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The Fermata
The Fermata
Nov 11, 2025 2:45 PM

Author:Nicholson Baker

The Fermata

This is the story of Arno Strine, a modest temporary typist, who has perfected the knack of stopping time in its tracks and taking women's clothes off. He is hard at work on his autobiography, The Fermata, which proves in the telling to be a very provocative, very funny and altogether morally confused piece of work.

Hilarious and totally original, Nicholson Baker's new novel is a triumphant comedy about sexual fantasy and fantastic sexuality.

Reviews

Lots of nakedness, quite a few surprises. His novels have the brazen, daring timidity of love letters you know you'll never post

—— Sunday Times

The book is bursting with sex and beauty, wound together profoundly and pornographically. It is bountifully Rabelasisan and intensely refined. I have never read anything quite like it. Misogynists will definitely not like The Fermata; there is not one iota of violence towards or contempt for women in this book. Wildly exhilarating and confirming. The Fermata should be celebrated

—— Mary Gaitskill

Witty, dry and thought-provoking, a great addition to Baker's unique observatory of contemporary life

—— Vogue
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