It is a long time since I’ve read The Wasp Factory and I remember finding it troubling at the time. This piece has helped me make sense of some of those feelings. I’ve never read any of his sci-fi but have made a mental note to maybe raid my husband’s bookshelf at some point and have a look.
Yes, that was my experience with it exactly. I remember being astounded by the twist, but other than that I just found it really frightening and mentally crossed Banks off my list of people I wanted to read. It feels like a really (stereotypically) masculine book to me, which is ironic if his aim was to critique imposed standards of masculinity. But I was about 14 when I read it so this is all very hazy.
It is a long time since I’ve read The Wasp Factory and I remember finding it troubling at the time. This piece has helped me make sense of some of those feelings. I’ve never read any of his sci-fi but have made a mental note to maybe raid my husband’s bookshelf at some point and have a look.
Yes, that was my experience with it exactly. I remember being astounded by the twist, but other than that I just found it really frightening and mentally crossed Banks off my list of people I wanted to read. It feels like a really (stereotypically) masculine book to me, which is ironic if his aim was to critique imposed standards of masculinity. But I was about 14 when I read it so this is all very hazy.
I’ve never gone back to it, but I’m now thinking it might pay to read it with fresh eyes - just to see!