Terrible Storytelling

What disappointed you about Alex?

The novel disappoints on several counts. It lacks compassion, deriving a kind of ghoulish delight in dealing with difficult themes such as sadism, mutilation, disfigurement. It lacks an intelligent plot. The characters are sketched without care; they bumble on in a world that lacks a social contour, maiming and chopping at each other without having a compelling reason to do so. The scenes of violence would remind one of the equally vacuous so called French 'Cinema of the Body'. The author exerts minimum social and cultural accountability, is disparaging towards women and towards the values of a multi-cultural world. And, the writing is stilted, non-lyrical, predictable and prosaic.

What was most disappointing about Pierre Lemaitre and Frank Wynne ’s story?

Its a story that is meant to sell purely on its stomach-turning descriptions of blood, gore, sadism, mutilation, and violence against children. It has a banal plot. Its characters bland and boring. The writing is stilted, unimaginative, non-lyrical, pedantic.

What didn’t you like about David Rintoul’s performance?

He overacts. Creates a false sense of drama where there is none. Loud and noisy. The voice is so full of himself that you want to shut it down.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No redeeming qualities. How come it got published?

Any additional comments?

Never trust the Guardian's recommendations

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