“This is a lovely hybrid book in which some very serious and fascinating matters are discussed in a very ludicrous and pulpy manner. The interlocking parallel plot lines, (one rooted in reality, the other a comic book land of fiction within a fiction) are elegantly sculpted and carefully plotted.
The myriad of archetypal characters (the hand-wringing father, the psychotic biker, the naughty nurse, the mad scientist) are tossed into situations unique enough to really shake the dust off of them...more This is a lovely hybrid book in which some very serious and fascinating matters are discussed in a very ludicrous and pulpy manner. The interlocking parallel plot lines, (one rooted in reality, the other a comic book land of fiction within a fiction) are elegantly sculpted and carefully plotted.
The myriad of archetypal characters (the hand-wringing father, the psychotic biker, the naughty nurse, the mad scientist) are tossed into situations unique enough to really shake the dust off of them and polish them up to a high gloss.
There was some serious hat-tipping to other authors in this book. Jack O'Connell definitely winked at Katherine Dunn and I'm pretty sure that he nudged Haruki Murakami. There may have been other literary references that I missed. This is not a complaint, mind you, he accomplishes it very skillfully.
There's no room for unsuspended disbelief in this book. It's an amusement park ride that has sailed off the tracks. It's a tidal wave of Kool Aid. It's an intravenous drug made of brain fluid. I'm afraid you're just going to have to go with it.”
posted Wednesday, May 21 2008