I can't put my finger on exactly why this book grabbed me, but for the two days it took me to read it, I felt like I was on a wild ride. Bogosian sets up the action with intriguing characters: a rapidly degrading meth junkie, an existential teenage delinquent, a bored sexy housewife, a Haitian immigrant mall security guard, and a fairly normal young businessman with a tame taste for catalog models.
The book opens with Mal, a speed freak, who murders his mother, loads up a trunkful of guns, sets fire to his house, and heads for the mall. It just gets weirder and darker from there. Bogosian's writing is crisp, detailed, and dark. He skews the focus on regular American suburban life, showing how easily the balance can be upset.
The book has a Pulp Fiction texture, with dark humor, sex, graphic violence, and chance meetings, yet the in-your-face style reminds me of Douglas Copeland's book, Generation X. The chapters are short, choppy views into the characters' lives, and while I found following the action a little confusing at first, things soon fell into place.
The action is quick-paced, the characters convincing, and the story disturbing. If you're looking for a light read, pass this one up; if you're looking for something bordering on literary and really gritty, I recommend Mall.
Visit Bogosian's Web site at http://www.ericbogosian.com.
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