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Dona's Books's Reviews > The Butcher Boy
The Butcher Boy
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This book-- a horror novel, by all measures-- nominated for the Booker prize, which is a pretty big deal. The reason why is the damn thing is beautiful. What's beautiful about it is the lyricism; that the voice singing to you belongs to a violent child whom you also feel terribly terrible for only deepens the music. As I read the sentences and paragraphs, as the curly little curse words dropped and bounced on the pages, as the rage bloomed like mushroom-shaped peonies, as the disorder and confusion strung out in long snakes-- I kept seeing a jigging, grinning young man Malcolm McDowell, dancing through his evil in the opening scenes of the film adaption of A Clockwork Orange.
Like when I saw the iconic Kubrick film and read the iconic Burgess book, what I read here pummeled me, gutted me-- but it was so, so beautiful. It's the beauty that gives the reader access to such terrible material, such violent experiences. It was the same with Burgess. These writers even used the same tools-- an irresistible dialect and a young man's seemingly familiar voice-- to allow us into their stories. Why else would we go into these snake pits with these particular salamanders?
Really, this is such a good book. There's a lot here to think about. If you enjoyed Burgess's big hit, you will see countless parallels. I recommend it!
Stay healthy everyone <3
*edit 2024 planning a reread for 2025
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! *
Like when I saw the iconic Kubrick film and read the iconic Burgess book, what I read here pummeled me, gutted me-- but it was so, so beautiful. It's the beauty that gives the reader access to such terrible material, such violent experiences. It was the same with Burgess. These writers even used the same tools-- an irresistible dialect and a young man's seemingly familiar voice-- to allow us into their stories. Why else would we go into these snake pits with these particular salamanders?
Really, this is such a good book. There's a lot here to think about. If you enjoyed Burgess's big hit, you will see countless parallels. I recommend it!
Stay healthy everyone <3
*edit 2024 planning a reread for 2025
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! *
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Cliff
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Aug 24, 2022 12:48AM
I’ve got to read it now I’ve read your review. I wouldn’t have gone near it otherwise as I find it best to see which ‘Bookers� survive the initial hype (on which a lot of marketing money has been spent / favours called in / emotional blackmail exercised) before touching them.
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It's really very good Cliff! Lyrical, which is kind of jarring for the content and genre. I just thought the whole exercise was exceptional when I read it a couple years ago. I'm planning a reread of this, let me know if you want to read it together!
Why thank you, Dona. Let me buy it today. I’m a novice at ‘reading together� (ok, I admit it: a virgin) so please send me a message on what we do, how we do it and when we start. Thanks.
Cliff this is great! It will also be my first buddy read, don't worry, we'll figure it out together. But it'll be great to have someone to discuss it with!
