Dave Eggers new novel follows an art-obsessed boy through America

American author Dave Eggers has released a new novel titled Contrapposto. The story follows a character named Cricket, who grows up in a quiet prairie town in northwest Indiana. Cricket spends his childhood and early adulthood studying how the human body appears in art. He is deeply interested in the technical and visual aspects of the world around him.

The term contrapposto comes from Italian and describes a specific pose in sculpture and painting. It refers to a figure standing in an asymmetrical stance that looks relaxed and natural. The book uses this artistic concept as a central theme. Cricket wrestles with how to portray people on paper and how his own physical presence fits into the world.

The narrative begins in the basement of Cricket’s family home. He is spending time with his 80-year-old grandfather. The setting is humid and enclosed. At this point in the timeline, the Gulf War is still a few years away. Cricket chooses to stay in the basement because his mother is upstairs dealing with a difficult romantic partner. The latest boyfriend has a voice described as a scalpel and eyes that vibrate slightly.

After his grandfather dies, Cricket is largely on his own. He maintains a part-time job at the Whistlestop train station snack shop. He works there alongside a friend named Jed. The two have known each other since their teenage years. Cricket also develops a close relationship with a woman named Olympia. She is well-read and from a privileged background. Her conversations are filled with obscure art references and sophisticated vocabulary, which opens up new ideas for Cricket.

The novel is written in the third person. Cricket appears as a lonely and introspective young man. He often stands apart from the people around him. He is a wanderer who moves through city streets and rural back roads in America. He relies heavily on a simple, reliable pushbike for his travel. His goal is to reach the essence of art. He wants to ignore the pretension and hollow philosophies he sees in the artistic community.

Cricket has a sharp eye for detail. He memorizes the visual impressions of the people he meets. He describes his mother’s volleyball teammate with eyes the color of an accountant’s lamp and a wig that swirls like white gold. He is struck by the physical softness of Olympia’s fingers. These observations translate into his writing and drawing. He captures the atmosphere of his surroundings, such as the relentless darkness of a downtown area that feels like a dim mausoleum.

The book incorporates elements of the picaresque form. This is a style of storytelling that follows the adventures of a flawed and often mistaken hero. Cricket is likable and unsure of himself. He has an imaginative mind that seems ready to be released. He maintains an innocent view of the world, even as he becomes aware of the varied agendas of the people around him. Moments of simple joy, such as a compliment from a mother figure or a feeling of love while riding home, shine through the narrative.

Eggers shares a similar interest in art with his protagonist. The author practices art himself. The novel is a long work that feels epic in scope. It traces Cricket’s journey from his small town to opportunities in larger cities. The story does not depend on whether Cricket eventually becomes an artist’s apprentice in Europe. Instead, it presents the whole world as a palette for him to experiment with. The book ends with Cricket ready to render his vision with fidelity.

Jessie Neilson, a library assistant at the University of Otago, reviewed the book. She noted that the author and the main character are both enchanted by art. The review describes the novel as a tale of hope that is laid out with thought and care. The book is published by Allen & Unwin.