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thedinginator's review against another edition
2.0
Considering I picked up this novel as a 14 year old, thinking I was really edgy for owning a book about drugs, I'm glad that I had read and adored other Ballard before finally completing it, 16 years later. This book is in no way his best, but it still - just about - held my interest until the end.
I think where this booked failed for me was that the philosophies and description of the book's dystopia was delivered via the mouthpiece of Bobby Crawford. They were the coked up rants of a mad man, easy to dismiss. Why so many characters, including the protagonist, fell under his spell (or did they?) was quite shocking to me.
Compared to High Rise or Crash, where the dystopia doesn't have to be explained by a character and instead just is - leaving the reader sickened and dizzy at the alienation - Cocaine Nights fell really far short. If I want to debate the future of retirement homes in the sun with an evangelical drug pusher and pimp, I'll start hanging out in Ibiza more.
I think where this booked failed for me was that the philosophies and description of the book's dystopia was delivered via the mouthpiece of Bobby Crawford. They were the coked up rants of a mad man, easy to dismiss. Why so many characters, including the protagonist, fell under his spell (or did they?) was quite shocking to me.
Compared to High Rise or Crash, where the dystopia doesn't have to be explained by a character and instead just is - leaving the reader sickened and dizzy at the alienation - Cocaine Nights fell really far short. If I want to debate the future of retirement homes in the sun with an evangelical drug pusher and pimp, I'll start hanging out in Ibiza more.
ania's review against another edition
4.0
kept reminding me of Fight Club - it explores a similar theme.
camerontrost's review against another edition
4.0
An original novel in which Ballard explores his pet theme of the bourgeoisie seeking an escape from their boring, meaningless lives. I suspect one might have to belong to the middle class to truly appreciate much of Ballard's work. Nevertheless, I tried to put myself in his characters' handmade Italian shoes. The setting and characters are twisted and engaging, and Ballard's trademark near-future atmosphere is palpable. On the other hand, his prose is a little awkward in places, and there are a number of bizarre similes, but this is much more readable than The Atrocity Exhibition, for example. The mystery aspect to the story is quite good, somewhat noirish, although the ending is predictable, which is inevitable considering the theme. 3.5 stars
athenalindia's review against another edition
4.0
This will be the first of three reviews that center around a world that has lost its moral and ethical compass. I didn't plan this as a reading theme, but it came up! Of the three, this is probably the most realistic (not hard when the other two are G.K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday, and C.S. Lewis' That Hideous Strength,) and also the most pessimistic. This is likely because the other two authors are deeply Christian, and so have a solution for the world's woes. Ballard, writing far more recently, has no such comfort.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
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