Love Creeps

by Amanda Filipacchi

Book Overview

LOVE CREEPS is a story of desire: the lack of it, the loss of it; the excess of it, the insanity of it. It is the story of a triangle of stalkers, who discover that sometimes the best way to find love is to look right behind you.The story starts with Lynn Gallagher, a successful Manhattan gallery owner. On the surface, she has everything. But when she looks at the man who is stalking her obsessively, she sees the one thing she herself lacks: the power...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031234032X
• ISBN13: 9780312340322
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 289 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Surreal Satire

I picked up this book, expecting a nice frothy romance, but got an insightful treatise on modern day love and dating among singles instead. I wasn't at all disappointed. The author has a real feel for much of the miscommunication and consequent ennui that affects certain segments of our society, and her absolutely deadpan style of presenting somewhat outrageous ideas is both amusing and thought-provoking at the same time. One theme runing through this book is that many people are attracted only to those they can't have, and when they occasionally succeed, then they no longer want the former object of their affections; perhaps it is only the chase that they love, and what first attracted, then repels. Or perhaps they fall in love with what they would like the other person to be, not what he or she really is. All of this is illustrated through a series of people stalking people, a homeless man (and former psychologist) watching the stalkers, and an assortment of friends, murderers, and other characters thrown in the mix. The author gives the reader an option of accepting a happily-ever-after ending, or a more cynical and realistic one in the denouement (which, of course, one must read). This is may not be a book for everyone, but if your approach to relationships is more sardonic than romantic, you will probably enjoy this novel.

Great book!

This is a terrific book. Amanda Filipacchi is an excellent writer with a unique imagination. If you want to read a book that is "different" yet entertaining read Love Creeps.

Love Creeps is a Must Read

Amanda Filipacchi has done it again. I read Amanda's first two books, Vapor and Nude Men, and loved them both, couldn't wait to see what she would write next. I find Amanda's writing to be so unusual. She's the kind of writer I rave about to my friends and tell them they must, must, must read her books. Amanda's plots are completely unexpected, her stories are surreal while set in the most down to earth of worlds, her sense of humor is hysterical while completely dry. When you read her novels, you wonder, how did she ever think of this. But that's what I so enjoy about her work. It takes you into circumstances you never expected to go, and introduces you to characters you can't bear to leave. I finished Love Creeps in one weekend because it was so hard to put down. I highly recommend this novel, along with every other book Amanda Filipacchi has written. The only bad part about reading any of Ms. Filipacchi's novels is that you want another right away, and once you've read them all, you have to wait.

Ms. Filipacchi does it again!

I loved Nude Men and Vapor and had looked forward to reading another Amanda Filipacchi novel after reading and rereading the latter book six years ago. Love Creeps is another rich, hilarious and enlightening novel with a disturbing story, disarming characters, twisted philosophies and dark humor. Gallery owner Lynn Gallagher has lost her ability to desire -- to desire life, people and the things around her. She envies her stalker, an unhappy and unappealing loser named Alan, because he desires her so much that he follows her around all the time. So, in an attempt to regain her desire for things, she decides to stalk a French lawyer named Roland Dupont. And that is the beginning of a chain of strange events and twists in stalking tendencies, all of which are viewed by a homeless former psychologist who refuses but is unable to resist analyzing the threesome's behavior. There are many twists throughout the novel. Filipacchi has once again created a strange, smart, funny and silly story centered on obsession and the condition of the human mind and spirit. The novel is a surrealistic farce that touches on serious subjects such as child abuse, obsessive love, masochism, the meaning of one's life among other things told with a dark, ironic and humorous twist. The author finds logic in the illogical and in doing so she shocks and amuses the reader. But one cannot help but nod in agreement because some of her strange philosophies make sense. It is difficult to explain everything, but this sort of novel is excellent for reading discussions because you have so many subjects to choose from. My favorite quote was this one from Alan: "Abusers are like garbage cans. You can toss all your crap into them." This was regarding a woman he thought had sexually abused him when he was a child. He thought he could place the blame of all his failures in life on her. That is one of the many reasons you should read this book. The novel raises various questions about romantic love, such as why does someone become desirable the minute they stop desiring you? I have always wondered about that very thing and Filipacchi delves into said subject beautifully and insightfully. You will laugh with the oddball stuff that goes on with the characters. The characters are great, albeit unlikeable, but they are not meant to be likeable. The list of characters includes a sex addict and an exhibitionist. The characters have a caricature quality to them that is part of Filipacchi's signature style. All in all, I loved this novel. This is better written than Nude Men and Vapor and less over the top with the twists and turns as well. Filipacchi has been on my must-read list since her first novel and I wish she released novels more often. I couldn't recommend Love Creeps enough to those who enjoy dark, farcical comedies. But be careful, for this novel is not for the faint of heart.

Great ideas and laughter, too

I loved Amanda Filipacchi's first two books and couldn't wait to read this one, so I bought an advance copy on the internet two weeks ago. I'm glad I did. The plot is gripping and highly original -- and the characters are unforgettable. It's the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud and think about important issues at the same time. I was sad when it ended, but fortunately there was an extra chapter still to read. Read it and you'll see what I mean.