New Hemon novel!

From the new Bookforum I was delighted to learn that not only does Aleksandar Hemon have a new book coming out (The Lazarus Project) but even more so that it's a novel. I knew he had something in the works, but thought it was nonfiction. Not that Hemon's nonfiction would be any less of a pleasure to read, of course - I'd probably enjoy reading his grocery list. But a new novel from him is a very pleasant surprise indeed, and Patrick McGrath's review leads me to believe it's a great one.

Here, Hemon finds a story big enough to contain and structure his extensive repertoire of fiercely held obsessions, which include, in no particular order, Bosnia, America, identity, history, young men’s friendships, death, resurrection, the nature of evil, storytelling, the impossibility of truth, the siege of Sarajevo, old photographs, the absence of God, violence, war, fraud, and espionage.

In other words, most of Hemon's familiar themes, which he has apparently executed extremely well. McGrath clearly thinks the book is great, and considering that this glowing assessment comes from a reviewer who thinks Nowhere Man (one of my favorite novels) "doesn't quite work" makes me even more eager to read the new one. Sounds like a terrific book.