Has anyone tried this literary'ish Kafkaesuqe take on the
noir novel?
From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Kafka's
"Metamorphosis" is turned on its antennae in this roaringly
entertaining noir novel. Knox's debut begins with a cockroach
waking up to find he has been transformed into a man.
Kockroach, however, doesn't lapse into despair, but instead
demonstrates the relentless survival instinct of his species
by learning how to get by in the human world. Helping him is
pint-size Times Square hustler Mickey "Mite" Pimelia, who
sees in Kockroach (or, as he's known to humans, Jerry Blatta)
his ticket to the top. Sex, organized crime, violence,
betrayal and success follow for Kockroach, whose insect's
sense of amorality aids his ascent. Meanwhile, Celia, a
crippled but beautiful woman, befriends Mite and finds
herself drawn to Kockroach. Knox's inhuman antihero's tale is
told in flawless noir style-Kockroach's coldness juxtaposed
against Mite's bitter self-recrimination in a seedy, smoky
1950s New York-and Kockroach's insights into that New York
are perversely delightfu
l. The book's conceptual cleverness is ultimately
eclipsed by the epic story line, making for a compelling
story of greed and power that is more Chandler than Kafka.
(Jan.)
Ron C.
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