Mall

by Eric Bogosian and Atle Moe

Book Overview

From the award-winning avatar of contemporary urban theater and author of such modern classics as "Talk Radio" and "subUrbia" comes this outrageous novel about five suburbanites whose lives intersect in one violent and life-altering night -- at the local mall. Mal, a thirtysomething speed freak, shoots his mother, torches his house, and heads to the local mall with a sack of weapons and a plan for more mayhem. Danny, a voyeuristic businessman with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743214552
• ISBN13: 9780743214551
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Fantabulous!

This is one of my favorite books of all time that I think tests the limits of what we call literature, it is probably one of the best contemporary novels that I would put into the catagory of postmodernism. We literally mind-surf into several characters heads and see whats going on, the characters all interlink through a story of a much larger scope and Bogosian creates a satire of American culture rival to that of American Beauty or anything in recent memory. This would make a great film, do not believe the naysayers, Bogosian is a very talented writer and I cannot wait until his next novel comes out.

This is a great book

Enjoyable from start to finish! Perverse comedy, brilliant characterization, lots of sex and violence, and so much heart.

Mall unravels America's contemporary social fabric...

With an overdose of fast-paced energy and killer verocity, Eric Bogosian's new book, MALL, takes it's readers into a whirlpool of non-stop, thought-provoking, well done suspense. While Bogosian keeps the reader engorged with powerful social and cultural rhetoric; humorous AND anxiety-prone passages are strung throughout the chapters-keeping the reader "laughing out loud" while remaining fearful of "what happens next."Bogosian utilizes a technique of well-crafted parallel story-telling, thus allowing the reader to experience the story through six different characters almost simultaneously, WITHOUT reducing the tension from chapter to chapter. Wrapping the story in circles intertwines the six characters live's in humorous, and often unsuspecting ways. Although critics of this book might argue the lack of character development, I would wholeheartedly disagree. Given the literary constraints on writing a book of this style and format, Bogosian gives adequate character development considering the rapidly moving rising action of the plot. With too much "Stephen King-style character development", the book Mall would lack the tension that Bogosian illustrates in short development. Bogosian follows his old style of "play writing" in creating a story that jumps to the action....leaving the reader "sitting on the edge of their seat."Once again, Bogosian drops several socially satirical comments and passages throughout the book, hoping to spark a socially rhetorical thought. Much like his earlier works, Bogosian taps a human nerve that unleash disguised sentiments of a disgusted American culture. Whereas "SubUrbia" circumvented the modern day convenience store, and "Talk Radio" hit the unheard and unseen voices of the American air waves, "Mall" unravels the fiber of America's contemporary social fabric, the shopping mall. I highly recommend this book to avid fans of Bogosian and would encourage new readers to possibly pick up earlier Bogosian work, as well as his current work, Mall.

Mall By Eric Bogosian

I have been a fan of Eric Bogosian since Talk Radio, and when I heard that he had written a novel I rushed to the bookstore to by a copy. Once I found it I couldn't wait to read it. So I sat down in the Starbuck (which is conviently located inside Barnes and Noble)ordered my frupochino, and began reading. About 4 hours and 246 pages later, I realized I was still in the coffee shop, and had just finished "Mall." This was one the most captivating novel I have read since Bret Easton Ellis' "Less Than Zero." From the first page I was hooked. Bogosian baits you with his raw narrative, and reels you in with his witty dialouge. This is one of the best novels of the new millenium and I highly recommend it too anyone who truly enjoys great literature. I can't wait for his next novel. P.S. By the way, I just want to make it known that I DID purchase the novel after reading it, and I look forward to reading it again in the near future.

Quick cuts - like a well edited music video

This speedy book moves like a well-edited music video or television commercial: quick cuts, deft point-of-view changes, short intense character profiles. Like a good TV spot, we're with each character for a very short time before we move on to someone else. Like a good music video, I was drawn in and hooked in the first seconds and interested both in the message and the entertainment value. Each of Bogosian's well-drawn and memorable characters feels cut off from suburban mall culture, each considers himself or herself somehow above the mall masses, but each has different reasons for feeling superior. The violent stew created as everyone comes together on the fateful night makes for a great read - and I'm sure will eventually become a successful movie too.