom!]), so it was certainly a big deal that I felt I had no choice but to tell my friend about the one-sentence chapter. I gushed about how hilarious it was, how entertaining, how masterful. How the usage of commas, em-dashes, parentheses, and conjunctions was just perfect. Nathan Hill has a talented—and patient—editor. Before The Nix, I hadn’t stumbled across anyone bold enough to do something like that. After The Nix, I wanted to read more.
I picked up Mauvignier’s The Birthday Party because I’ve been wanting to read more translated work after my successes with Gianfranco Calligarich‘s Last Summer in the City (translated by Howard Curtis) and Natalia Ginzburg‘s The Dry Heart (translated by Frances Frenaye). A literary thriller sounded interesting, especially one that promised anonymous letters and unwelcome visitors. I knew going into the book that Mauvignier’s prose was held in high regard, so I was looking forward to diving in. I did not expect the first page to be made up of one sentence, but by no means was I disappointed. It took me a few pages to feel settled in, but once I was, I could hardly put the book down.
Because The Birthday Party is a slow-burning thriller, it takes time to get readers familiar with its characters. The book’s long sentences are jam-packed with identifying information about its main characters, Christine, Patrice, Marion, Ida, and the others (whom I will not mention here to entice you to read the book), and by spending more time reading the sentences, you spend more time getting to know the subjects of the story.
Another thing Mauvignier is able to do through his extended sentences is to subtly and effectively interweave perspectives. There are plenty of section breaks, but they’re not cop-outs to switch point of view. Mauvignier jumps from character to character like there’s no tomorrow, yet we don’t get lost in the prose. Instead, we’re even more engaged. Different characters are able to reveal different tidbits of information to us, and the pacing of The Birthday Party is so fantastic that we’re constantly learning things, 400+ pages into the book, just like we were doing on page one. And I have yet to mention this, but believe it or not, the entire thing takes place mostly over the course of one evening.
I finished The Birthday Party a few days ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. In my opinion, it’s a five-star book. It has everything I want in a novel: well-developed characters, a setting that functions as a character, delicious and intentional prose, and more. It couldn’t have accomplished any of these feats without exceptionally long sentences, and for those, I am grateful.
So, what do you think? Are you a fan of long sentences? (And if you are, do you have any recommendations for me? I’d love to continue reading books like The Birthday Party forever.)
Erin Gray
Alpha Tau Iota Chapter, Vice President
University of Iowa
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
Add Comment