A review by j_m_alexander
The Deer Park by Norman Mailer

2.75

Sum it up in one quote: 

There is a no man's land between sex and love, and it alters in the night. We go to sleep convinced we are in one state, we awaken in the other, and murderous emotions patrol the ever-changing border.

Setting:
Palm Springs(y) area of California [Desert D'Or] in the era of the House Un-American Activities Committee; sort of a classy but trashy refuge for the amoral Hollywood set to get out of town [the Capital] and do what those with no real personality, but plenty of money do.

Primary Characters:
(1) Sergius O'Shaughnessy, a fighter pilot fresh out of the Air Force with an sudden influx of cash and no real direction crash lands (figuratively) in this resort town of drinks and debauchery. Maybe he'll write??? [portions of book are written from his first-person perspective]
(2) Charles "Charley" Eitle, a blacklisted major director that refused to name names who has his standards, his pride, a last refuge at his vacation home, and a budding screenplay. Likable enough, but perhaps willing to knuckle under to get his career back.
(3) Women, don't worry about them, none have much personality or depth, mostly needy, dependent and willing to participate in musical chairs of physical coupling. (yes, this book is rather misogynistic - product of the time? maybe. Still reads gross and degrading? yes.)

Final Impressions:
An evisceration of the Hollywood culture at the time written by a clearly great writer, but I don't know if it sticks, because I find even the best of characters to be somewhat amorphous, unlikable drifters just trying to get theirs. A big sweaty, sticky train-wreck of a bleh. Perhaps if it had a little more of a sense-of-humor and little less of a liquor-drenched cleverness. Falls into the category of I can appreciate it more than like it.