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Mall: A Novel
Mal, a thirty-something 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 a fetish for young underwear models, is caught by mall security peeking in dressing rooms at JC Penney. Jeff, a teenager with existential troubles, drops acid and departs on a philosophical nightmare. Donna, a hungry, unsettled housewife, is on the lookout for a one-night stand. Michel, a Haitian immigrant and mall security guard, seeks salvation. All long for a kind of satisfaction, and this longing leads them to the modern plaza of possibility, the shopping mall, where their appetites converge in explosive ways.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
7 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Eric Bogosian
42 books139 followersEric Bogosian is an American actor, playwright, monologuist, novelist, and historian. Descended from Armenian-American immigrants, he grew up in Watertown and Woburn, Massachusetts, and attended the University of Chicago and Oberlin College. His numerous plays include Talk Radio (1987) and subUrbia (1994), which were adapted to film by Oliver Stone and Richard Linklater, respectively, with Bogosian starring in the former.
Bogosian has appeared in plays, films, and television series throughout his career. His television roles include Captain Danny Ross in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2006–2010), Lawrence Boyd on Billions (2017–2018), and Gil Eavis on Succession (since 2018). He also starred as Arno in the Safdie brothers' film Uncut Gems (2019). He has also been involved in New York City ballet production, and has written several novels as well as the historical nonfiction Operation Nemesis (2015).
Bogosian has appeared in plays, films, and television series throughout his career. His television roles include Captain Danny Ross in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2006–2010), Lawrence Boyd on Billions (2017–2018), and Gil Eavis on Succession (since 2018). He also starred as Arno in the Safdie brothers' film Uncut Gems (2019). He has also been involved in New York City ballet production, and has written several novels as well as the historical nonfiction Operation Nemesis (2015).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 4, 2008
I read so many books, it's unusual these days for me to find one I absolutely cannot put down. Add playwright/actor/author Eric Bogosian's book Mall to that short list.
Eric Bogosian? Does the name ring a bell? Think Captian Ross from Law & Order: Criminal Intent... Yeh, same guy!
I can't put my finger on exactly why this book grabbed me, but for the two days it took me to read it, I felt like I was on a wild ride. Bogosian sets up the action with intriguing characters: a rapidly degrading meth junkie, an existential teenage delinquent, a bored sexy housewife, a Haitian immigrant mall security guard, and a fairly normal young businessman with a tame taste for catalog models.
The book opens with Mal, a speed freak, who murders his mother, loads up a trunkful of guns, sets fire to his house, and heads for the mall. It just gets weirder and darker from there. Bogosian's writing is crisp, detailed, and dark. He skews the focus on regular American suburban life, showing how easily the balance can be upset.
The book has a Pulp Fiction texture, with dark humor, sex, graphic violence, and chance meetings, yet the in-your-face style reminds me of Douglas Copeland's book, Generation X. The chapters are short, choppy views into the characters' lives, and while I found following the action a little confusing at first, things soon fell into place.
The action is quick-paced, the characters convincing, and the story disturbing. If you're looking for a light read, pass this one up; if you're looking for something bordering on literary and really gritty, I recommend Mall.
Eric Bogosian? Does the name ring a bell? Think Captian Ross from Law & Order: Criminal Intent... Yeh, same guy!
I can't put my finger on exactly why this book grabbed me, but for the two days it took me to read it, I felt like I was on a wild ride. Bogosian sets up the action with intriguing characters: a rapidly degrading meth junkie, an existential teenage delinquent, a bored sexy housewife, a Haitian immigrant mall security guard, and a fairly normal young businessman with a tame taste for catalog models.
The book opens with Mal, a speed freak, who murders his mother, loads up a trunkful of guns, sets fire to his house, and heads for the mall. It just gets weirder and darker from there. Bogosian's writing is crisp, detailed, and dark. He skews the focus on regular American suburban life, showing how easily the balance can be upset.
The book has a Pulp Fiction texture, with dark humor, sex, graphic violence, and chance meetings, yet the in-your-face style reminds me of Douglas Copeland's book, Generation X. The chapters are short, choppy views into the characters' lives, and while I found following the action a little confusing at first, things soon fell into place.
The action is quick-paced, the characters convincing, and the story disturbing. If you're looking for a light read, pass this one up; if you're looking for something bordering on literary and really gritty, I recommend Mall.
April 27, 2015
„Адския цирк“ . Роман? Филм? Реалност?
Нощта забърква коктейл от безумие и замаяност, подхранва адреналина двойно за различни прояви. Всички герои на Богосян са като дрогирани – от страх, от омраза, от хормони, от наркотици, от суеверия, от обърканост или изтощение (от любов не споменах, още не зная да вместя ли думата тук). Малки и големи лудости се отприщват, сякаш всеки е бил вързан и сега неудържимо излива всичко под прикритието на нощта и всеобщия пожар не в Мол-а, а в главите.
„Колкото беше друсан, стана още по-друсан.“
„*** си помисли: „Сигурно така се чувстват лудите, точно като мен сега.“
Мислех, че романът е отпреди няколко десетилетия и се изненадах, че е от 2000 г. Но е факт, че проблемите са актуални и Богосян ни е предложил добра извадка от типажи. Май не съм чела/гледала „трилър“ от години (някъде такова определение видях), но книгата ми беше като компенсация за всички новини и телевизионни програми, които не съм изгледала през последните години.
