First out of the traps for the Reading Group: Redux, is the book Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre, as chosen by fatmanintweed (thank you kindly ).

I have to say I know nothing about this book - past what I have just read on Amazon - but it sounds like it could be pretty interesting.

For more information see Vernon God Little, on Amazon.

(This thread will remain pinned and locked until the 30th of November and will then be unlocked for discussion).

Sorry I'm a bit late with this but discuss away!*

I've been a little tardy and haven't quite finished yet so I'll add my comments shortly.




















*Bit like Play Away but with no Brian Cant

i just picked up this book about 3 days ago, freaky stuff.
I haven't finished either but i had to mention the coincidence

i started reading this a couple of months ago but lost interest on account of the catcher in the rye 'david copperfield crap' tone but i'll pick it up and give it another go so's i can join your gang

Some general comments to start the ball rolling . . .

I think it’s fair for me to say that in both content and writing style I’ve never read anything quite like Vernon God Little before.

For those not already in the know, the book tells the story of fifteen-year-old Vernon Gregory Little as he struggles to keep his head above water in the aftermath of a Columbine style high school massacre. When an ambitious fraudster takes advantage of the situation and implicates Vernon, by virtue of his being the dead shooter’s best friend, events soon spiral out of control and Vernon’s thoughts turn to flight and sanctuary in an idealised Mexican fantasy.

Now I must say that this isn’t usually the sort of story that I would go for but within a few pages I was completely hooked due to the colourful writing style DBC Pierre has used to tell this twisted, but brilliantly imaginative story.

When I first started reading the book I was struck by the notion that it was like reading Shakespeare for, as with the great bard’s work, the structure of the language is so different from the norm that you have to get into the right mindset to keep up with what is going on (in fact I was quite pleased with this analogy and was planning to use it in my comments from the moment I thought of it but then I noticed that someone else had drawn the same comparison on the book’s back cover . . . As Vernon himself might say, Shit Happens).

This is one of the best reads I’ve had for a long time and it’s also one of the first books for a while that has had me skimming the text at the bottom of the next page, when I have just turned over, in an effort to find out what is going to happen (indeed, it took considerable will power not to peak at the end of the book to find out what ultimately happens, such is the tension Pierre’s writing produces).

Whilst I was reading it I was impressed by the use of language and it’s often pointed insights into contemporary life, but it’s only now that I’ve been flicking back through the book again, whilst writing this, that I’ve begun to realise just how well put together a story it is, and how much is going on throughout the book that is relevant at the end.

I’m slowly beginning to believe that to fully appreciate it I may well have to read it again at some point.

If you haven’t yet read Vernon God Little then I’d urge you to do so, it will have you squirming and laughing in turn and it’s well worth the read.

Thanks fatmanintweed for the recommendation!

Like pots, initially I was put off by the whole Catcher-In-The-Ryeishness of the narrative, but this book was different because of the humour that was in it, even if it was very dark, and I soon got used to it anyway.

I think this book is so good because of the energy it seems to have; the whole narrative is Vernon's account and his views of the world as all these events take place. Despite the things it deals with, the book has a very fresh and original way of portraying, which might lead you to believe that it was just like reading Shakespeare.

Pierre has done a really fine job with his characters. The ones who are supposed to be sly and slimy I found myself really hating and wanting to get what they deserve, and the things that annoy Vernon (such as his mother's way of evoking sympathy from others) successfully annoy the reader too. The descriptions of Palmyra and co probably had me chuckling the most because they were so ridiculous and yet, somehow, so true to life.

It is gripping. If you get around to reading it, it's usually good long sessions of it. I agree with Raven about realising just how amazing the story was when I finished it, and all I can say is that after all the tension and disbelief and going through it all with Vernon Little, the ending was perfect. Very satisfying.

Cutting this one free to sink into the depths of Media . . .