Serpent Girl

by Matthew Carnahan

Book Overview

"The guys who were supposed to be my crew, my pals, my posse, had left me for dead, after I had gone above and beyond for them, after I had sussed out the perfect score, after I had done my homework,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400062705
• ISBN13: 9781400062706
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Villard Books
• Length: 199 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Hip Pulp Art for the Daily-Show Generation

This circus-heist-gone-wrong makes nods to Hunter Thompson and Carl Hiaasen, as others here have said. But this stylish Gonzo road trip leads into Elmore Leonard territory. As with Leonard, the dialogue is laconic and on-the-nose, and the three main characters transcend genre. For example, the Serpent Girl herself is a limbless circus freak capable of unspeakable violence – but just try to get through Carnahan’s story without seeing her as poignant, authentic, and at just the right moments, desirable. There are at least 2 books worth of page-turning plot, thick with meth-dealing biker gangs, evil circus freaks, gang-raping clowns (suspicions confirmed), and enough betrayals for a Sopranos marathon. We’re steered through this surreal terrain by good-natured anti-hero Bailey Quinn. Bailey’s a smart slacker who’s simultaneously selfish, amoral, and basically decent, while dishing out the best comic political incorrectness this side of Southpark. Several times, when I caught myself laughing out loud, I had to scramble to avoid telling others the embarrassing passage I’d found so damn funny. And as dark as the story gets, Carnahan’s tone is as fatalistically breezy as Vonnegut whistling a funeral mass. More, please.

Holding The Fifth Star Hostage...

I sat down to read this book as of yesterday. Up until page eight, it crossed my mind that I was reading yet another book I would regret having picked up. You see, I like detail. Unanswered questions drive me mad. But even worse than lack of detail, is lack of sense. Above all, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g must make sense. And last, but not least, fluidity. It must flow like the falls of Niagara. As I rounded page 8 I soon realized I was in err. As a matter of fact, I finished this book in one sitting. I haven't done that in years. With two kids, it's next to impossible to read the directions on the back of a box of Betty Crocker cake mix in one sitting, much less an entire book's worth. No stone is left unturned in this fast moving novel. Mr. Carnahan has tied everything up with an expertly fashioned bow. I must know more about Eelie. The freaks were absolutely fascinating, and Carnahan's ability to write about them was very real. I felt, in the end, that HE must have known an Eelie somewhere in his life. Excellent writing. I withhold the fifth star in the hopes there will be a sequel. Sincerely, Rubber "Robert" Duckie

A fast and utterly enjoyable read

Like wacky plotlines? How about a cast of characters living on the off-side of the morality, honesty, and decency? A bit of volcanic violence? Then there are fifty books you could read. What sets this book apart, and what makes it one that you should read, is the quality of writing that Carnahan brings to the table. This is not just another comedically twisted tale of crime and revenge. Carnahan's wonderfully evocative prose and clean, no nonsense style strikes me like a Raymond Chandler for the new century. But there's really no mystery here. If you like the first couple of paragraphs, buy the book - you'll enjoy it - but only for a little while because it reads so fast you'll be done before you know it!