My (slight) obsession with Nick Cave has led explore his work outside of music. This book is everything you would expect from a musician like Cave--completely unhinged and disturbing on many levels. It tells the story of a mute, Euchrid, living in a backwards town. Its exploration of religious fanaticism provides plenty of mind food. I think the best description I've heard would have to be, "Although Cave's manic effort will not lure traditionalists, it may snare the more adventurous." ( )

As a disclaimer, I pretty much love Nick Cave. I loved the beginning of this book, but unfortunately I felt like things fell apart about midway through. A southern Gothic story about the mute Euchrid Eucrow and his struggles ranging from his raging alcoholic mother to being surrounding by a town of Christian extremists who believe him to be a son of Satan (and have no qualms about taking out the questionable folks in their town). Basically I wanted to like this book but I just ended up lukewarm towards it (all though the first section detailing his first minutes of life are pretty great and hilarious). Nick Cave's excessive use of obscure/potentially made-up words can also be a little off-putting. Instead of reading this book, I would suggest watching a film that Nick Cave wrote: The Proposition. ( )

Frightening insights into small town psychosis. ( )

Like his music, Cave's novel is beautiful and sometimes a little fucked up. This book completely took me by surprise. If you're looking for a dark read, this is what you should go with. ( )

lyrical, dark and amazing ( )