Under The Skin

[Valdeeves]

I just finished reading this - absolutely chilling and completely compulsive. Anybody else read it??

[aoife24]

Years ago, utterly freaky and disturbing as I recall, especially when you start reading it and just can't make sense of what's going on and then the horror starts to dawn, I think I'll go and see the film too.

[NigellasDealer]

is that the one with the alien who has had surgery driving around scotland finding lonely male hitchhikers and then deciding whether to kill them for meat or not?

[SnotandBothered]

Loved it.

Read it years ago and has stuck with me.

Didn't even think about it being a statement about meat eating till much later. Looking forward to the film.

[BOFtastic]

Yes, ages ago- I think I've got a proof copy of it from when I worked in a bookshop and before any publicity. I'm really interested to see the film too.

[MadamBatShit]

The film got rave review from Peter Bradshaw, I am looking forward to seeing (which will be ages as out of the country).
I've got the book and will read it first.

[Valdeeves]

I don't think the film will be anything like the book though - it says the meat eating stuff is never shown. That's kind of integral to the book - that you make that decent with her into the basement - and you really don't want to go.

[Valdeeves]

It was his first novel which makes it even more amazing.

[IndridCold]

Not my favourite Michel Faber book, but I did enjoy it.

So far as I can tell from the reviews the film bears virtually no resemblance to the book at all, but may be worth seeing on its own merit nevertheless.

[NotJustACigar]

My favourite of his is The Crimson Petal and the White though I really liked this one, too. I loved the tv adaptation of The Crimson Petal so am hopeful the movie version of this one will be excellent, too. Though it won't be as good for me as for those who don't know the story as part of the enjoyment comes from the slow revealing of what's going on.

[JimmyCorkhill]

Oh my goodness, I had completely forgotten this book. I used to read some weird shit

[carlajean]

I read this several years ago because so many people on mumsnet said how good it was. And it was, so well-written and thought provoking. I have no wish to see the film as I can't see how it could capture the book adequately.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

Really properly haunting and chilling. The captive spelling out mercy in the straw....

[MadamBatShit]

.. murky..
Yeah that was good.

Just finished it. Good. I live up there, sort of.

[CarolineKnappShappey]

I am reading it at the moment. And am finding it really disturbing, but am enjoying it. It's the only thing that would make me a vegetarian.

Was it his first? When did it come out?

[CarolineKnappShappey]

The Mercy bit made me gasp out loud while sitting waiting for the DSs to finish their after school activity.

Got some funny looks for my appalled expressions.

[frogletsmum]

Read it a few years back and was hooked. Have since read 3 others of his and they are all, IMHO, brilliant, and all completely different. The sign of a great writer, I think, that they can produce something new each time without sticking to a formula.