The Pesthouse-Jim Crace

ALBY · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: The Pesthouse-Jim Crace

Set in a future devolved America.

If any of you doomers out there are secretly (or overtly) cheering for the crash, read this book.

Beautiful prose. Well written, masterful plot. I was godsmacked. Read the book in two sittings. Could not put it down.

Heard Jim Crace on NPR, talking about collapse and bought the book.

You will not be disappointed.

cynthia · Heavy Crude Joined: May 29, 2005 Posts: 379

Hi ALBY-
I just finished the book this morning and also found it a good read. Interesting concept having people trying to emigrate from America to the east in search of a better life.
I liked the religious cult scene.
Many difficult trials for the lead characters but a healthy reminder that my doomer fantasies of a more leisurely world in a slow-paced economy would not be without fear or flight.
cynthia

billbrasky · Tar Sands Joined: Dec 26, 2007 Posts: 28

Love that book.
The scene where the gas cloud comes out of the water ... how does he come up with that stuff?
cormac mccarthy's 'the road' i recommend, too.
Post-apocalyptic horrors, beautifully written.

pstarr · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: The Pesthouse-Jim Crace

billbrasky · Tar Sands Joined: Dec 26, 2007 Posts: 28

You're spot on regarding the car crash analogy.
McCarthy does violence like nobody's bidness.
Hard to put down, though, no question. I have a 9 year old son, so the plot-line spoke to me a bit, I guess.
As for a comparison, I would say 'The Pesthouse" is more like grittier Stephen King than Cormac McCarthy. I think 'Pesthouse'
has a better plotline than "Road". Really enjoyed "Pesthouse" versus the compulsive consumption of "Road".

ALBY · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: The Pesthouse-Jim Crace

I enjoyed pesthouse also. I'll be buying the mcarthy book tommarow.

i remember reading about an actual incident in wva with a landslide and methane cloud years ago. maybe thats where he got the idea ?

also, the finger baptist thing was awesome. and the european sailing ships coming here for women and slaves. brilliant. not my expectation though, as they'll all be speaking arabic by the time this happens. Laughing

pstarr, you will like this book. my wife is reading it, but pm me your addy and you can have it next. she doesn't read as fast as i do. then send it to smallpoxgirl. i got it from my brothers fiance, who knows his editor. so i should keep my karma rolling by spreading around my good fortune.

pstarr · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: The Pesthouse-Jim Crace