Book Review: Trust by Hernan Diaz
Do you own your narrative?
Homonymic words like trust, futures, bond, securities, and exchange carry significant meaning not only in the domain of finance but also in the realm of human interaction. In his Pulitzer prize-winning novel titled “Trust,” Hernan Diaz skillfully juxtaposes the cold language of commerce with relatable stories of frustration due to exploitation during the booming era of The Roaring Twenties in New York City. On the surface, “Trust,” is about a privileged man who attains immense financial success due to his access to resources, but the real story centers around a need to curate and cultivate the American Titan of Industry archetype. The novel ultimately asks who controls our individual and collective narratives, and who has been silenced or overlooked.
Whose Point of View Will You Trust?
“Trust,” is divided into four sections. The first is a novel-within-a-novel, titled “Bond,” which delves into the histories of tycoon Benjamin Rask and his aristocratic wife Helen. An air of mystery surrounds this couple despite their social and philanthropic activities. Following the novel are three disparate documents for the reader to consider: an incomplete manuscript, a memoir, and a diary. Each document casts doubt on the one before it, leaving the reader to figure out what is true…
