Zombie
Book - 1995
Meet Quentin P. He is a problem for his professor father and his loving mother. He is a challenge for his court-appointed psychiatrist. He is a thoroughly sweet young man for his wealthy grandmother. He is the most believable and thoroughly terrifying sexual psychopath and killer ever to be brought to life in fiction, as Joyce Carol Oates achieves a bold and brilliant triumph-a dazzling work of art that extends the borders of the novel into the darkest heart of truth.
Publisher:
New York : Dutton, c1995.
ISBN:
9780525940456
0525940456
0525940456
Branch Call Number:
OATE
Characteristics:
181p. 21cm.



Comment
Add a CommentFast read. I typically like morally gray characters, but everything about the protagonist was archetypal serial killer - white, male, wealthy background, abuse of position and authority. I wished for more back story (there was plenty of fodder for it), but got none. At least it was able to be read quickly.
Ditto on the disturbing nature of the story. I have never read a story that could cause me to squirm in my seat while reading. The journal of a mentally deranged, sexual predator; the voice of the novel was spot on crazy-ville. A short, but interesting piece on the interworkings of a sociopathic/psychopathic (I dont know which label fits best) murderer. I will never again underestimate the next "regular" unassuming person again, which that can be anyone. Wow, this book may have just made me too paranoid to function ;-)
Well said, I found it so disturbing I couldn't finish reading it.
I really don't know what to say about this book.
Was it well-written? Yes.
Is it worth reading? I don't know.
There's no doubt that the narrative is powerful. Disturbing, but powerful. Methodical and almost lyrical at times. Stylistic.
But is style enough? Especially when taken in conjunction with a character like Q_P_?
American Psycho had a subtle, if somewhat cruel, satire to its storytelling technique. It mocked its own seriousness even while it made its characters perform unspeakable deeds.
The underlying rhythm to Zombie is so sad and ultimately so without hope, that I fear the only lesson to be learned here is that life is simply and inescapably an exercise in madness.