The book is deeply unpleasant but also captivating, with lyrical prose and a disturbing central subject matter. It captures the descent into unreality and the horror of a man's disintegration, reframing revulsion into revelation. The atmosphere of rot and the beautiful writing make it a thought-provoking read, though not necessarily a pleasant one.
The book is a complex and unsettling read, with a deeply unpleasant central subject matter that is both repulsive and strangely entrancing. The prose is lyrical and ornate, capturing the beauty and rot of the story's atmosphere. The central character's obsession with a teenage boy is disturbing, but the book's strength lies in its portrayal of the character's internal collapse and the uncanny descent into unreality. The ending reframes the revulsion into a revelation, showing the man's delusions and his crumbling into myth. The book is not easy to love, but it is thought-provoking and leaves a lasting impression. The beautiful writing and the atmosphere of rot make it a captivating read, though it is not for the faint of heart.
Quick quotes
I found this book deeply unpleasant — and strangely entrancing.
The central subject matter, however — an aging writer developing an obsessive fixation on a teenage boy — is less tragic than it is repulsive.
The ending doesn’t excuse the disturbing elements, but it reframes them. It turns revulsion into revelation — showing us not a noble artist destroyed by passion, but a man hollowed out by his own delusions, crumbling into myth.