The Wasp Factory in Reading 1001

Oct 19, 2016 Michael Finocchiaro rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: scottish-20th-c, first-novels, pulp-fiction, fiction, novels

I read this back in the 90s and reread it because I finally read all of Banks' Culture books and needed to revisit this one. Wow, it is an intense book. The protagonist is a terrifying psychopath, but the craftsmanship with which Banks reveals this character and his crimes is majestic. He creates a tension early on that never lets up and keeps the reader burning through pages to understand more of the backstory and figure out what he will do next. The writing is highly evocative and one feels th ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Jul 06, 2018 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001, 1001-challenge, british-literature

Honestly, this is usually the sort of book I would hate but for some bizarre reason I found it captivating. Disturbing but captivating. Admittedly I had to skim over some sections involving animal cruelty but I was oddly engaged and completely unnerved by the book.

The writing was brilliant, the characters compelling in a train-wreck sort of way, and the story intriguing. I didn't see the ending coming at all -- I was pretty sure it was going in a different direction. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2015 Kaycie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001_read

I was immensely impressed with Banks' ability to force me to care about the main character and what happened to him by the end of this otherwise shocking and disturbing read. Its not too often I find an author who can so subtly manipulate my feelings and sympathies. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2022 Patrick Robitaille rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001, 1001-challenge, in-english

****
I have been a fan of Banks ever since I discovered him with Complicity. Once again, I was not disappointed with The Wasp Factory; it clearly shows the fertile and versatile imagination of the author, at ease as well in science fiction as in the gothic mode. The latter pervades this novel narrated the main character, Frank, a 16-year old who at times appears older than his age, at other times inhabited by some intriguing mythology. He lives isolated with his father on an island off the Scotti ...more

Like · see review