I just finished the last pages of the book seconds ago and I haven’t ever read a novel like this. The second half was so brutal and haunting, I just can’t even shake it off. I had to take constant breaks. The pop culture references constantly really painted to me how brainwashed teenagers in Y2K were but what really stuck with me were all the snuff films, the Y2K party, the unfiltered look at male adolescent life. The narrative is written like a screenplay. Even the main character lying to everyone around him/his double life and the main character’s obsessive toxic new friendship with one of the transfer students totally felt real. I know this book is full of internet mythology and controversy but I really think Alex lived up to the Poppy Z Brite and Bret blurb. I couldn’t put this thing down. Anyone recommend any other books about messed up rich suburban teenagers? What did y’all think of this book?
by CorpsesnCasseroles
3 Comments
Oh man, Y2K, Poppy Z Brite & Columbine? Throw in trying to get high off morning glory seeds cause we saw it on Erowid and you would have my adolescence right there. I will have to check this book out!
Really enjoyed this one as well.
Both a time capsule to the 1990s and a portrait of the broken nature of men in the (pre) internet age.
I just started this book but it is making me think a lot about Megan Boyle’s autofiction “Liveblog” in terms of style. Also kind of reminiscent of Men, Women, and Children by Chad Kultgen?