Our Take

The Flamethrowers is an electrifying novel that captures multiple worlds with stunning precision—1970s downtown New York art scene, Italian political radicalism, and the masculine culture of speed and motorcycles. Rachel Kushner's prose is muscular and lyrical, capable of rendering both the sensory thrill of racing and the intellectual ferment of revolutionary politics. What makes Reno such a compelling protagonist is her position as observer and participant—she's drawn into these worlds but remains fundamentally an outsider, allowing readers to see them with fresh eyes. Kushner excels at creating vivid set pieces, from land speed record attempts in the Nevada desert to violent street protests in Rome. The novel explores how women navigate male-dominated spaces—art, motorcycles, radical politics—and the costs of being young, female, and ambitious in the 1970s. The historical research is meticulous without ever feeling pedantic; Kushner brings the era to life through sensory details and cultural textures. Some readers find the plot less important than atmosphere and ideas, which is intentional—this is a novel about consciousness and experience rather than conventional narrative. The exploration of political violence, class, and authenticity remains powerfully relevant. Fans of City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg or Just Kids by Patti Smith will appreciate Kushner's vivid evocation of 1970s counterculture. The Flamethrowers established Kushner as one of contemporary fiction's most ambitious and exciting voices—essential reading for anyone interested in novels that take artistic and intellectual risks.