This tale begins with a young writer feeling adrift in the City of Lights. He’s teaching English to bankers and insurance clerks, a far cry from his aspirations. His twin brother, pursuing a career in music in New Orleans, is a constant source of longing. He misses the camaraderie of his male friends, finding solace only in his partner’s circle, but their bond feels different, not quite “home.” Despite his fluency in French, he’s starting to feel the limits of cultural immersion. It’s time to find his tribe.
A New Narrative Emerges
Unable to connect with many French twentysomethings, he spends his weekends at the National Library of France. Fueled by Adderall, he writes the first draft of his second novel, a story about growing up in North Carolina and the complexities of male intimacy. The core of the plot emerges on a train journey, a simple sentence: “When I saw him lying in his own pool of blood, all I could think of was that half-eaten burger.” He envisions a novel titled “Slim and The Beast,” exploring how tragedy can lead two young men to find meaning in brotherhood.
Searching for Literary Peers
The young writer’s quest for a literary community takes him beyond the weekly writing prompts and open mic nights. He longs for mentors and peers who see writing as a lifestyle, not just a performance opportunity. He finds himself longing for deeper connections, a place where he can truly engage with his craft.
A Love Story Unraveling
His relationship with his partner provides a different kind of inspiration. Their connection, once passionate, has become comfortable, even predictable. He finds himself escaping into the world of “Slim and The Beast,” seeking a new type of adventure. Their lives, though peaceful, feel stagnant, as if they’ve settled into a routine too early in their lives. The bittersweet melody of Neil Young’s “Tell Me Why” resonates with their feelings: “tell me why is it hard to make arrangements with yourself, when you’re old enough to repay, but young enough to sell?”
A New Chapter Begins
The arrival of an acceptance letter from the University College London marks a turning point. The writer is leaving Paris, his only home, and venturing into the unknown. He’s leaving behind his relationship and his fiction-writing days. The journey to London is bittersweet, filled with a sense of both excitement and loss.
Finding a New Rhythm in London
His first months in London are a whirlwind of inspiration, challenges, and loneliness. He immerses himself in social theory, spending hours in his dormitory, reading dense texts. He rediscovers his passion for funk music, joining a band. He experiences the joys and pains of basketball, even suffering a broken nose. He navigates a series of romantic flings and forms friendships, but feels a deeper connection to the characters in his novel.
Academia’s Disillusionment
By the time snow falls in London, the writer has chosen his dissertation topic: social theory and the Holocaust. His interest in the human condition leads him to study Viktor Frankl’s work on human nature. But as he delves deeper into academia, he begins to feel disconnected from his artistic side. The moment of disillusionment arrives during an advanced seminar. He finds himself struggling to understand a complex text by Pierre Bourdieu, his frustration amplified by the pompous attitudes of his peers.
A New Path Emerges
The seminar experience shatters his perception of academia. He realizes it’s not a world of intellectual pursuit, but a hierarchical system built on intellectual conceit, privilege, and groupthink. He decides to abandon his path towards becoming a traditional academic. Instead, his master’s degree becomes research for a new novel, a story about a disillusioned academic searching for meaning in the early days of the Nazi Occupation of Poland.
Finding Solace in Portugal
After completing his graduate seminars, the writer leaves the dreary dormitory in Kentish Town. He moves to Peniche, a fishing village in Portugal, to write his dissertation and learn to surf. The three months he spends there are filled with serenity, adventure, and the simple pleasures of a small town life.
Back to Paris, A New Beginning
He returns to Paris in the autumn, a single man, facing a mountain of student debt. He carries with him a manuscript about a disillusioned academic and a yearning to revisit his novel, “Slim and The Beast.” His master’s degree fails to land him a better job, so he returns to his old English teaching gig.
A Chance Encounter
While living on a friend’s couch and seeking affordable housing, he meets a kind landlord, a wise French woman who has lived in India and has battled cancer. They connect over philosophy and herbal tea, their conversation a bridge between cultures. He moves into a small apartment in the heart of Paris’ old Jewish quarter. A new life begins to take shape. And as always, Paris offers a chance at romance.
A New Chapter in Writing
Through the autumn and winter, he continues to work on “Slim and The Beast.” He starts a diary, a safe space to explore the thoughts and feelings he can’t share with his partner. Around Christmas, he receives an unexpected email. An acquaintance from high school has launched a small crowdfunded publisher. They are looking for young writers and are interested in his novel.
A Chance to Publish
The news is exciting but comes with a challenge: he needs to raise $10,000 in pre-orders within three months. This is the precipice of a new adventure. He takes a leap of faith, ready to see where this new path leads him.
