Books

Book Review: Nothing Special offers glimpse into Warhol’s wild New York

Nicole Flattery’s smart, stylish and sharp debut novel avoids focusing on the pop art legend, instead painting a picture of his liberating influence on society

Award-winning author Nicole Flattery: her new book is perceptive and clever. Picture: Lorraine O’Sullivan

Although Nothing Special revolves around the construction of Andy Warhol’s own 1968 novel called A, readers looking for the pop art pioneer won’t find him. This story is narrated by Mae, one of the typists hired to transcribe the taped conversations that created the discordant narrative of Warhol’s book.

Nothing Special opens in 2010. An older Mae no longer lives in New York but visits the city in short, dyspeptic bursts, mostly going to galleries ...