Two by Nathan Nicolau

A pair of strangers embark on an unconventional odyssey through Charlotte, North Carolina in Two, a quietly wise novel by Nathan Nicolau.

When Howl observes Ella reciting a passionate soliloquy to a statue in the park, he breaks out of his comfort zone to get some answers. As their day intertwines, small talk turns into big conversation, and an unlikely wander blossoms into something far more precious – an adventurous reinvention for them both. From art, philosophy, and aesthetics to books, people-watching, mental health, and overbearing mothers, the narrative weaves through myriad themes in the pair’s joint quest to solve an operatic puzzle in Ella’s mind.

The characters are slow to trust, but rich in their emotional depth, as Nicolau patiently unfurls his slightly surreal plot. The alternating narrative structure is uniquely executed, featuring short interjections and real-time reactions between Ella and Howl, adding a layer of intimacy and immediacy to their story of urban connection.

Though most of the dialogue is crisply edited and organic, there are a few stilted exchanges of unnatural speech, and in a novel carried largely by conversation, these moments are hard to miss. Overall, however, Nicolau delivers a charming and honest tale that is written with sensitive prose, providing an off-kilter spin on a classic framework, and delving eloquently into music, mystery, and the demons we all struggle to escape.

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