Staff Pick
I love the strange, subtly cinematic arc of the story. The way it unfolds and comes together was clever, sometimes disorienting. Reminded me of Dennis Cooper at times — that sort of calm, out-of-body terror. Sometimes when I take a book on the bus, I ignore it for easier distractions, like looking at my phone or out the window. But I couldn't wait to open up King of Joy every day before and after work. Recommended By Kevin S., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Richard Chiem's debut novel King of Joy is the triumphant, electrifying story of one woman's quest for survival against all odds, told in the author's inimitable prose style.
"This novel is transfixing: an imaginative meditation on emotional survival, isolation, and the beauty and limitations of human connection. I love Chiem's writing." — Melissa Broder, author of The Pisces
Corvus has always had an overactive imagination. Growing up, she develops a unique coping mechanism: she can imagine herself out of any situation, no matter how terrible. To get through each day, Corvus escapes into scenes from fantasy novels, pop songs, and action/adventure movies, and survives by turning the everyday into just another role to play in the movie of her life.
After a tragic loss, Corvus finds a sadness so great she cannot imagine it away. Instead, she finds Tim, a pornographer with unconventional methods, who offers her a new way to escape into movies. But when a sinister plot of greed and betrayal is revealed, Corvus must fight to reclaim her independence, and discovers she is stronger than even she could have imagined.
Written in Richard Chiem's singular style, this debut novel is equal parts sledgehammer and sweet song, a neon, pulsing portrait of grief. King of Joy tells the triumphant, electrifying story of one woman's quest for survival against all odds, and serves as a reminder that resilience can be found even in our most hopeless moments.
Review
"A remarkable portrayal of restless youth, made sweeter by the author's crisp, spare prose and a thoughtful portrayal of a woman who lost her way." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"I’ve read a lot about grief, but this sentence in Richard Chiem’s novel, King of Joy, still knocked me right out with its quiet, piercing truth: 'Grief is an out of body thing, the worst secret you can have.' This is a book about grief, about trauma and recovery, the ways the world destroys us and the ways we accelerate the destruction of our world. All of it is told in Chiem’s inimitable voice; it’s unsentimental, hypnotic stuff, you’ll race through it, heart beating, eyes burning, recognizing your own secrets on every page." Kristin Iversen, NYLON, 1 of 50 Books You'll Want to Read This Year
Review
"Chiem is one of my favorite writers AND readers in Seattle. His meditative sentences pull you close, and then, right when he has you where he wants you, he shows you the strangest and most heartbreaking and quietly funny things you've ever seen. Women drunk on champagne and lighting a tree on fire. An airplane entering and then exiting the reflective mirror of a puddle. A glowing black chandelier. These are some of the striking scenes and images you'll find as you follow the story of Corvus, a young woman who uses her imagination to cope with the pains of loss — until one day she suffers a loss so great she can't escape." Rich Smith, The Stranger
Review
"What a funny, fresh, bittersweet masterpiece — there is no one else in the world writing like Richard Chiem. From the sentence-level wizardry to the racing plot, I feel smarter just having read this. Every page brings a new set of wonders." Alissa Nutting, author of Made for Love
Review
“Richard Chiem’s wonderful new novel explores the intersections of sex and survival, sadness and friendship, making art and discovering love, short-circuiting expectations at every juncture. Casually surreal and utterly spellbinding, King of Joy is a deeply moving story about our quests for various forms of oblivion.” Jeff Jackson, author of Destroy All Monsters
Synopsis
Named a 2019 Writer to Watch by the Los Angeles Times, Richard Chiem has written a new novel that is equal parts sledgehammer and sweet song. King of Joy is a neon, pulsing portrait of grief, and an electrifying story of one woman's survival against all odds. "This novel is transfixing. . . I love Chiem's writing." ―Melissa Broder, author of The Pisces
Corvus has always had an overactive imagination. Growing up, she develops a unique coping mechanism: she can imagine herself out of any situation, no matter how terrible. To get through each day, Corvus escapes into scenes from fantasy novels, pop songs, and action/adventure movies, and survives by turning the everyday into just another role to play in the movie of her life.
After a tragic loss, Corvus finds a sadness so great she cannot imagine it away. Instead, she finds Tim, a pornographer with unconventional methods, who offers her a new way to escape into movies. But when a sinister plot of greed and betrayal is revealed, Corvus must fight to reclaim her independence, and discovers she is stronger than even she could have imagined.
Written in Richard Chiem's singular style, King of Joy is equal parts sledgehammer and sweet song, a neon, pulsing portrait of grief.
About the Author
Richard Chiem is the author of You Private Person (Sorry House Classics) and the novel King of Joy (Soft Skull Press, 2019). His work has appeared in City Arts Magazine, NY Tyrant, and Gramma Poetry, among other places. His book, You Private Person, was named one of Publisher Weekly's 10 Essential Books of the American West. He lives in Seattle, WA.