The Town of Babylon
Alejandro Varela
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In this melancholic reflection on loss and acceptance, a young man returns to his hometown to help care for his ailing father. He encounters the same old prejudices of homophobia and xenophobia as before, but also new insight into the passing of his older brother and a seismic event that rocked his adolescence. Andrés is an openly gay Latino man who was somewhat closeted during his childhood, but as an adult he's out to his family and experiencing marital strife after learning that his Domincian husband recently cheated. The novel starts with him attending his first High School reunion in ages, and he insists on walking around town despite the place not being pedestrian friendly. He soon eases into the gathering, and then sees a past lover, Jeremy, with whom he reluctantly exchanges numbers. The story flows seamlessly from the present with minor observations and short flashbacks akin to footnotes and then entire chapters dedicated to key moments from Andrés' adolescence. He was a strong student with college aspirations and his first serious boyfriend was Jeremy, but when Jeremy's parents found out, his mother threatened to out Andrés. They made plans to run away together when they turned 18, but Jeremy backed out for reasons never explained. Andrés becomes entangled in an affair with Jeremy, who is married to a woman and has children. Andrés' feels guilty about betraying his husband, but as he becomes closer to Jeremy he learns more about his older brother Enrique who died from a stroke. Eventually, though, he has to decide if a new relationship in those circumstances is a healthy choice and advisable. A deliciously crafted, tender look at the decisions in youth and middle age that define our lives. |
Alejandro Varela (he/him) is a writer based in New York. His work has appeared in The Point Magazine, Boston Review, Harper's Magazine, The Rumpus, Joyland Magazine, The Brooklyn Rail, The Offing, Blunderbuss Magazine, Pariahs (an anthology, SFA Press, 2016), the Southampton Review, The New Republic, and has received honorable mention from Glimmer Train Press. He is a 2019 Jerome Fellow in Literature. He was a resident in the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s 2017–2018 Workspace program and a 2017 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Nonfiction. Alejandro was an associate editor at Apogee Journal from 2015 to 2020. His graduate studies were in public health. His first book, The Town of Babylon, was out 3/22/2022 and was a finalist for the 73rd National Book Awards. His second book, The People Who Report More Stress, will be out April 2023 (Astra House, 2023).
The Town of Babylon is a publication by Astra House.
The Town of Babylon is a publication by Astra House.
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