An Earthquake Is a Shaking of the Surface of the Earth

Set in an apocalyptic near future in which there are almost-constant earthquakes, an unreliable, unnamed narrator—a former actress—explains the inner workings of her mind and her deepest desires: chiefly being, to kill her roommate, whom she sees as a stand-in for the perfect version of herself. The roommate’s sudden disappearance drives the narrator to search for her, which leads to her gaining a better sense of the world and her place in it. Many characters try to force their ideologies on the protagonist, which forces her to question her authenticity and motives. Poet and translator Moschovakis’s latest novel (after Participation) is finely crafted, with themes of transformation and performance that will leave readers in a contemplative mood. On a philosophical level, readers are asked to question their motives for performance in a world that asks for meta-hyperawareness of the self.