Book Review: Two by Nathan Nicolau

Reviewed by Erin Britton

A tender and thoughtful coming of age story over the course of a single day

Nathan Nicolau’s Two presents an exploration of the myriad ways a person’s environment—both the physical and the emotional/psychological aspects—informs their character and shapes their prospects in life, whether for the good or the bad. 

Elucidating the importance of interpersonal connection and just how quickly strong bonds can be formed, it examines how meaning and purpose can be found in the most unlikely of places.

Ella has an unusual preoccupation with a statue in Romare Bearden Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I had been visiting him for quite some time now, and with each visit, I discovered something new about him. Whether it was the smooth curve of his face that complemented his overall physique, or his towering height that made him stand out among everyone else.” She has taken to visiting the park—and the all-important statue that it is home to—in the early hours of the morning, pretty much every morning.

And she doesn’t just visit to admire the statue. “I had been talking to him ever since I moved to this area.” On this particular day, with the slightly ominous thought that it might be the last time she encounters the statue, Ella attempts to deliver one last monologue in the hope of attracting his attention. Little does she know that she also has a human audience.

It’s all a bit odd. At least, that’s certainly what Howl thinks when he spots Ella yelling at the statue, rattling off phrases in Italian like her life depends on it. Still, having been too focused on his own thoughts of late, Howl’s impressed by the passion with which she speaks, even if he can’t understand what she’s saying. “Whatever she said had   captivated me, and I had to let her know.”

Ella is surprised when Howl approaches her, both that he has noticed her speech and that he intends to do something about it. He speaks to her “in short bursts as if he had a million and a half things to tell me at once.”  But the thing is—Ella has no idea what she just said either. “I actually don’t speak Italian. Funny, right?” To borrow an apt phrase: curiouser and curiouser. 

Even more curious is the fact that when Ella tries to make a strategic withdrawal from the encounter by lying about planning to visit a local museum, Howl suggests that they go together. He wants to learn more about why she’s reciting an incomprehensible passage from an unknown Italian opera to a nondescript statue in an otherwise unremarkable park, and he doesn’t care how long the story will take. “I half-expected her to burst into laughter and mock me for asking such a stupid question.”

However, instead of laughing at the suggestion, Ella agrees that they should go together, which is handy, given that she doesn’t actually know where the museum is. It’s all a tad awkward, but it’s also totally innocent. As Howl remarks to himself, “She must have been thinking, ‘He’s trying to hit on me,’ but that wasn’t my intention. I wanted to make that clear to her. I enjoyed her company, no matter how brief. I couldn’t remember the last time I engaged in small talk with someone.” And the museum’s only the start of it.

As the day progresses and the pair visit locations dotted around Charlotte, Ella explains more about the statue, the opera, and the link between the two, while Howl learns a little about her and more about himself too. As secrets and truths are revealed, they realize just how much they have in common, but can it really be the start of a meaningful and long-lasting connection?

Two is relayed in the first person in alternating chapters narrated from the perspectives of Ella and Howl, with the one-off intervention of a shared thought: “I was glad someone wanted to be with me today.” This thought nicely sums up the inner turmoil and self-doubt shared by the pair, while the regular chapters slowly provide insight into their personalities, presents, and pasts, including the things that they would initially like to keep hidden. Nathan Nicolau does a great job teasing out their personalities and pasts; it builds suspense and drops hints of things to come.

Nicolau has carefully constructed these main characters. They are real and understandable, even during those moments when they are a little infuriating. While distracting herself with aloof statues and well-remembered fragments of an Italian opera that she can’t understand, Ella is clearly trying to distract herself from the troubles of the present and the traumas of the past. As issues concerning mental health, bereavement, and a troublesome home life come to light, some of her strange behaviors are explained. Her unusual way of speaking, however, is not properly clarified.

Howl also has a difficult home life, but his is very different from Ella’s. While she’s seeking to lose herself, he’s aiming to reinvent himself, including renaming himself Howl. At first he just seems brusque and socially awkward—as Ella notes, “He had some quirks to work out. By how he talked and acted, it was as if he had never spoken to a human before.”—but he does turn out to have a real weight of guilt to bear. This is a good decision on the part of Nicolau, as giving Howl merely existential ennui would have done his character a disservice. He also has a caring side.

Ella and Howl are almost the only characters in Two. That they are so well developed and interesting holds the story together and drives the plot forward. There are a few side characters—besides the statue in Romare Bearden Park—who play brief if pivotal roles, such as Johanna from the museum and Sal from the bookshop, but they don’t feature often. Far more key is an unexpected character: the city of Charlotte itself. Nicolau clearly knows and loves the city well, and it gives it a prominent place in the story, where it acts as far more than a background for Ella and Howl.

Two is a quick read with short chapters keeping things moving and highlighting the sporadic nature of Ella and Howl’s time together. In addition to the possibility of either romance or deep friendship blossoming, there are also mysteries from the pasts of both characters that keep the story unfolding rapidly. It’s clear from the outset that there are secrets to be revealed, but Nicolau ensures that the slow-burning buildup to the revelations is tantalizing—“I had a million questions but figured I shouldn’t dig too deep.”—but still ends in a satisfying payoff.

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