I first discovered John Fowles via his marvelous and twisted novel of obsession and sexual gamesmanship The Magus. It scrambled my brain. Freaked me out. Turned me on. It’s a wild ride. But as good as The Magus is, Fowles’s first novel, The Collector, might be even better. I read it recently and had one of those out of body reading experiences, the kind where you look up and hours have passed, the thicker part of the book is now in your left hand, and you have a fantastic cramp from holding the book so long. It’s a dark and immersive experience. Imagine Silence of the Lambs without any uncomfortable chortles, only the uncomfortableness. It’s Lolita without a trace of irony or romanticism. It’s creepy as hell and rather brilliant. One of those books you almost don’t want to admit you liked so much because you’re afraid people will think you’re weird. I’m here to comfort you. You’re not weird.
Benjamin Roesch
I am a novelist and short story writer living in Burlington, Vermont. My work has appeared in Brilliant Corners, Word Riot, Seven Days, Monkey Bicycle and other fine purveyors of the written word. Mostly, this blog will chronicle my writing life. But I’m restless. And writing can get tiresome to hear about, even if it’s the thing that makes you go boom. So don’t be surprised to find the occasional album or book review, recipe, political musing, notes on a recent home brewing endeavor, writing tutorial, anecdote, or rhetorical question into the ether. Thanks for coming. Stay a while.Read Some of My Work
- Brilliant Corners: People Done Crazier Things for Love Ain't They?
- Fogged Clarity: If You're Listening to This
- Fogged Clarity: Who Has Time for Stars?
- Kids VT: On Becoming-And Not Becoming-My Dad
- Kids VT: Picking Your Battles Against Technology
- Monkey Bicycle: One of the Fighting Fish
- Seven Days: Bloomsbury Heads West
- The Bangalore Review: Nothing is Ever Really Lost: Time and Memory in Eudora Welty's "Music From Spain"
- The Splinter Generation: Family Breakfast
- Word Riot: On Knowing What I'm Doing
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The Almost Right Words
Nice post, Ben. Love both those books, and I read them in the reverse order. Thanks for reminding about THE COLLECTOR — haven’t thought of that one in years. Perhaps shall reread.
Let me know if you do. I’m thinking about re-reading The Magus.
Fowles is incredible.