Attention Seeking Behaviour by Aea Varfis-van Warmelo Review: A Slippery Liar’s Tale

A review published by The Guardian examines "Attention Seeking Behaviour," the Goldsmiths prize-shortlisted debut novel by British-Greek author Aea Varfis-van Warmelo. The book centers on an unreliable narrator who confesses to compulsive lying while navigating unfulfilling jobs, dating misadventures, and lingering grief.

Narrative Structure and Themes

The novel opens with a narrator who shares the author's name and announces that she has never told her story before, immediately establishing her unreliability. She lies for various reasons—for fun, flirting, theft, and sympathy—while drawing a distinction between her own calculated falsehoods and the clumsy efforts of fraudsters. Beneath the narrative lies profound grief, marked by haunting encounters with dead bodies and an unresolved trauma involving an ex-boyfriend named Isaac.

Critical Reception and Pacing

While the reviewer describes the book as compelling, breathless, and brilliant, some pacing issues are noted. Certain theoretical diversions, such as discussions on Paul Ekman’s Facial Action Coding System for classifying facial movements, reportedly disrupt the narrative drive and flow.

Legal Plot and Questions of Credibility

In the second half of the book, the narrative shifts when the narrator copies files at a legal firm regarding a closed rape case involving a university lecturer and a student. The victim eventually withdraws from the police investigation after facing scrutiny. This plotline prompts deeper questions about credibility, the societal expectations placed on female victims, and whether an account must be entirely coherent to be believed.

Practical Implications and Verification

Readers interested in contemporary fiction or works shortlisted for the Goldsmiths prize can verify the book's publication details and review summaries directly through literary news outlets and the publisher's announcements. No specific release dates or pricing details were detailed in the source review.