Paperback review: Leaving the Atocha Station, By Ben Lerner
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.This debut novel was rejected by mainstream publishers and you can see why: its portrait of an American abroad frequently walks a fine line between brilliance and naval-gazing.
Adam is a young poet on a fellowship in Madrid. Fuelled by espresso and a large spliff he visits the Prado daily where he concludes his most profound experience of art is an acceptance of its “absence of profundity.” Kindred spirits will identify with Lerner’s questing and dissociated youth whose travels leave him feeling like “…a character in The Passenger, a movie I had never seen.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments