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Kelly + Victor
A bar in Liverpool, January 2nd 2000: Kelly and Victor, both coming down from the recent global party, meet, and some time later that night they are in her bed. The story of Kelly and Victor progresses, through two mirror-image narratives—a story of the growth and spiralling intensity of a sexual obsession, traced to its inevitable, devastating conclusion. Set against a backdrop of urban despair, spiritual absence and a world swamped with pornography, this is a novel about yearning for union, for purity, and for magic and mystery in a world that denies them all.
344 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
12 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Niall Griffiths
33 books100 followersNiall Griffiths was born in Liverpool to a Welsh/Irish/Romany lineage. He’s been a labourer, a barman, a server of fish and chips, a burglar, a farmhand, a tree feller, a factory worker and many other things too tedious to relate. Now, he’s a full-time writer, living at the foot of a mountain in mid-Wales, with seven novels published, several works of non-fiction and more short stories and radio plays and travel pieces and reviews than he cares to, or possibly even can, count. His fourth novel, Stump, won the Wales Book of the Year Award. A film adaptation of his third novel, Kelly+Victor, won a BAFTA. He’s now working on the screenplay for his sixth, Wreckage. His latest novel is Broken Ghost.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 21, 2021
Sex and drugs and rock and roll. Well two out of three ain't bad. Not much rock and roll, unless you count some inebriated old biddies singing in one of the many pubs featured.
Kelly and Victor meet in a club at the start of the new millenium. There is an immediate drink and drugs fuelled spark between them. They embark on an intense ten day love affair, at the end of which one of them is dead.
A bit graphic for my tastes - the anal fisting scene could put you right off your tea.
Some great humour in there as well. In my favourite passage Kelly helps a friend out with a dominatrix gig. A chap in a set of stocks wearing only a gimp mask gets a tremendous caning, partly because as a rich b*stard he deserves it - but mainly because of a framed Cantona shirt in the Hall. As a scouser Keller is a Liverpool fan, and Cantona played for rivals Manchester United. An extra special beating for the prawn sandwich brigade. He loved it.
Griffiths writes about life amongst the lower orders in Britain, people with little money, no prospects and no hope. Despite this they live life in a hedonistic hundred mile an hour blur, their lives often cut tragically short by overdose or violence.
As that great poet Jarvis Cocker once said
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And you dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do
You will never understand
How it feels to live your life
With no meaning or control
And with nowhere left to go
You are amazed that they exist
And they burn so bright
Whilst you can only wonder why
This is not the best book I have read by Griffiths - I think Sheepshagger and Stump are better (both are referenced obliquely in this book)
Kelly and Victor meet in a club at the start of the new millenium. There is an immediate drink and drugs fuelled spark between them. They embark on an intense ten day love affair, at the end of which one of them is dead.
A bit graphic for my tastes - the anal fisting scene could put you right off your tea.
Some great humour in there as well. In my favourite passage Kelly helps a friend out with a dominatrix gig. A chap in a set of stocks wearing only a gimp mask gets a tremendous caning, partly because as a rich b*stard he deserves it - but mainly because of a framed Cantona shirt in the Hall. As a scouser Keller is a Liverpool fan, and Cantona played for rivals Manchester United. An extra special beating for the prawn sandwich brigade. He loved it.
Griffiths writes about life amongst the lower orders in Britain, people with little money, no prospects and no hope. Despite this they live life in a hedonistic hundred mile an hour blur, their lives often cut tragically short by overdose or violence.
As that great poet Jarvis Cocker once said
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And you dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do
You will never understand
How it feels to live your life
With no meaning or control
And with nowhere left to go
You are amazed that they exist
And they burn so bright
Whilst you can only wonder why
This is not the best book I have read by Griffiths - I think Sheepshagger and Stump are better (both are referenced obliquely in this book)
July 8, 2012
I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
To each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
And I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candlew burning
And make her journey bright and pure
That she will keep returning
Always and evermore
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
I LOVE THIS BOOK.
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
To each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
And I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candlew burning
And make her journey bright and pure
That she will keep returning
Always and evermore
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms
I LOVE THIS BOOK.
April 13, 2016
Wow, what a ride.
I shall agree with most of the readers here, this book is not for the faint hearted. Nor it's a love story, according to my opinion; it's a passion/passionate story that involves a sexual relationship between a male and female, but I should point out that not once neither Kelly nor Victor used the word "love" or "being in love". Both of them were obsessed with each other, obsessed beyond words, thus leading to tremendous sexual extremeness.
One thing I think it stands out and one shall obtain from reading this book, is that here we have a really unique female character in terms of sexuality, she's quite the exact opposite of how usually feme-fatalles' or even next-door-girls' sexuality is portrayed in literature. Although I reckon that upon finishing the book Victor can be easily seen as the victim and Kelly as a psychotic, sadistic bitch.
Griffiths writing skills are not to be taken lightly, you can feel what the characters feel, see what they see. I found that reading the same story twice as it was experienced from both parties was brilliant. You *think* you pretty much know how the story ends from Victor's naration alone and somehow, along the way I had a slight yet so naive hope that we might have a pleasant ending there. Nope, it was utterly depressing.
I have been a dedicated reader for almost a decade and I can truly say, this was one of the most intense stories that I have ever crossed paths with. Really depressive, harsh, nihilistic and left me utterly gutter when I finished reading the last word, but I was completely, purely overwhelmed at the same time.
I shall agree with most of the readers here, this book is not for the faint hearted. Nor it's a love story, according to my opinion; it's a passion/passionate story that involves a sexual relationship between a male and female, but I should point out that not once neither Kelly nor Victor used the word "love" or "being in love". Both of them were obsessed with each other, obsessed beyond words, thus leading to tremendous sexual extremeness.
One thing I think it stands out and one shall obtain from reading this book, is that here we have a really unique female character in terms of sexuality, she's quite the exact opposite of how usually feme-fatalles' or even next-door-girls' sexuality is portrayed in literature. Although I reckon that upon finishing the book Victor can be easily seen as the victim and Kelly as a psychotic, sadistic bitch.
Griffiths writing skills are not to be taken lightly, you can feel what the characters feel, see what they see. I found that reading the same story twice as it was experienced from both parties was brilliant. You *think* you pretty much know how the story ends from Victor's naration alone and somehow, along the way I had a slight yet so naive hope that we might have a pleasant ending there. Nope, it was utterly depressing.
I have been a dedicated reader for almost a decade and I can truly say, this was one of the most intense stories that I have ever crossed paths with. Really depressive, harsh, nihilistic and left me utterly gutter when I finished reading the last word, but I was completely, purely overwhelmed at the same time.
May 6, 2013
"I first met her an yet it feels like to be with her is what I was born for."
Even if this Kelly is fucking crazy, I just loved this love story. Both characters' psychology is well described and unlike Fifty shades of Grey or so, the story looks a little bit more realistic.
I'm curious to see the movie though... Some scenes (the "engraving" scene) are pretty hard to read but this part of the story really aroused my curiosity regarding both characters' reactions.
+1 for the author who knows how to describe a boy's AND a girl's feelings when it comes to sentimal relationships, sex or even guilt and shame.
Even if this Kelly is fucking crazy, I just loved this love story. Both characters' psychology is well described and unlike Fifty shades of Grey or so, the story looks a little bit more realistic.
I'm curious to see the movie though... Some scenes (the "engraving" scene) are pretty hard to read but this part of the story really aroused my curiosity regarding both characters' reactions.
+1 for the author who knows how to describe a boy's AND a girl's feelings when it comes to sentimal relationships, sex or even guilt and shame.
September 2, 2012
Gave up after the first sixty or so pages, unrelentingly grim, negative and depressing.
May 10, 2024
Batshit sadist girl meets masochist boy and the ending is predictable. The same story is told from two character’s perspectives and the overlap grew a little tiresome at times. I liked the style of the writing, just didn’t really care for the story as much.
August 5, 2012
My ex recommended this as the most influential book in his life, and Griffiths' success has prompted him to become a writer, showing that it's okay to write about ordinary everyday things. The boy has done well for himself in the field so fair play to him and Griffiths can be credited.
