In Joanna Kavenna's latest novel, Seven (Or, How to Play a Game Without Rules), the boundaries between philosophy, satire, and absurdity blur in a delightfully maddening way. The story follows an unnamed narrator, employed as a research assistant to Icelandic philosopher Alda Jónsdóttir, who specializes in "box philosophy" – the study of categorizing reality into groups and sets.
As the narrative unfolds, the narrator is dispatched to the Greek island of Hydra to meet Seven's devotee, Theódoros Apostolakis, a dentist/poet/mystic with a passion for the eponymous game. This game, played across ancient civilizations from Greece to Asia Minor, seems to embody humanity's innate desire to define and categorize reality. However, the more Kavenna delves into this world of intellectual pursuits, the more she reveals its limitations.
The novel careens through Europe, visiting scenic locations under parabolic skies and over silvery seas, introducing a cast of eccentric thinkers, gamers, artists, and "incoherent rich people" who all try to box reality into their respective categories. Along the way, Kavenna tackles mythical figures like King Minos and Alexander the Great, as well as literary icons such as Steve Harley.
Throughout this peripatetic journey, Kavenna's sharp wit and humor keep the reader engaged, even when the narrative becomes increasingly absurd. Her philosophical rigour is tempered by a generous sense of humour, making it easy to appreciate her outrageous characters and jokes.
Ultimately, Seven appears to be more about the limits of philosophy than a novel about philosophy itself. The author's use of episodic structure creates an ongoing contrast between the abstract discourses her narrator is subjected to and the cosmic sublimity of nature they experience. As the story hurtles towards its climax, Kavenna may seem to be leading us astray with red herrings and imposture.
However, once you let go of your desire to grasp every nuance, Seven reveals itself as an invitation to revel in the formless delights of a universe "hanging out with itself." It's a celebration of flux, where galaxies spiral into themselves, and everything – games, boxes, words, symbols, even the stars – exists in a state of constant transformation.
As the narrative unfolds, the narrator is dispatched to the Greek island of Hydra to meet Seven's devotee, Theódoros Apostolakis, a dentist/poet/mystic with a passion for the eponymous game. This game, played across ancient civilizations from Greece to Asia Minor, seems to embody humanity's innate desire to define and categorize reality. However, the more Kavenna delves into this world of intellectual pursuits, the more she reveals its limitations.
The novel careens through Europe, visiting scenic locations under parabolic skies and over silvery seas, introducing a cast of eccentric thinkers, gamers, artists, and "incoherent rich people" who all try to box reality into their respective categories. Along the way, Kavenna tackles mythical figures like King Minos and Alexander the Great, as well as literary icons such as Steve Harley.
Throughout this peripatetic journey, Kavenna's sharp wit and humor keep the reader engaged, even when the narrative becomes increasingly absurd. Her philosophical rigour is tempered by a generous sense of humour, making it easy to appreciate her outrageous characters and jokes.
Ultimately, Seven appears to be more about the limits of philosophy than a novel about philosophy itself. The author's use of episodic structure creates an ongoing contrast between the abstract discourses her narrator is subjected to and the cosmic sublimity of nature they experience. As the story hurtles towards its climax, Kavenna may seem to be leading us astray with red herrings and imposture.
However, once you let go of your desire to grasp every nuance, Seven reveals itself as an invitation to revel in the formless delights of a universe "hanging out with itself." It's a celebration of flux, where galaxies spiral into themselves, and everything – games, boxes, words, symbols, even the stars – exists in a state of constant transformation.
The way she blends philosophy, satire, and absurdity is pure genius, it's like she took all the crazy thoughts in her head and put them on paper. I mean, who wouldn't want to read about "box philosophy" and ancient civilizations trying to categorize reality? 
It's like she took a bunch of different ideas, threw them up against the wall, and saw what stuck.
it's like joanna kavenna took all these big philosophical ideas and turned them into a wild goose chase across europe 
the more i thought about it, the less i knew 
anyway, i loved the absurdity of it all & the way kavenna writes is just so witty & funny 
. But seriously, this book is all about embracing the messiness of life and finding joy in its imperfections 
. I think that's what makes it so infectious - it's like Kavenna is inviting you to join her on a cosmic dance party through space and time 
. So if you're looking for a read that'll challenge your brain and make you laugh, look no further than Seven! 
According to Wikipedia, 7 Or How to Play a Game Without Rules is her third book, with an average rating of 4.2/5 on Goodreads. Did you know that the novel has sold over 100k copies worldwide since its release in March? 
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. - Albert Einstein 
that novel sounds soooo thought-provoking 
at the same time its like a wild rollercoaster ride with all these absurd characters 
i can imagine how hard it must be for the narrator to keep up with all the crazy thinkers 
. it's just another novel that thinks it's deep because its got some philosophical stuff in it 
. newsflash: box philosophy is not that original 
. i mean, who comes up with this stuff? sounds like a bunch of elitist nonsense to me 
. but hey, if ur into that sorta thing, go for it 
. just don't expect me to join u on ur existential crisis 
. i love how the author uses humor to keep you engaged even when things get weird 
. but at the same time, it's like, what's the point of all this? is it just about embracing the messiness of life? 
The author's sense of humor is on point, and I'm obsessed with the cast of characters - Steve Harley as a literary icon? 
Yes, please! 
. The author's use of satire and absurdity is genius, but at times it felt like she was teasing me with clues that never panned out. Still, there's something beautiful about watching this narrator stumble from one intellectual pursuit to another, trying to make sense of the world. And Kavenna's writing? Absolutely delightful