The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

[Nellie]

I am about two thirds of the way through this book, and I am not sure what to make of it. I am enjoying it, in a slightly uncomforatble sort of way. It really is a very strange story and I was wondering what others thought. This is the first Iain Banks book I have read. Are they all this strange?

 

Below is a summary taken from Amazon:

 

Through much of this impressive first novel, almost up until the awkward and misguided finale, young Scottish writer Banks achieves that fine British balance - between horrific content on the one hand and matter-of-fact comic delivery on the other. The narrator, whose cool prose is sometimes a bit too sophisticated for credibility, is 16-year-old Frank Cauldhame, living outside a remote Scottish village - a cheerfully insane lad who tortures animals, imagines that he gets instructions from the "Factory" (the room upstairs where he cremates wasps), and fondly recalls the three grisly/farcical murders he committed from age six to age ten.

[Spooncat]

It's a disturbing book, but that's probably why I liked it. I read it years ago , it's one I would like to read again. I have tried to read some of his others but none of them have been as good as this one.

[Nellie]

I've just found out what made Eric mad... That was terribly shocking.

[Nellie]

I've finished it. I wasn't expecting the ending. To be honest I am not sure what to make of it. I did enjoy it, which makes me uncomfortable as the story is so disturbing.

 

I think I might read something a bit lighter next!

[Raven]

I think I might read something a bit lighter next!

 

I always feel that way when I've read one of Banks' science fiction novels.

[Spooncat]

I cant remember what happened at the end of this book - going to have to find a copy and re read it now

[Nellie]

The ending is very odd, but not as odd as the ending to Perfume!