About the book
The BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick
'Sentence by sentence, Ben Hinshaw offers wit, sensitivity and sharp observation. Then slowly the reader sees the grand design - the intricate, braided storylines, sustained with energy and relish. It is entertaining, and something more - truly involving, like a whole novel sequence cleverly condensed' Hilary Mantel
Surrounded by the dramatic beauty of Guernsey, a teenager discovers a secret and finds his betrayal has the power to ruin adult lives. In London, a marriage shot through with infidelity leads to a quest for revenge, resulting in a series of simultaneously comical and catastrophic events. And in California, as wildfires threaten landscapes and lives, a young veteran struggles with the trauma of war, seeking solace at a local ranch.
In this extraordinary debut, a cast of characters grapple with unexpected betrayal, the loss of innocence and the lies we tell. With sharp insight, Ben Hinshaw illuminates the unnerving nature of what it means to grow up, to be a teenager playing at adulthood and an adult playing games.
'Remarkable . . . virtuosity of technique accompanies keenness of insight and depth of characterisation . . . Hinshaw's impressively accomplished debut puts him in [Tim Winton and Jennifer Egan's] company' Sunday Times
'Ben Hinshaw renders ordinary human agonies with extraordinary precision and emotional insight. He specialises in the atmosphere of human interconnection, in subtle revelations and indelible images. This book is a riveting and beautifully patterned map of the emotional archipelago of longing and learning, loving and leaving' Max Porter
'A surprising and enjoyable read . . the exercise of working out how the web threads together is part of the pleasure of this book . . . this novel without guardrails stands as a brave debut' The Times
Editions of Exactly What You Mean
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780241524718
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241524732
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241524725
- EBook
- ISBN 9780241524749
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780241554869
Read an Excerpt
The BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick
'Sentence by sentence, Ben Hinshaw offers wit, sensitivity and sharp observation. Then slowly the reader sees the grand design - the intricate, braided storylines, sustained with energy and relish. It is entertaining, and something more - truly involving, like a whole novel sequence cleverly condensed' Hilary Mantel
Surrounded by the dramatic beauty of Guernsey, a teenager discovers a secret and finds his betrayal has the power to ruin adult lives. In London, a marriage shot through with infidelity leads to a quest for revenge, resulting in a series of simultaneously comical and catastrophic events. And in California, as wildfires threaten landscapes and lives, a young veteran struggles with the trauma of war, seeking solace at a local ranch.
In this extraordinary debut, a cast of characters grapple with unexpected betrayal, the loss of innocence and the lies we tell. With sharp insight, Ben Hinshaw illuminates the unnerving nature of what it means to grow up, to be a teenager playing at adulthood and an adult playing games.
'Remarkable . . . virtuosity of technique accompanies keenness of insight and depth of characterisation . . . Hinshaw's impressively accomplished debut puts him in [Tim Winton and Jennifer Egan's] company' Sunday Times
'Ben Hinshaw renders ordinary human agonies with extraordinary precision and emotional insight. He specialises in the atmosphere of human interconnection, in subtle revelations and indelible images. This book is a riveting and beautifully patterned map of the emotional archipelago of longing and learning, loving and leaving' Max Porter
'A surprising and enjoyable read . . the exercise of working out how the web threads together is part of the pleasure of this book . . . this novel without guardrails stands as a brave debut' The Times
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Exactly What You Mean about?
The BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick
'Sentence by sentence, Ben Hinshaw offers wit, sensitivity and sharp observation. Then slowly the reader sees the grand design - the intricate, braided storylines, sustained with energy and relish. It is entertaining, and something more - truly involving, like a whole novel sequence cleverly condensed' Hilary Mantel
Surrounded by the dramatic beauty of Guernsey, a teenager discovers a secret and finds his betrayal has the power to ruin adult lives. In London, a marriage shot through with infidelity leads to a quest for revenge, resulting in a series of simultaneously comical and catastrophic events. And in California, as wildfires threaten landscapes and lives, a young veteran struggles with the trauma of war, seeking solace at a local ranch.
In this extraordinary debut, a cast of characters grapple with unexpected betrayal, the loss of innocence and the lies we tell. With sharp insight, Ben Hinshaw illuminates the unnerving nature of what it means to grow up, to be a teenager playing at adulthood and an adult playing games.
'Remarkable . . . virtuosity of technique accompanies keenness of insight and depth of characterisation . . . Hinshaw's impressively accomplished debut puts him in [Tim Winton and Jennifer Egan's] company' Sunday Times
'Ben Hinshaw renders ordinary human agonies with extraordinary precision and emotional insight. He specialises in the atmosphere of human interconnection, in subtle revelations and indelible images. This book is a riveting and beautifully patterned map of the emotional archipelago of longing and learning, loving and leaving' Max Porter
'A surprising and enjoyable read . . the exercise of working out how the web threads together is part of the pleasure of this book . . . this novel without guardrails stands as a brave debut' The Times
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Exactly What You Mean?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of Exactly What You Mean?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241524718
How long is Exactly What You Mean and how many pages does it have?
Exactly What You Mean has 224 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Exactly What You Mean?
Ben Hinshaw
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Exactly What You Mean is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780241524718) and paperback(ISBN 9780241524732) and paperback(ISBN 9780241524725) and ebook(ISBN 9780241524749) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780241554869)
Where can I buy Exactly What You Mean online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Exactly What You Mean from below
Where can I buy Exactly What You Mean?