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A review by margaretzadie
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
Disturbing and upsetting story. Full of suspense, I tore thru it in a week, which is fast for me.
It was refreshing reading a novel that wasn’t just about sad sensitive cerebral people. This story was of the world, sleazy SF and LA, prisons etc. The opening section abt “chain night” was horrifying.
There’s a great bit about thoureau woven thru: I can know and judge no one but myself. This was a dictum for a novel where many of the characters were guilty of murder and also a good reminder for me personally cuz I can be a sjithead.
At first I resisted switches in POV but I think the book found its strength in being both narrated by those incarcerated and its voyeurs.
It was refreshing reading a novel that wasn’t just about sad sensitive cerebral people. This story was of the world, sleazy SF and LA, prisons etc. The opening section abt “chain night” was horrifying.
There’s a great bit about thoureau woven thru: I can know and judge no one but myself. This was a dictum for a novel where many of the characters were guilty of murder and also a good reminder for me personally cuz I can be a sjithead.
At first I resisted switches in POV but I think the book found its strength in being both narrated by those incarcerated and its voyeurs.