Memory is a tricky thing. A good percentage of what we think we remember is actually a mix of exaggerations, errors, imagination, and even the occasional outright falsehood. We recall being at events because someone else once described them to us. Our remembrances of the past are actually of a photo or a video rather than the actual event. We misattribute quotes and convince ourselves of past events that are slightly different or that never occurred (not a great help during trivia night). Technology has helped with some of this, keeping us on time for events and on top of tasks, though the subtle ways we can misrepresent reality on social media can further contribute to our flawed reminiscences.
That is precisely what is at the core of Ben Lerner’s absorbing, thought-provoking novella Transcription. In it, our narrator has been sent out to interview Thomas, an acclaimed artist across various media who at 90-years-old is unlikely to sit for many more and who also happens to have been his mentor at college as well as the father of his one-time friend Max. Unfortunately, said narrator manages to drop his phone in the sink before their meeting and is left without a means of recording the chat—or of calling home to his wife and young daughter. Rather than confess this to Thomas, he tries to suggest that their first conversation will be more casual and off-the-record with the meatier subjects being left until tomorrow, but said topics prove impossible to resist and he finds himself pretending to record instead, leaving him to rely on his memory to piece the article together.
The conversation is fascinating, as one would expect when such a supposedly erudite character is involved, but since it is being recounted to us by our narrator, we are left to wonder exactly how much of it is true and how we should feel about being left with that uncertainty. This is further examined in later sections when additional characters come into play and the very nature of truth is brought up for debate. Lerner leaves us to form our own opinions on the matter and to wonder over how often we’ve encountered the product of similar circumstances in our day to day lives.
Parts of the story take place during the onset of the Covid epidemic, perfectly capturing the confusion and dread that accompanied those first weeks and months, especially for anyone who knew a loved one who became ill. If there is a second theme to the book it’s the very nature of fatherhood and its accompanying challenges, handled with admiral depth and grace. The creep of technology into all of the above and our over-reliance on it adds just that little dash more of resonance.
Largely comprised of conversations amongst well-spoken individuals, reading Transcription is immensely pleasureable. The scant 140ish pages fly by as the reader is almost totally unable to stop. As we make our way through the characters’ remembrances—or misremembrances—and their musings on myriad intellectual topics we can almost feel like we’re there in the room, conversing with them. It’s a genuine treat to be there, even if only in our heads. Just try to remember that it’s only fiction when you think back on it later. ★★★★★
★★★★★ = Excellent | ★★★★ = Very Good | ★★★ = Good | ★★ = Fair | ★ = Poor
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