Customer Reviews

The Insult

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Martin Blom, victim of a random shooting, is rendered blind. As the story unwinds he finds he can see but only at night or in the dark. He begins to create a life around this odd existence. Moving slowly, narrating the story in 1st person, we are allowed to casually observe his meanderings and his eventual settling at a dingy hotel/brothel. Add to this neo-noir mix the beautiful mystery woman Nina, and her mildly twisted craving for Martin in his blindness. The later abrupt disappearance of Nina, coupled w/ suggested furtive movements by his ex-doctor, prompt Martin to head to remote locales in search of a family history which may explain Nina's whereabouts. The second part of the novel is the wistful recounting of Nina's grandmother's difficult life and how it eventually ties to Nina and threatens Blom himself. The style of narrative at the half-way point shifts to the grandmother, and it almost sounds like a different author. I found the story to be a similarly winding, round-about sort of mystery as Asylum by P. McGrath. The last hundred-plus pages were consumed in one sitting, as things began to rapidly unfold, I realized that Martin's story was now effectively secondary to the tragedy described by the grandmother. The tone and tragedy in this novel were subtle, and subdued. It did not produce a strong emotive response during the reading, one does not cheer for Martin, or feel for him in any way. He's a bit of an anti-hero, in the narrator vein of Poe's work. Every character here is broken in a way, which leads to a dulling moroseness in their interactions, which we watch in a detached clinical manner. Still, I found it an interesting work, to be read, if possible, on a rainy, grey day.

A beautifully written text. Begninning with a bullet-shaped punch, Thompson introduces new elements of the tale at precisely the right moments - the main character's initial 'flaw' becomes his saving grace, but in the end only serves to guide him into another story, one of which even his condition could not be aware. A novel about what it is to be blind to life, instead of being blind to light.

If you've read the other reviews of this book, you already know that Martin Blom was "insulted" by a gunshot wound, leaving him blind by day but able to see nocturnally. This book is dark (pun intended) yet fun and witty. Very unreal but very real at the same time. Rupert Thomson is a masterful writer. He creates fascinating (albeit strange) characters more bizarre than you've read about before. The story twists and turns and ends up where you wouldn't expect it to (which I loved). He writes in a style that's easy to read and creates strong visuals of people and places and emotions. (I'm rather surprised by the other reviews that didn't like his character development or his writing style). It's erotic, eerie, off-beat and a really good read. Very cool- I'll be recommending it to my friends who like the unusual.

This was a startling novel about a man who may or may not be in touch with reality. The descriptive first person narrative worked not once but twice in this story of a blind man, who has made his world bend to his truth. The second portion of the book was especially fascinating because we are drawn into another story about lust, betrayal which was subtle. Excellent read!

I like the middle section, "Carving babies" best, so unusual. But it is strange that the author actually devoted so many pages to it, which did not have direct involvement with the actual plot. I'm still puzzled over the sudden 180 degrees veer of development. "Carving babies" could have been further expanded into a novel standing by itself. The whole story ended rather abruptly though. An enjoyable read, but leaves a tasteless aftertaste and a heavy heart. Rupert Thomson is definitely unconventional. Highly recommended if you are looking for something different

This book is magical. Thompson lures you into a strange yet captivating world and floods it with stunning images that are hard to forget. This book is many things: suspenseful, smooth, crisp, steamy, tragic, cryptic and haunting. The author knows how to set the stage. He pays close attention to detail and weaves an incredibly intriguing plot. I have owned this book for many years. It's a worn paperback now and I go back to read it sometimes just because it is that kind of book. The one you go back to because it's that good.

Martin Blom, victim of a random shooting, is rendered blind. As the story unwinds he finds he can see but only at night or in the dark. He begins to create a life around this odd existence. Moving slowly, narrating the story in 1st person, we are allowed to casually observe his meanderings and his eventual settling at a dingy hotel/brothel. Add to this neo-noir mix the beautiful mystery woman Nina, and her mildly twisted craving for Martin in his blindness. The later abrupt disappearance of Nina, coupled w/ suggested furtive movements by his ex-doctor, prompt Martin to head to remote locales in search of a family history which may explain Nina's whereabouts. The second part of the novel is the wistful recounting of Nina's grandmother's difficult life and how it eventually ties to Nina and threatens Blom himself. The style of narrative at the half-way point shifts to the grandmother, and it almost sounds like a different author. I found the story to be a similarly winding, round-about sort of mystery as Asylum by P. McGrath. The last hundred-plus pages were consumed in one sitting, as things began to rapidly unfold, I realized that Martin's story was now effectively secondary to the tragedy described by the grandmother. The tone and tragedy in this novel were subtle, and subdued. It did not produce a strong emotive response during the reading, one does not cheer for Martin, or feel for him in any way. He's a bit of an anti-hero, in the narrator vein of Poe's work. Every character here is broken in a way, which leads to a dulling moroseness in their interactions, which we watch in a detached clinical manner. Still, I found it an interesting work, to be read, if possible, on a rainy, grey day.

I loved this book. I thought it was well written. Dark and dangerous, yet still drew you in and kept you there. This book was thought provoking without being too deep, if you can allow yourself to indulge in that type of behavior. Most of us see the dark through the light, although maybe we should allow ourselves to see the light through the dark.

I purchased this book because the plot sounded unique and interesting. It was about a man who was shot and as a result was blind. He had a rare condition which would let him see at night. It went through his rehab and entering back into what now would be his regular life. He meets a girl in a bar and after breaking up with him, she disappears. After that, the focus of the book changes to the life of this girl. It explores her life as well as the lifes of her parents and grandparents. It is very dark and definitely not what I expected to be reading about. Not a dull book but one that I wouldn't read again.

I loved Thomson's Five Gates of Hell, and it's awesome to read another book that uses such different sections and twists them into each other like this. My only advice is to read carefully, because so many details that are brought out in the last hundred pages are scattered through the book. I got lost in a lot of places and had to backtrack, but it was worth it.