Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

March group read from sci-Fi fantasy

My copy of this, from the mid 80s had quotes from all the bad reviews as well as the good ones - some of them are hilarious, especially bearing in mind how well respected Iain Banks would go on to be.

Phil - you've read The Wasp Factory then? What were your thoughts? I would LOVE to hear what some of the bad reviews were on the book cover, if you still have it around anywhere!

SUCH an interesting book, and I find it super weird that I am saying that, considering the content. My husband was asking what it was about and looking at me like I was insane when I was talking about this boy who murdered several of his young relatives and believes in the power of strange rituals and sacrifices wasps in order to see the future...then told him I was really enjoying it. (These aren't spoilers, btw, you can get all of this from the cover of the book or the first two chapters) And my husband is right, really. A book about those topics should be much more distressing that I found Wasp Factory to be. I am still amazed at Banks' ability to make me feel such sympathy for this main character, after reading about all of the rather horrible things he does.

For anyone on the fence, it is a fast read, but packs a punch! And DO NOT read spoilers! Seriously! The ending is definitely worth not spoiling! Overall, I am very glad to have nominated and read this one for the month!

I said that I'd put up some of the bad reviews printed with pride in early paperback editions of this book.

"It is a sick sick world when the confidence and investment of an astute firm of publishers is justified by a work of unparalleled depravity. . (spoiler removed)... The majority of the literate public, however, will be relieved that only reviewers are obliged to look at any of it." IRISH TIMES

"As a piece of writing, The Wasp Factory soars to the level of mediocrity. Maybe the crassly explicit language, the obscenity of the plot, were thought to strike a suitably avant garde note. Perhaps it is all a joke, meant to fool literary London into respect for rubbish." THE TIMES

"A silly, gloatingly sadistic and grisly yarn of a family of Scots lunatics, one of whom tortures small creatures - a bit better written than most horror hokum but really just the lurid literary equivalent of a video nasty." SUNDAY EXPRESS

"No masterpiece, and one of the most disagreeable pieces of reading that has come my way in quite a while. Enjoy it I did not." SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

"The surest way to make an impact with a first novel, if not the most satisfactory, is to deal in extremes of oddity and unpleasantness: so in The Wasp Factory, we have some ghoulish frivolity and a good deal of preposterous sadism. Unfortunately the novelist's satiric intent is overwhelmed by his relish for exorbitant brutalities. A literary equivalent of the nastiest brand of juvenile delinquency: inflicting outrages on animals." TLS

"A repulsive pile of work and will therefore be widely admired. Piles horror upon horror in a way that is certain to satisfy those readers who subscribe to the currently fashionable notion that Man is vile." EVENING STANDARD

There are rave reviews in between these putdowns, but I did admire the glee with which such reviews were used to their advantage.

Did anybody actually read this when it was a monthly read 4 years ago? I’ve read it before, but decided to read it again to catch up with the group.

I shall report back in a week or so.

Phil wrote: "Did anybody actually read this when it was a monthly read 4 years ago? I’ve read it before, but decided to read it again to catch up with the group.

I shall report back in a week or so."

I didn't read it as part of the group but I've read it. I remember thinking at the time that it was "OK" but now I'm thinking about it and I quite clearly remember the plot so it must have been better than I thought (I can't remember the Crow Road by him at all!)

I read it, Phil!