224 pages
English language
Published Aug. 29, 2001 by Picador.
The definitive cult, post-modern novel – a shocking blend of violence, transgression and eroticism. When our narrator smashes his car into another and watches a man die in front of him, his sense of sexual possibilities in the world around him becomes detached. As he begins an affair with the dead man's wife, he finds himself drawn with increasing intensity to the mangled impacts of car crashes. Then he encounters Robert Vaughan, a former TV scientist turned nightmare angel of the expressway, who has gathered around him a collection of alienated crash victims and experiments with a series of erotic atrocities, each more sinister than the last. But Vaughan craves the ultimate crash - a head-on collision of blood, semen, engine coolant and iconic celebrity. First published in 1973 'Crash' remains one of the most shocking novels of the second half of the twentieth century and was made into an …
The definitive cult, post-modern novel – a shocking blend of violence, transgression and eroticism. When our narrator smashes his car into another and watches a man die in front of him, his sense of sexual possibilities in the world around him becomes detached. As he begins an affair with the dead man's wife, he finds himself drawn with increasing intensity to the mangled impacts of car crashes. Then he encounters Robert Vaughan, a former TV scientist turned nightmare angel of the expressway, who has gathered around him a collection of alienated crash victims and experiments with a series of erotic atrocities, each more sinister than the last. But Vaughan craves the ultimate crash - a head-on collision of blood, semen, engine coolant and iconic celebrity. First published in 1973 'Crash' remains one of the most shocking novels of the second half of the twentieth century and was made into an equally controversial film by David Cronenburg.
I can certainly see why people enjoy this book. It is an experience. Since I am not a squeamish person, the book simply did not paint a particularly interesting picture for me. I suspect I would have enjoyed it more if it were written in a less clinical, more chaotic style.
Ailddarllenwyd ar ôl 20 mlynedd. Dal yn unigryw.
Ballard is one of those writers that I file under "Too much testosterone" a lot of the time and this book sort of fits that category. Its an easy read, Ballard wrote it in a stripped down and unpretentious way, no pointless passages, and I enjoyed his writing style. It makes for a satisfying read. But its gruesome as well. Ironically this is a book that probably couldn't be written today as cars have so many built in safety features preventing injuries. When he wrote the book driving and crashing was a much riskier thing to experience. The "language" of crashes written onto the character's bodies, car company logos seared into flesh, is probably one of the most potent devices/metaphors I've ever seen in a book. I'm not sure I could really tell you what its deeper meaning, if there is one, is though.
I didnt know anything about the …
Ballard is one of those writers that I file under "Too much testosterone" a lot of the time and this book sort of fits that category. Its an easy read, Ballard wrote it in a stripped down and unpretentious way, no pointless passages, and I enjoyed his writing style. It makes for a satisfying read. But its gruesome as well. Ironically this is a book that probably couldn't be written today as cars have so many built in safety features preventing injuries. When he wrote the book driving and crashing was a much riskier thing to experience. The "language" of crashes written onto the character's bodies, car company logos seared into flesh, is probably one of the most potent devices/metaphors I've ever seen in a book. I'm not sure I could really tell you what its deeper meaning, if there is one, is though.
I didnt know anything about the book before I read it. Just that its one of those books that cool intellectual types gush about, so wasnt expecting the sex, which adds to the weirdness and sense of unease and dread that permeated the book for me. I read it twice back to back so captivated was I by the style and the characters. All in a book you won't forget in a hurry.