Unfortunately he also sold me it as a naughty book to wipe off the stale aftertaste that 50 shades disappointingly left on my palate. It was a bit of a letdown on that count. I did have to restart this book once as I simply couldn't cope with those nasal Scouse accents. The book is written largely in phonetic, conveying the accent very well - a good and bad thing. I could just hear them in my head going 'eeeee lad'. I did enjoy reading the deeply detailed and carefully thought through sex scenes. However, as someone pointed out I did find the violence in the book hard to understand.
I knew what was going to happen from around page 15. 'Why are you coming back you idiot, you're getting hurt!' I thought to myself so many times. But then again this did resonate with me and my inability to keep away from the person that's hurting me, if in an incomparably less extreme way. In that way this was a well developed study of a self-destructive obsession - certainly not love as the blurb on the back (and my ex) would have it.
I was so angry that I had to read the thing twice over. As I was getting towards the end of 'Kelly' I almost stopped, but wanted to push through even if the reading was making me feel uncomfortable. Luckily 'Kelly' was less repetitive than expected. Still preferred reading Victor's part as I felt genuinely sorry for him. Kelly is just a mad bint.
Unfortunately he also sold me it as a naughty book to wipe off the stale aftertaste that 50 shades disappointingly left on my palate. It was a bit of a letdown on that count. I did have to restart this book once as I simply couldn't cope with those nasal Scouse accents. The book is written largely in phonetic, conveying the accent very well - a good and bad thing. I could just hear them in my head going 'eeeee lad'. I did enjoy reading the deeply detailed and carefully thought through sex scenes. However, as someone pointed out I did find the violence in the book hard to understand.
I knew what was going to happen from around page 15. 'Why are you coming back you idiot, you're getting hurt!' I thought to myself so many times. But then again this did resonate with me and my inability to keep away from the person that's hurting me, if in an incomparably less extreme way. In that way this was a well developed study of a self-destructive obsession - certainly not love as the blurb on the back (and my ex) would have it.
I was so angry that I had to read the thing twice over. As I was getting towards the end of 'Kelly' I almost stopped, but wanted to push through even if the reading was making me feel uncomfortable. Luckily 'Kelly' was less repetitive than expected. Still preferred reading Victor's part as I felt genuinely sorry for him. Kelly is just a mad bint.
April 10, 2010
If you thought Nick Caves latest wasn't smutty or debauched enough. Kelly and Victor takes things to a whole new and profoundly disturbing level. Hooray.
November 23, 2014
A reread after about ten years but I'm still counting it towards my yearly total. Just as grimly absorbing as I remember.
January 18, 2026
I can understand and appreciate some comparisons to Irvine Welsh's writing: Griffiths adopts the use of the setting's local Manchurian dialect, and provides a pessimistic commentary on the lives of two youths in the turn of the millennium, with obsession, sex and drugs the driver for the story progression. I finished the book enjoying the story and the dark themes, but felt a little unfulfilled. I'm not sure if it was the constant dreary tone, the lack of dialogue or genuine connection between Kelly and Victor, or the mirrored story style feeling unnecessary and repetitive. Still, if you enjoyed it, I implore you to read Welsh's Trainspotting series - it adds layers of dark humour and makes for a much more enjoyable read.
April 29, 2019
A DNF for me - it was okay? This just wasn't the time for an okay read, as it was meant to be for a uni seminar and I've got too much on to be spending time reading something that didn't demand my attention. Maybe I'll try again at a different date.
April 24, 2024
Found myself thinking in a Liverpudlian accent for weeks thanks to the phonetic spellings, but this was hard to put down. The second half is a little repetitive due to the dual narrative, but it was still compelling, and very dark.
January 21, 2018
Quite dark, I liked the way the book is written as the the voices of the characters.
December 12, 2020
Sick! I’m scared if people actually liked this book.
Read
July 20, 2023Bleak yet beautiful (like all Griffiths' work), but this one hits harder somehow. Perhaps due to the subject of love.
August 23, 2023
This one really stuck with me, what a raw and intoxicating novel!
March 10, 2016
Very well written book. The scouse accent is very realistic, you can almost hear them. However this has got to be the most depressing book ive ever read. Yes I knew it was going to be gritty , seedy and dirty from the blurb, but I didnt expect it to be so extreme.
