Gag Reflex (novel)
Cover of the first edition paperback of Gag Reflex by Elle Nash | |
| Author | Elle Nash |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Transgressive fiction Coming of age |
Publication date | April 12, 2022 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 180 |
| ISBN | 978-1-955-90402-5 |
Gag Reflex is a 2022 novella by British-American author Elle Nash influenced by her experience with an eating disorder.[1][2][3][4][5]The novella is said to be a spiritual prequel to Nash's previous novel Animals Eat Each Other in discussing adolescence and psychosexual themes.[1][4] The novella is nontraditionally structured with a format of online posts.
Nash said that the process of writing the novella was hard but inspired to channel her past traumas into something positive.[6][3] The novella opens with two quotes from Frankenstein analogous to how an eating disorder creates a disassociation between the body, the self and the idea of disliking the body you were created in, as Nash describes.[1] The nu metal song "Blood Pigs" by Otep comes up many times in the novella for its relevance to sexual trauma.[5][1]
Plot
Set in 2005, Lucy is an 18-year-old girl nearing her high-school graduation and currently lives in a trailer with her mother. The story is seen through the view of LiveJournal entries Lucy creates that primarily exist to track the calories she takes in each day while she struggles with anorexia. Her entries as seen by a small audience who share eating disorders and encourage self-destructive eating habits. She is also having a relationship with two boys Brian and Mike who have sex with her while they cheat on their girlfriends.
Reception
Gag Reflex was listed on transgressive fiction author Dennis Cooper's favorite media of 2022 on his personal blog.[7] BuzzFeed News listed it as one of the 17 books from independent publishers to read in 2022.[8] It received positive reviews from Punk Noir Magazine,[9] The Rumpus,[4] and The Observer.[1]
Emmeline Clein, author of book Dead Weight on the topic of eating disorders, has stated she read Gag Reflex and explored eating disorder forums in research for her book.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e Jagger, Genevieve (2022-08-03). "Author Elle Nash Talks Early Internet, Obsession, and New Book 'Gag Reflex'". Observer. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
- ^ ""Elle Nash's Gag Reflex: An (All Too) Human Response to a Nietzschean Sickness," a review by Charlene Elsby". Heavy Feather Review. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ a b "An Interview with Author Elle Nash". www.fatalflawlit.com. May 26, 2022. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ a b c Pucci, Matthew James (2022-07-12). "Swallowing the Darkness: Gag Reflex by Elle Nash". The Rumpus. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ a b Aldrich, Eric (August 1, 2022). "Gag Reflex – Elle Nash". Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ Review, Masters (2022-07-07). "A Conversation with Elle Nash, Author of Gag Reflex - The Masters Review". mastersreview.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Mine for yours: My favorite fiction, poetry, non-fiction, film, art, and internet of 2022 so far – DC's". 2022-06-29. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Fox, Wendy (July 26, 2022). "17 Books From Independent Publishers You Need To Read This Summer". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ Golds, Stephen J. (2022-04-11). "Gag Reflex by Elle Nash — A Punk Noir Review by Scott Cumming". Punk Noir Press. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "BOMB Magazine | Emmeline Clein by Allie Rowbottom". BOMB Magazine. March 5, 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-18.