Inspired by a true story . . . .

I’m not the hugest Joyce Carol Oates fan – I’m sure I’ve read a book or two of hers, but I couldn’t tell you which ones. Clearly they didn’t make much of an impression on me. I picked this up on a Kindle deal around Halloween (scary good deals!). I think it was $1.99, and I’m still not sure it was worth the price.

Oates was inspired by Jeffrey Dahmer, who I think even other serial killers thought was gross. In this story, Quentin P. comes from a seemingly normal family (just like Dahmer, although Quentin’s dad might not be quite as good as he appears), but Quentin is faaaaar from normal. So far, it’s not even a speck on the horizon. Couldn’t see it with a telescope. Quentin has trouble connecting with people, so what he really wants to do is create a zombie who will love him unconditionally and submit to his every whim. And the best way to do that is to lobotomize a boy he has kidnapped and tortured. Like you do.

Quentin tries this a few times, with the expected results. The storytelling is disjointed, much like one might expect a psychopath’s mind to work. I’m sure the writing is a testament to Oates’ talent and imagination, but the whole story was so unsettling, it was difficult to enjoy even for the effort involved in the telling.