Okaaaaay… so I've just finished 'Under The Skin' by Michel Faber

[PacificWerewolf]

I am a bit 'wtf'?

V well written, but I am not sure what to make of the plot.

A parable about animal welfare?
How cruel 'people' can be to their own kind?

What did you think?

[pharmgirl]

How ridiculous cosmetic surgery is...amongst other things.

I enjoyed it, but it's a strange book.

[PacificWerewolf]

Ok, yes, good point.

How arbitrary notions of 'beauty' are too.

[SundaeGirl]

I thought it was disturbing.

I actually thought it was about how cruel people are when it isn't their kind.

Race/species

[PacificWerewolf]

Yes, you are absolutely right - of course!

The total lack of empathy to a fellow creature.

But what's-his-name son-of-corporation-owner did get it.

[pharmgirl]

He's an excellent writer. Crimson Petal is outstanding. There was a sad interview in the paper recently with him discussing the death of his wife.

[PacificWerewolf]

Yes, he spoke v touchingly about her during a recent radio interview I heard with him.

I think I am going to read Crimson Petal next - I had been put off by it being a 'Victorian' novel, but I can see that he may have interesting stuff to say.

I get creativity envy when I read imaginative stuff - David Mitchell had the same effect on me

[BOFster]

I read this as a proof copy before it was officially released. It was quite the strangest book I'd ever read . Compelling though.

I wouldn't recommend the film- it bears very little resemblance to the book, but is somehow even weirder, like those bizarre silent movies that Salvador Dali did.

[BOFster]

I started Crimson Petal ages ago, but lost interest. It's on my kindle- I'll give it another go, I think.

Pacific, have you ever read Sarah Waters' Fingersmith? It really is the ultimate in Victoriana for people who think they hate it. Utterly stunning book, a must-read.

[PacificWerewolf]

Oh, BOF, I think I want your job!

I have NO desire to see the film

[PacificWerewolf]

Oh, thanks for the recommendation, I had not heard of it - I'll look it up

[NadiaWadia]

I thought the book was brilliant. Yes I think he was making a point about lack of empathy for other creatures. We have empathy with Isserley but she has none for the men she abducts, even when she's had conversations with them. But she has empathy for rabbits and sheep that she comes across because they physically resemble what she calls (confusingly) 'human beings' - what she used to look like herself before she was surgically altered.

I read the book first, then recently saw the film. I liked it as a film, but I thought the director had an awful cheek to call it 'Under the Skin' when it bore so little resemblance to the book. A bit arrogant of him, really, I wonder what Michel Faber thought about it? Director should have just got an original screenplay.

[JuneFromBethesda]

Very clever book but too disturbing for me I couldn't get some of the images out of my head. Shudder.

I found 'Fingersmith' (recommended by BOFster) a bit too disturbing as well - maybe I'm just a lightweight but I loved The Crimson Petal and the White - couldn't put it down. I actually rationed how many pages I read each night as I didn't want it to end.