I have been thinking about purchasing this book too, Ron.
Anyone here had a chance to read it? Or heard good things
about it?
Steve
_____
From: R. & J. Clinton [mailto:
clinton65@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, 24 January 2007
5:05 AM To:
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com Subject: RARA-AVIS: KOCKROACH
by Tyler Knox...
Has anyone tried this literary'ish Kafkaesuqe take on the
noir novel?
http://www.amazon.
<
http://www.amazon.com/Kockroach-Novel-Tyler-Knox/dp/0061143332/sr=1-1/qid=1
169575298/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-8334839-3512934?ie=UTF8&s=books>
com/Kockroach-Novel-Tyler-Knox/dp/0061143332/sr=1-1/qid=1169575298/ref=pd_bb
s_sr_1/102-8334839-3512934?ie=UTF8&s=books
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, Jer ry
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 delightful. 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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