Coffee and The Nix
- emmahuebner
- Jun 8, 2017
- 4 min read
I recently finished a quite lengthy novel called The Nix, by Nathan Hill. It totals at 732 pages. While a convoluted plot sets the stage, the whodunit should not be your main motivation for turning the pages. The novel is politically charged, but the author's purpose isn't to radicalize his reader's ideology. Hill exposes the disillusionment and confusion surrounding the protests of 1968 and of the Vietnam War in general, threading fictional imagination with historical fact to create a thought experiment that allows for much introspection and deliberation. Negative reviews of The Nix tend to stem from complaints of a long, drawn-out storyline with little action and too much description. But the vivid description was my favorite part; I was able to lose myself in the author's world of metaphor, analogy, adjective, and occasional run-on sentence.
The Nix gets its title from an ethereal ghost of the same name. The original Nix is described as a horse. The owner of this horse initially feels "fear", which quickly changes to "luck", then "possession", "pride", and eventually "terror". Victims meet their demise when the horse carries them over the edge of a cliff. The moral of this intangible ghost: "Don't trust things that are too good to be true." The character Faye adds another takeaway when describing the Nix to her son Samuel, "The things you love the most will one day hurt you the worst." Samuel lives his life with this message in his subconscious, and he makes choices in fear of where those choices will lead.
The novel dives into the lives of Samuel, his mother, and other characters, spanning from the 1960s to present day. The retelling of Faye's story and the formation of Samuel's story exhibit the intertwined nature of fate and free will - an age old debate. Faye is the victim of many unfortunate and cruel events, her reaction to these affairs shaping subsequent losses and gains in love, marriage, and adventure. In the parallel present day, Samuel struggles with deep wounds and old tales, remembering his mother as a Nix who polarized and distorted his life as a young child. A forced reunion between mother and son, and Samuel's subsequent discovery of Faye's tortuous past, allows Samuel the closure that he needs to steer his life in a new direction. As his mother attempts to surrender her Nix by returning it back home, to a small fishing town in Norway, this act of restoration frees both her and Samuel to pursue different directions in their own lives. The end of the novel provides an element of closure, but not the type that is gift wrapped with a bow on top.
Hill's story made me think a lot, the kind of thinking that requires a large cup of coffee accompanied by a beachfront view. There is something about crashing waves that allows my thoughts and feelings to flow organically. When I am physically landlocked amidst hundreds of pages of lecture notes and anatomy atlases, I feel as if my ideas and dreams are landlocked as well. It is the brief respite from this grind in which I can come home to the coast, relishing in the sea breeze, allowing my creative side a moment to breath. Faye places a negative spin on the Nix, not allowing herself to form deep relationships with her family in fear of what the future may hold. Samuel takes this cynical perspective and chooses to challenge it. Will those choices to love unconditionally and fearlessly result in failure? It is quite possible. But is failure really the worst outcome? Here's what I think: taking that leap over the edge of a cliff, celestial horse in tow, is worth the risk.
Tip: a good book is ten times better with a good cup of coffee in hand. In the Ventura CA area, check out the following digs to get a cup of Joe:
Prospect Coffee Roasters - I love their espresso, and they have unique twists on the nitro cold brew. If you are looking for a refreshing iced drink, try a shrub soda. It has a unique texture similar to kombucha. You can never go wrong with a drip coffee from there too. A newfound favorite of mine is their matcha latte made with oat milk. Fun fact: oat milk is a more sustainable alternative to almond milk in our current environmental climate.
Stoked Coffee Co. - This is an adorable shop located in downtown Ventura. Only downside is limited seating that is all outdoors; not ideal for chilly, overcast mornings. However, I am majorly biased towards Aubrey's barista skills and think she's the best out there. You really can't go wrong with any drink on the menu. And if you are hungry, I highly recommend the avocado toast or the butter acai bowl.
Beacon Coffee - Beacon started out of a small location in Ventura and has now branched out to a much bigger venue in Ojai. If I don't have time to make the drive inland, the Ventura location is still a great option for a smooth pour over. My grandma highly recommends their lavender mocha. If you find yourself in Ojai, a cup of drip coffee accompanied by the fig and ricotta bun at Beacon is heavenly. Especially if it follows a muddy run on Sulfur Mountain Rd.
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