I read Syrup nearly 10 years ago and loved its quirky characters and Max Barry’s fresh, dark, and twisted writing style.
Lexicon is a thriller about the power of words and their ability to persuade. Its main character is Wil Jamieson, a man who lands at an American airport and has completely forgotten his identity. He is ambushed by two men in the airport bathroom who question him about what he knows about a particular dangerous word. When he starts getting his memory back, Wil goes to Australia to learn more about his identity.
Meanwhile, a parallel storyline follows Emily Ruff, a young woman who relies on card tricks to survive on the streets of San Francisco. Her persuasive mannerisms attract the attention of recruiters from a special school located in Arlington, Virginia, a school where students are taught to persuade others using a series of powerful words.
As the end of Lexicon nears, we learn more about the link between Wil and Emily in a denouement that rings of a near-apocalypse.
The conclusion of Lexicon isn’t too pleasing, but the novel is clever and original. It’s easy to see why it garnered the attention of critics the world over. The concept of the plot is genius. Words really can persuade and influence people when you can use and manipulate them in certain ways, so I loved that the author was able to turn this concept into a smart novel.
Barry’s dark, satiric style reminds me of Chuck Palahniuk, who wrote Fight Club. Lexicon is intense all the way through, but Barry still manages to throw in satire here and there. Fun book!
Other books by Max Barry include:
- Providence (2020)
- The 22 Murders Of Madison May (2021)
What did you think about this book?
Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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