The Wasp Factory by Iain BanksMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Time taken to read - 1 day
Publisher - Abacus
Pages - 244
Blurb from Goodreads
Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different reasons than I'd disposed of Blyth, and then a year after that I did for my young cousin Esmerelda more or less on a whim.
That's my score to date.
Three.
I haven't killed anybody for years, and don't intend to ever again.
It was just a stage I was going through.
Enter - if you can bear it - the extraordinary private world of frank, just sixteen, and unconventional, to say the least.
My Review
I am so very glad to be finished this book, if you have problems reading about animal torture and cruelty then avoid this book at all costs. Frank Cauldhame is sixteen and our main character, his brother has been sectioned after terrorizing the children of the island and torturing local dogs. His relationship with his father is dysfunctional, he has killed three people and makes regular animal sacrifices and game of torturing them.
The book goes back and forth between events in recall, Frank talks about something that happened to him as a child so he is different, later in the story this comes up and we get an explanation. The same with his brother, he is very matter of fact about his brother being crazy and later this is brought up and explained.
The story is about a dysfunctional young man, his day to day life and some glimpses into how he is the way he is and his family life. For me, I couldn't get into the story as the animal torture which starts on page one. Any kind of animal torture I find affects a story for me however it is so strong and prevalent throughout this one that it affected the entire tale. To be honest it does emphasize how unhinged Frank is and for people who can read this kind of content and be untouched by it I am sure they will enjoy the story. There are some shocks in it, aside from the animal torture and the end I didn't see coming which is why it has the second star. It isn't that it is a terribly written book, it isn't, I just couldn't get on board or past the cruelty. 2 out of 5 for me this time, I would try Mr Banks at another time however I will research it before picking it up.
I'd skip with one because of the animal torture. Thanks for the honest review!
ReplyDeleteAs one of my brothers in law is really into this author I have read a few of his books but not this one. Generally I find them a good if rather weird read but like Naida I'll be giving this one a miss because of the animal torture.
ReplyDeleteThe animal cruelty that you mention would prevent me from reading this.
ReplyDeleteI can see how an author needs to include something like that in order to make a character realistic.
Thank you for the honest review... but I can't read it because of animal cruelty , this book is not for me.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day dear :)
I couldn't read this one Lainy, I can't bear animal cruelty. You are brave to have given it a try. Thanks for the honest review of this one. x
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by this author, although I've heard of him. It's too bad this wasn't better. I don't like reading about animal torture generally, but sometimes I can get past it if the person doing it meets justice in the end.
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