In Tongues

A Novel

By: Thomas Grattan

Narrated by: Daniel Henning

Long-listed, Joyce Carol Oates Prize, 2024

Named a Most Anticipated Book by Time, Bloomberg, and Electric Literature. RuPaul and Eric Cervini's Allstora Book Club Pick for June.

"Thomas Grattan is a master of plot—that rare ability—which makes In Tongues a real roller coaster: funny, sad, shocking, and, finally, quite moving."—Andrew Holleran, author of Dancer from the Dance

"An amiable, zippy novel that also smuggles in a sharp analysis of family, class and the intergenerational inheritance of gay men."―The Washington Post

A young gay man upends the lives of a powerful art-world couple in this steamy novel of self-discovery.

It’s 2001, and twenty-four-year-old Gordon—handsome, sensitive, and eager for direction—takes a bus from Minnesota to New York City because it’s the only place for a young gay man to go. As he begins to settle into the city’s punishing rhythm, he gets a job walking rich Manhattanites’ dogs. But it isn’t until he stumbles into the West Village brownstone of two of his clients, the powerful gallery owners Phillip and Nicola, that Gordon learns how much the world has hidden from him—and what he’s capable of doing in order to get it for himself.

A lush, heart-quickening novel about family and art, sex and class, and the terror of self-discovery, Thomas Grattan’s In Tongues chronicles Gordon’s perilous pursuit of belonging from the Midwest to New York and, later, to Europe and Mexico City. As he floats further into Phillip and Nicola’s exclusive universe, and as lines blur between employee, muse, lover, and mentor, Gordon’s charm, manipulation, and growing ambition begin to escape his own control, in turn threatening to unravel the lives, and lies, of those around him.

Anchored by winsome lyricism, glinting intellect, and a main character whose yearnings and mistakes come to feel like our own, In Tongues crackles with fierce longing and pointed emotion, further confirming Grattan as a rare chronicler of young adulthood’s joys and devastations.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2024 Thomas Grattan (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"A witty picaresque . . . Gordon is a fine creation. With his disarmingly straightforward narrative style, he makes for a convincing and likable hero . . . Writing with economy and comic generosity, Grattan pulls off an amiable, zippy novel that also smuggles in a sharp analysis of family, class and the intergenerational inheritance of gay men."—Charles Arrowsmith, The Washington Post

"Affecting . . . [Gordon] has a memorable voice: funny, dark, and eventually chastened. The novel builds on the self-involved, sometimes cruel protagonists of Edmund White’s early work, though Gordon learns to rein himself in instead of committing more mayhem. This story of a miscreant who grows up will stick with you long after the last page."—Kirkus (starred review)

"Grattan casts early adulthood as a period of inertia, in which a person is trapped between the urge to be present and the desire to move on—a time of life whose outward expressions are, above all, absurd."—The New Yorker

Interesting and lots of potential

At first, I wasn't too sure about this book, but it started to grow on me as I read more of it. I thought perhaps it was an autobiography. It felt as if it was.. the writing was good not great, but with some more practice, this author can be in that league. It's an enjoyable read and I'll think about off for a while, I would recommend it.

Well narrated

The story itself was fairly basic, vague details, non-absorbing. There was nothing about the "protagonist" worth rooting for as the only details about him were ones of selfish decisions. Disappointed.

Great read

I loved this book. It's a good read for gay fiction. The author gives enough detail to keep the reader engaged and excited to finish.

Engaging, smart and witty storytelling!

Charming sarcasm and a wicked sense of humor had me laughing out loud! The character of Gordon is lovable and the story of his journey is colorful , heartwarming and thoughtful.

Great Story Supported by Superb Narration

Funny and fast moving story about the New York art world, terrific narration and character voices by Henning. Strong recommend.