James Greer (1) (1961–)

I actually loved the book and before finishing it went to Abebooks and bought Greer’s Artificial Light. It’s kind of a crime thriller with a literary bent. A wealthy, people hating translator of the Nouveau Roman French writer Robbe-Grillet is kind of hijacked away from her current project on that writer to create a translation for a book that doesn’t yet exist by a writer who isn’t Michel Houellebecq. Maybe it helps being familiar with both Robbie-Grillet and Houellebecq. I’ll show more bring in another French writer just to say that to some degree this book reminds me a little of Virginie Despentes……all apologies if that were to offend her though. Love Greer’s or his character Vanessa’s take on literary translations right at the beginnining. They are laugh out loud funny and a kind of kick in the ass to all the would be stuck up experts on what a good translation is. What I’d say to those people is you know who you are and fuck off.

P.S.—also liked the Post Punk references particularly to Hex Enduction Hour and Mark E. Smith. show less

Ever get a book that you wanted to finish in a day? Ever get a book you wish you could read for the first time over and over again? This is that book! Perfectly timed humor tossed around as good as zings. You'll meet a character that lets you into her mind of masterful morbidity and outward verbal sarcasm. She makes the reader feel like a partner in not just crime but her straightjacket! I can't decide if I want the Author or the character to be my new BFF I'll take both of them. Get the show more book, and a glass of wine (caution with red wine as you will be jolted by laughs from zings that might spill your wine on the carpet) and enjoy the ride. show less

I received this book for free through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program. When the summary for the book said that the narrator/main character was misanthropic, that was an understatement! The concept for the book was engaging, and the story itself, very well-written. I could absolutely feel the disdain and contempt that the narrator would have for me on nearly every page. Unfortunately, for that reason, I couldn't finish it. In a way, it felt like she wouldn't have wanted me, or show more someone like me, to read such personal details of her life. I felt very uncomfortable about the whole thing. Hopefully, someone else out there will find it all fascinating in a way that I couldn't. show less

Well, that was weird.

This novel is narrated by a young woman who has chosen to be a translator and aspires to be invisible in her work, but tells the reader throughout the story how perfect her ass is and how she is remarkably beautiful, but also she really doesn't care. While that may sound contradictory (annoying?), that's really only the tip of the iceberg.

Peppered liberally with literary references and words that even this avid reader of classical literature didn't know, there's a show more feeling of snobbery, or elitism, that comes through this tale. And if you didn't get it, it's probably because it's over your head. At the same time, the weird wasn't entirely unenjoyable.

Mixed feelings about this one, for sure. And not sure I want to engage with this author again soon. show less