Pluto, Animal Lover
by Laren Stover. Harper Collins, New York. 1994.
One of the blurbs on the back described the book as "an American Psycho for animal lovers," and I wished I hadn't read that blurb because now I'll never know if I would have come to that conclusion on my own or if I would always wondering what this seemed remarkably resonant of.
Because, yes, it certainly does seem that way - with the "almost" or "is he or isn't he" obsessive-compulsive narrator, who does feel that he has more of a "right" to make certain decisions regarding life and death than do other people. I've read megalomaniacal narrators many times before and they always are so entertaining; I think the best part about them is how much (or how little) can the reader trust their reality.
For example, the love interest - the narrator sees her reactions and pauses to certain statements that he makes as "being stunned by his brilliance," yet we as the readers know that she is most likely getting a truly BAD vibe off this guy. Yet, she continues to see him.
Actually, one of the best characters is the bird that our narrator trains to carry out certain "missions of deliverance." (my words there, you won't find them in the book, but if you read it you'll know what I mean.) Very interesting, you can just envision the bird, pecking open the shutters from apartment to apartment.
All in all, a very smoothly written narrative. The relations to American Psycho (after the blurb) will colour your impression of the narrator throughout the book - to both the detriment and enhancement of the reader's enjoyment. Because you'll appreciate the focus and yet criticise the ultimate lack of complete originality.
Overall - just read it. Have a good time. And I guarantee that for all you pet lovers, after you're done with the book, you will immediately go check on your pet to make sure they're OK.
Trust me!
VG
One of the blurbs on the back described the book as "an American Psycho for animal lovers," and I wished I hadn't read that blurb because now I'll never know if I would have come to that conclusion on my own or if I would always wondering what this seemed remarkably resonant of.
Because, yes, it certainly does seem that way - with the "almost" or "is he or isn't he" obsessive-compulsive narrator, who does feel that he has more of a "right" to make certain decisions regarding life and death than do other people. I've read megalomaniacal narrators many times before and they always are so entertaining; I think the best part about them is how much (or how little) can the reader trust their reality.
For example, the love interest - the narrator sees her reactions and pauses to certain statements that he makes as "being stunned by his brilliance," yet we as the readers know that she is most likely getting a truly BAD vibe off this guy. Yet, she continues to see him.
Actually, one of the best characters is the bird that our narrator trains to carry out certain "missions of deliverance." (my words there, you won't find them in the book, but if you read it you'll know what I mean.) Very interesting, you can just envision the bird, pecking open the shutters from apartment to apartment.
All in all, a very smoothly written narrative. The relations to American Psycho (after the blurb) will colour your impression of the narrator throughout the book - to both the detriment and enhancement of the reader's enjoyment. Because you'll appreciate the focus and yet criticise the ultimate lack of complete originality.
Overall - just read it. Have a good time. And I guarantee that for all you pet lovers, after you're done with the book, you will immediately go check on your pet to make sure they're OK.
Trust me!
VG
posted by Verble Gherulous | 2:26 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home