Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - Crash

Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Crash by J.G. Ballard

4 reviews

katsusho_'s review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this is a challenging book, and i'm not quite sure whether it's a good thing, considering the fact that it is one of the first books i start on during my slump. coming into this, i had no idea of what this book would be about, and only until i read and watched reviews midway in did i know what i might be getting into. saying this, i did not realise this novel was so controversial, and so explicit. not that that would deter my feelings towards this book, it was simply unexpected. i enjoyed the premise, though some scenes were simply repetitive, and at the first portion it seemed as if this was getting nowhere. i found the prose delightful, but the pacing slow. it really only picks up after the first half, or quarter of the way in. the prose encourages me to perhaps read more of j.d ballard's work.

honestly figuring out where each body part as where ,, was a mess, i gave up at times and just read the scenes like some amalgamation of limbs, though its as if what's ballard is trying to achieve, anyway. and im not sure if anyone has pointed this out; or simply because it's spelled so loudly no one has bothered to - the description of these scenes were either so clinical or fetishistic that it can't be defined as erotica, simply because i doubt i can see anyone genuinely aroused by this. i believe -and perhaps this read would give ballard too much credit or drive his message completely off-course- that this style of writing was to emphasise of how mechanical and fetishistic these deranged characters are, and this is simply a delve into their psyche. outside of the sex scenes, i also realise that there is little to no chemistry or strong relationship ties/feelings (outside of james and vaughan) and it really seemed like everyone is a commodity to each other, simply to be used to fulfill fantasies (that was already obvious) .

anywaysss,, yeah. there are probably other reviews out there that do a better breakdown and review of this book, these are simply my takeaways, and even then i was so confused with where they are, where they were going, that i didnt fully comprehend the book. and as i said, i might have an interest in his other works, but i'm not that big a fan of sci-fi, so i should find plots that intrigue me and ease into it.

Content Warnings