Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Convalescent | 2009 | Jessica Anthony | Buy |
| 2 | Chopsticks | 2012 | Jessica Anthony | Buy |
| 3 | Enter the Aardvark | 2020 | Jessica Anthony | Buy |
Jessica Anthony’s standalone novels are each their own thing. The Convalescent (2009) follows a Hungarian-American meat seller living in a bus, jumping between centuries. Chopsticks (2012) tells a love story through photographs, music, and digital ephemera rather than traditional prose. Enter the Aardvark (2020) is a political farce that connects a present-day congressman to a Victorian taxidermist through a stuffed aardvark.
The novels are short and move quickly despite their unusual structures. Anthony does not repeat herself between books, and each one requires the reader to adjust to a new set of rules. Readers who enjoy inventive literary fiction will find all three worth the time.