The misery, urban squalor and drug taking never lets up. I was hoping for some small ray of sunshine in there, but there is none. No happy endings here. I can do dark and depressing but this was just too much. There was also zero eroticism in this "21st century love story", the sex scenes were gut wrenchingly brutal.
Only for the very strong of stomach!!
I gritted my teeth and ploughed on till the bitter end, and felt tainted and utterly depressed by this story. Grim.
The misery, urban squalor and drug taking never lets up. I was hoping for some small ray of sunshine in there, but there is none. No happy endings here. I can do dark and depressing but this was just too much. There was also zero eroticism in this "21st century love story", the sex scenes were gut wrenchingly brutal.
Only for the very strong of stomach!!
I gritted my teeth and ploughed on till the bitter end, and felt tainted and utterly depressed by this story. Grim.
May 12, 2012
A friend had heard that this book was truly, horrendously, sick and depraved and wanted to find out if it was, but didn't want to read it. So I did. It was pretty twisted but I didn't think it was as bad as he'd been told - whether that says more about me or the friend who recommended it to him I'm not sure!
It definitely won't be to everyone's liking but I enjoyed how Griffiths managed to convey a real seediness about the characters that at times actually made me feel grimy. Yet he achieved this without overcooking it and so the characters and their lifestlyes remained shockingly believable.
It definitely won't be to everyone's liking but I enjoyed how Griffiths managed to convey a real seediness about the characters that at times actually made me feel grimy. Yet he achieved this without overcooking it and so the characters and their lifestlyes remained shockingly believable.
July 10, 2011
I'm not sure if this is hardcore trashy BDS&M masquerading as literary fiction or literary fiction masquerading as hardcore trashy BDS&M.
I like the way Niall Griffiths writes but I think I preferred him in Sheepshagger. I found the violence in Kelly and Victor a bit hard to understand.
By the way, Sheepshagger is not pornographic in any way shape or form. And nor is Stump. Just to be clear.
But Kelly and Victor quite possibly is. Er, I dunno. It's not my kind of porn anyway so I can't tell.
I like the way Niall Griffiths writes but I think I preferred him in Sheepshagger. I found the violence in Kelly and Victor a bit hard to understand.
By the way, Sheepshagger is not pornographic in any way shape or form. And nor is Stump. Just to be clear.
But Kelly and Victor quite possibly is. Er, I dunno. It's not my kind of porn anyway so I can't tell.
May 8, 2009
"It's a love story...
Or as much as the 21st Century will allow of one"
I'm not too convinced of this quote.
A lust story, a sex story - sure.
A Love story, I don't see it so much.
Written in two parts, One from Kelly's perspective & One from Victor's - the story is obviously repetitive...but in credit to the author, the second part still reads quiet fresh and interesting.
There is fisting after all, how could it not be fresh and interesting.
Or as much as the 21st Century will allow of one"
I'm not too convinced of this quote.
A lust story, a sex story - sure.
A Love story, I don't see it so much.
Written in two parts, One from Kelly's perspective & One from Victor's - the story is obviously repetitive...but in credit to the author, the second part still reads quiet fresh and interesting.
There is fisting after all, how could it not be fresh and interesting.
September 21, 2013
Not quite sure how to rate this, to be honest. The story was so devastating it's difficult to know what to say about it. It's not a story you can like, I think. But the writing was good, especially with the dialect and slang giving the story a raw intensity. The rest is dark, gritty and depressing.
March 2, 2014
I bought the book when I was 18, but I did not have the courage to read it until recently, at the age of 21. It was a painful delight to enter their minds. I have too many mixed up emotions right now about it... so brutal, so bittersweet.
August 21, 2014
I think it was a love story, I think. Once again his characters have such depth and detail you can really believe they're real. There are plenty of laughs; some of it though was so gruesome that I kind of feel like maybe I should have cried.
Read
April 27, 2011still havnt finished it
July 6, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11124587
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11124587
March 23, 2013
Very dark, depraved and sadistic - if you like authors such as James Kelman, Irvine Welsh or John King then you'll probably like this - definitely not for the faint hearted though!!
January 12, 2015
If Irvine Welsh wrote Lunes de Fiel this would be the result.
January 15, 2025
2025 I’m still thinking about this book
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews