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3rd out of 24 books
—
5 voters
Mall
From the award-winning avatar of contemporary urban theater and author of such modern classics as Talk Radio and subUrbia comes this outrageous novel about five suburbanites whose lives intersect in one violent and life-altering night -- at the local mall. Mal, a thirtysomething speed freak, shoots his mother, torches his house, and heads to the local mall with a sack of w...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
December 25th 2001
by Simon & Schuster
(first published 2000)
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I read so many books, it's unusual these days for me to find one I absolutely cannot put down. Add playwright/actor/author Eric Bogosian's book Mall to that short list.
Eric Bogosian? Does the name ring a bell? Think Captian Ross from Law & Order: Criminal Intent... Yeh, same guy!
I can't put my finger on exactly why this book grabbed me, but for the two days it took me to read it, I felt like I was on a wild ride. Bogosian sets up the action with intriguing characters: a rapidly degrading met...more
Eric Bogosian? Does the name ring a bell? Think Captian Ross from Law & Order: Criminal Intent... Yeh, same guy!
I can't put my finger on exactly why this book grabbed me, but for the two days it took me to read it, I felt like I was on a wild ride. Bogosian sets up the action with intriguing characters: a rapidly degrading met...more
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Found this book in the parking lot at Joaquin Miller Park. Needed a quick and (literally) light book to take on a backpack trip.
The book tells the stories of five people who experience a series of difficult events in and around a suburban mall. Characters overlap, but only one connects with all of the core characters. The book strives to make a lot of social commentary about the suburban way of life. However, the characters remain character types pushed through a story rather than characters in...more
The book tells the stories of five people who experience a series of difficult events in and around a suburban mall. Characters overlap, but only one connects with all of the core characters. The book strives to make a lot of social commentary about the suburban way of life. However, the characters remain character types pushed through a story rather than characters in...more
I enjoyed how the story is told from the perspectives of mutliple people, surrounding events taking place at the same time, in the same location, with virtually no cognizance of the other protagonists & players existence and actions, although they be interconnected and contiguous.
It's startling how one person's life can be "ruined" in an instant while another's seemingly bleek and despondent existence can experience an upswing in an eye's blink.
The unexpected musings of the unknowingly narc...more
It's startling how one person's life can be "ruined" in an instant while another's seemingly bleek and despondent existence can experience an upswing in an eye's blink.
The unexpected musings of the unknowingly narc...more
This book is full of dark humor and would be best read with a strong stomach,
There has been times reading this book where I have to put it down and said .
" oh my god "
which is rare for me to get that kind of reaction. It's definitely an interesting book. But it's also definitely not for everyone.
There has been times reading this book where I have to put it down and said .
" oh my god "
which is rare for me to get that kind of reaction. It's definitely an interesting book. But it's also definitely not for everyone.
Pitch-dark, but a fun read. I really enjoyed the multiple narratives and different viewpoints of the same situation. None of the characters have redeemable qualities, but it's still fun to go on their journeys of anger, perversion, loathing, and doubt.
Jul 26, 2011
Renee Beaucage
added it
Best thing about the book: THE SHORT CHAPTERS!!! I love short chapters. It makes reading a book so much easier! Anyway, about the actual story now. Loved it! The mix of different characters was fantastic and all the added elements such as murder, sex, drugs... Highly recommended!
I didn't think much of this, and would much rather than Bogosian hadn't tried to extend his considerable franchise. http://michaelprager.com/eric-bogosia...
Seriously....this book is crazy. If you don't have a weak stomach....and also like people getting shot up in a Mall....then read it.
Yuck did not like. Struggled to finish. Too close fr comfort in today's society.
Jul 28, 2011
Prplpckl
added it
Either too deep for me or too strange. All I can say is I tried.
Strange.
A disturbing trip through the mind of a psychopath and his victims. I enjoyed the crisp writing of Bogosian and the gritty reality of his suburban landscape. The most difficult part of the book for me was the cast of characters. I didn't find myself liking any of them. That may have been Bogosian's point, though.
Cliche-ridden, trite, angsty and predictable fiction involving your standard suburban dystopia genre. Blah, blah. Like so many other novelists, Bogosian has applied a choke-hold to this genre and kicked it in the groin repeatedly. ATTN, to all contemporary American fiction writers: PLEASE REFRAIN FROM WRITING ABOUT DISENCHANTED SUBURBANITES UNLESS YOU CAN DO IT WITH TASTE AND POIGNANCY. Thanks.
Something about this book amazed me. Was it the young boy tripping on acid, reminded me of a time once lost? Could it be the lonely house wife looking for love? Or perhaps the thirtysomething speed freak seeking vengeance at the local mall. It could be the tormented I felt reading this book, bring back memories I wish to forget. Could I be the one trapped at the mall? Maybe....
Somewhat engaging, and certainly sets the atmosphere (lays it on with a trowel, really), but you can see the ending coming down 5th Avenue (clue: er...the cover of the book), and it ain't the freshest trove of ideas in the world. Not his best work by any stretch, but do-able.
I have seen Bogosian acting on Law & Order Criminal Intent, never realizing he was also an author. His subject matter and characters are a little more graphic than I usually enjoy, but I could appreciate the skill in storyline construction.
Disappointingly shallow novel about a lively afternoon in a US mall (guy goes amok, housewife cheats on husband, etc). Characters never come to life the way EB's those in stage monologues would.
Brilliant, amazing, dark, hilarious all those words that describe a book you need to read right now.
A detailed review of mine would not give it justice. Twelve stars.
A detailed review of mine would not give it justice. Twelve stars.
Brief glimmers of insight and specs of good writing, clouded by a stilted story and vapid characters. Nothing new. Eric should stick to stand up and Law and Order.
Really dark and horrifying and kind of hilarious. In that meth-head-loses-it-and-shoots-up-a-mall sort of way.
The summary on the back cover sounded great, but the book didn't really do it for me.
I shouldn't put books away at work, because I always find more I want to read.
Jun 30, 2007
Sara Bohl
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes stories that are FUCKED up
Great book! Wonderful author! I wish there was more.
Amazing social commentary
Gimmicky and forgettable.
May 14, 2013
Nick Reynolds
added it
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This book to be made into a Film | 1 | 1 | Mar 17, 2013 04:35am |
Eric Bogosian (born April 24, 1953) is an American actor, playwright, monologist, and novelist.
-Wikipedia
More about Eric Bogosian...
-Wikipedia
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Mar 17, 2013 04:37am