Endpapers: A NovelIn this page-turning novel set in 2003 New York City, a genderqueer book conservator feels trapped by her gender presentation, her ill-fitting relationship, and her artistic block—until she discovers a decades-old hidden queer love letter and becomes obsessed with tracking down its author. It's 2003,and artist Dawn Levit is stuck. A bookbinder who works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she spends all day repairing old books but hasn’t created anything of her own in years. What’s more, although she doesn’t have a word for it yet, Dawn is genderqueer, and with a partner who wishes she were a man and a society that wants her to be a woman, she’s struggling to feel safe expressing herself. Dawn spends her free time scouting the city’s street art, hoping to find the inspiration that will break her artistic block—and time is of the essence, because she’s making her major gallery debut in six weeks and doesn’t have anything to show yet. One day at work, Dawn discovers something hidden under the endpapers of an old book: the torn-off cover of a lesbian pulp novel from the 1950s, with an illustration of a woman looking into a mirror and seeing a man’s face. Even more intriguing is the queer love letter written on the back. Dawn becomes obsessed with tracking down the author of the letter, convinced the mysterious writer can help her find her place in the world. Her fixation only increases when her best friend, Jae, is injured in a hate crime for which Dawn feels responsible. But ultimately for Dawn, the trickiest puzzle to solve is how she truly wants to live her life. A sharply written, page-turning, and evocative debut, Endpapers is an unforgettable story about the journey toward authenticity and the hard conversations we owe ourselves in pursuit of a world where no one has to hide. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accordion Alice Amina artists bathroom bindery book cover bookbinder breath camera chana masala cigarette close comes Dawn door dress Endpapers everything eyes face falafel feel finally front fucking futon genderqueer Gertrude Gertrude's girl grab graffiti Grolier Club hair hand head hear holding hope I’ve imagine inside Jae says Jae's Japanese tissue Katherine keep kisses Kleber laugh Lavender Scare lean letter look Lukas's Mars Bar Marta messenger bag Mink morning never okay painted Park Slope pick pull Sapphic says Jae says Lukas scared seems Shabbat shakes shoulder siddur sidewalk smile someone sorry sound stand stare stop street street art subway sure talk tell Thanks there's things thought trying turn voice wait walk watch What's woman wonder words workbench write Yeah