About the book
“Packed with tension, pathos, and vitality . . . This is a potent first novel from a formidable talent.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“The best fictional account I’ve read of the way the internet has shaped our inner lives.” — Guardian (UK)
At twenty-three Alice Hare, a loner, arrives in New York with only the vaguest of plans: to find a city to call home. Instead she discovers the online profile of a Japanese writer called Mizuko Himura, whose stories blur the line between autobiography and fiction. Alice becomes infatuated with Mizuko from afar, convinced this stranger’s life holds a mirror to her own. Realities multiply as Alice closes in on her “internet twin,” staging a chance encounter and inserting herself into his orbit. When Mizuko disappears, Alice is alone and adrift again. Tortured by her silence, Alice uses the only tool at her disposal, writing herself back into Mizuko’s story, with disastrous consequences.
“A smart and lyrical evocation of that murky emotional terrain between our online and offline selves.” — Vice (UK)
“At once a riveting mystery and a literary tour de force, Sympathy had me spellbound from the first page to the last.” — Emily Gould, author of Friendship
Editions of Sympathy
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781328916204
- EBook
- ISBN 9780544836624
Read an Excerpt
“Packed with tension, pathos, and vitality . . . This is a potent first novel from a formidable talent.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“The best fictional account I’ve read of the way the internet has shaped our inner lives.” — Guardian (UK)
At twenty-three Alice Hare, a loner, arrives in New York with only the vaguest of plans: to find a city to call home. Instead she discovers the online profile of a Japanese writer called Mizuko Himura, whose stories blur the line between autobiography and fiction. Alice becomes infatuated with Mizuko from afar, convinced this stranger’s life holds a mirror to her own. Realities multiply as Alice closes in on her “internet twin,” staging a chance encounter and inserting herself into his orbit. When Mizuko disappears, Alice is alone and adrift again. Tortured by her silence, Alice uses the only tool at her disposal, writing herself back into Mizuko’s story, with disastrous consequences.
“A smart and lyrical evocation of that murky emotional terrain between our online and offline selves.” — Vice (UK)
“At once a riveting mystery and a literary tour de force, Sympathy had me spellbound from the first page to the last.” — Emily Gould, author of Friendship
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sympathy about?
“Packed with tension, pathos, and vitality . . . This is a potent first novel from a formidable talent.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“The best fictional account I’ve read of the way the internet has shaped our inner lives.” — Guardian (UK)
At twenty-three Alice Hare, a loner, arrives in New York with only the vaguest of plans: to find a city to call home. Instead she discovers the online profile of a Japanese writer called Mizuko Himura, whose stories blur the line between autobiography and fiction. Alice becomes infatuated with Mizuko from afar, convinced this stranger’s life holds a mirror to her own. Realities multiply as Alice closes in on her “internet twin,” staging a chance encounter and inserting herself into his orbit. When Mizuko disappears, Alice is alone and adrift again. Tortured by her silence, Alice uses the only tool at her disposal, writing herself back into Mizuko’s story, with disastrous consequences.
“A smart and lyrical evocation of that murky emotional terrain between our online and offline selves.” — Vice (UK)
“At once a riveting mystery and a literary tour de force, Sympathy had me spellbound from the first page to the last.” — Emily Gould, author of Friendship
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Sympathy?
Fiction > Romance > Modern and Contemporary romance
Where can I read a sample of Sympathy?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781328916204
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Sympathy?
Olivia Sudjic
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Sympathy is available as paperback(ISBN 9781328916204) and ebook(ISBN 9780544836624)
Where can I buy Sympathy online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Sympathy from below
Where can I buy Sympathy?