Customer Reviews

Getting It in the Head

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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I don't know what it was that made me pick up this disturbing and funny book, but it was like a flash of dark light from the moment I began reading the first story. From the weird, and painful (to read) "Thomas Crumlesh", to the moving "Reach of Love", McCormack shows a twisted talent that could be compared to David Lynch. The title story is a funny, human, yet ultimately tragic and bloody portrayal of madness, fear, disgust and sibling rivalry. Mike McCormack is a writer who deserves more recognition, and I hope he gets it. Part Ian McEwan, part Edgar Allan Poe, with a little bit of Will Self thrown in for good measure, "Getting it in the Head" is one of the best debuts - indeed best books - that I have read in ages. I can hardly wait for "Crowe's Requiem", his first novel, due out in June.

The first story, "Gospel of Knives" just grabs you with its Lovecraftian (is that a word?) atmosphere. "Estrogen" is like something Walt Whitman might have written (for the *way* it's written, not the subject matter). "Thomas Crumlish" reads like something from Poe. And that's just three of the stories. I love this book.

Upon reading this book you will wonder at the genius of the man and try and figure out what sort of mind can produce such a wide range of ideas and be so brilliant at putting it into words. You will be disgusted by,humoured by and in awe of McCormacks genius when you've read his first work.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the stories didn't work for me, especially those heavy on religious imagery or subject matter, but others I really liked, especially those dealing with ordinary people placed in incredible, unreal situations. Although most of the stories were very particular to the author's homeland, I never felt alienated by this.

Overall, a good read, full of dark, incredible and uplifting places.

A postmodern orgy of lust, sacrilege, and murder: this is the world painted by a talented young writer Mike McCormack. I liked this book, because the human element is never lost, despite the nearly ubiquitous and sometimes graphic description of atrocities or grotesque situations. This is McCormack's first book, and it reads like an auspicious start. In brutal detail, McCormack gives us his account of the tortures of the young soul.

I devour these short story books and this is one of the better ones I've read. Look for more stuff by McCormack.