The Ecstatic

As I was first reading this book I thought it was an Ignatius J. Reilly clone story. Far from it! This is actually an outstanding piece of original literature, told from the point of view of the main character, Anthony James, who has just flunked out of Cornell University, lives in a hellhole of a basement apartment, wears colored suits (green and purple are but two examples) and weighs 315 pounds at age 19. He comes from a family with a history of mental illness; Anthony himself is probably schizophrenic, often thinking long monologues in his head but realizing when he comes to the end that he has just given voice to his thoughts. Mom, his sister and grandmother all live together in a house in New York where they bring Anthony to live show more after rescuing him from a possible lapse into mental illness after his Cornell episode. Mom is beholden to a loan shark, Ishkabibble; Sis is 13 and really is embarrassed by her family -- she enters a pageant in Virginia for "Miss Innocence" where the contestants are those who have managed to keep their virginity; Grandma is in her 90s and can't believe how the family has turned out.

A lot of weird and frankly bizarre things happen in this novel which I cannot even begin to describe; but all and all, it is a novel about family. It is funny, sad, and just weird in places. I absolutely loved each and every character down to the guy who wants to be thin so badly he eats bad salmon to get tapeworms.

I would recommend this novel to serious readers who don't need the standard lines of plot development to enjoy a good read. show less

Anthony James weighs 315 pounds, possibly schizophrenic and just been kicked out of college. He is rescued by his family (mother, sister, and grandmother) but they may not be altogether sane themselves.

It's a very hard book to review, I am having trouble summarising it. In the afterward LaValle tells us that the ecstatic was a term used to explain people whose actions were impossible to understand, people possessed or touched by God and that's a good a starting point when trying to explain this brilliant but deeply odd debut novel. One that mixes so many themes in order to come up with something funny, emotive, surreal and constantly unique.

James maybe an unreliable narrator but LaValle always ensures that everything that happens show more lives in the realm of plausibility. From the surreal experience of a diet clinic where the obese watch thin people do everyday tasks through a one way mirror, to a road trip (or rather an epic quest) to get his sister to a beauty pageant of virgins. From his saviour of illegal cleaning jobs to his surely imaginary B movie horror films we follow his life as he is temporarily taken into care by his put upon family.

It doesn't really matter whether its real or not, it's a beautiful ride and one I heartily recommend to anyone. show less

I love Victor LaValle's writing - which is why this is getting 3 stars. The story wasn't doing it for me, just in terms of having the most unreliable narrator and being confused as to what Anthony was experiencing versus what was actually happening. Lots of interesting ideas but not enough connective tissue for me.

Reminded me superficially of Junot Diaz's ... Oscar Wao but I think I enjoyed The Ecstatic more.