И въпреки че редовно недоумявам от „всичкото пазаруване“ на 20-ти и 21-ви век, не ми идва отвътре така яростно да се противя срещу корпорациите (защото сами си ги поддържаме) или срещу полицията (можем ли без нея и други институции). Но донякъде не мога да отрека това:
„Компютри и корпорации бяха обединили сили, за да изградят този свят. Магазини за ароматизирани свещи, бельо, пресни сладки, на „Дисни“ – нечовешки боклуци за масите. Мазните бюрократи, подчинени на системата, знаеха какво харесват хората. Те проучваха и сортираха човешките желания, а после ги удовлетворяваха.“
„…всичкото пазаруване, семейни почивки, училищни изпити, повишения в работата, задръствания по улиците, телевизионни програми, далечни войни и сексуални игри са били за едното нищо.“
Не знаех как ще ми се отрази сега „Mall“ – може би вече клоня към конформизъм, дори и консерватизъм, нежелаеща някой около мен да действа като героите в романа. Но се радвам, че я прочетох, защото ми хареса как пише Богосян. И най-вече това беше нужната доза освестяване на фона на мирния ми безновинарски свят. Напомняне „всеки може да се озове във филм“. С една крачка, дори в средата на установения „зрял“ живот. И цялата каша може да е любопитна картина само докато не те засяга лично.
И тук дрогата има място като в „Секс, наркотици и рокендрол“. Сигурно увличането често е с „цел бягство от действителността“, а понякога и за да си „гот“, арт или „анти“, нещо такова: „Ти си малко интелектуалец, а?“
Не зная стигането до подобни състояние има ли отрезвяващо действие, но нека авторите продължават да бъдат безкомпромисни в описанията си:
“*** се събуди от вампирския си сън, плувнал в студена пот и с празна глава. Като човек, който пада отвисоко и се мъчи да сграбчи с ръце въздуха, умът му търсеше да се улови поне за едно нещо, което му е познато. Но *** виждаше единствено черно на черен фон. Не само не знаеше къде се намира и колко е часът, но дори не помнеше името си. Беше изгубен.“
„Плътта бе само препятствие пред по-голямо и по-голямо ускорение. С ускорението грохотът на телевизионните гласове, туптенето на артериите, бученето на пулса се катализираха в крайна верижна реакция. Масивните турбини на физиологията на ***, нажежени до бяло, достигаха момент на усукване и започваха да се топят.“
И сексът е тук – могъщата движеща машина.
„Това правеха – целуваха се, опипваха се слепешком и се боричкаха, заемайки причудливи пози на просторната предна седалка на луксозната кола, докато накрая се разделиха като борци, които се готвеха за нова схватка.“
Искаше ми се да препиша и по-бурни и цветущо описани сексуални сцени. Но предполагам не бива такива думички и изрази да се копират тук. В цели три по-необичайни сексуални комбинации („младеж-зряла жена“ и други) си помислих за имиджа на мъжете като „опасните същества“. Но освен действието на връхлитащия тестостерон, не падат ли именно те понякога в капана на „опасните женички“?
„Как изобщо някоя жена би проумяла тревогата от това да си мъж, вечно да се гърчиш под камшика на тестостерона?“
И го разбирах този мъж, и го съжалявах, и му се ядосвах. Така и с почти всички герои всъщност. А мечтата ми да отида в най-различни американски щати не намаля и с един процент. Да не се стига никъде до „протеста“ на Мал. Дали оттук тръгва всичко?
„Колкото по-индивидуален се опитва да бъде всеки, толкова повече си приличат всички.“
Нощта забърква коктейл от безумие и замаяност, подхранва адреналина двойно за различни прояви. Всички герои на Богосян са като дрогирани – от страх, от омраза, от хормони, от наркотици, от суеверия, от обърканост или изтощение (от любов не споменах, още не зная да вместя ли думата тук). Малки и големи лудости се отприщват, сякаш всеки е бил вързан и сега неудържимо излива всичко под прикритието на нощта и всеобщия пожар не в Мол-а, а в главите.
„Колкото беше друсан, стана още по-друсан.“
„*** си помисли: „Сигурно така се чувстват лудите, точно като мен сега.“
Мислех, че романът е отпреди няколко десетилетия и се изненадах, че е от 2000 г. Но е факт, че проблемите са актуални и Богосян ни е предложил добра извадка от типажи. Май не съм чела/гледала „трилър“ от години (някъде такова определение видях), но книгата ми беше като компенсация за всички новини и телевизионни програми, които не съм изгледала през последните години.
И въпреки че редовно недоумявам от „всичкото пазаруване“ на 20-ти и 21-ви век, не ми идва отвътре така яростно да се противя срещу корпорациите (защото сами си ги поддържаме) или срещу полицията (можем ли без нея и други институции). Но донякъде не мога да отрека това:
„Компютри и корпорации бяха обединили сили, за да изградят този свят. Магазини за ароматизирани свещи, бельо, пресни сладки, на „Дисни“ – нечовешки боклуци за масите. Мазните бюрократи, подчинени на системата, знаеха какво харесват хората. Те проучваха и сортираха човешките желания, а после ги удовлетворяваха.“
„…всичкото пазаруване, семейни почивки, училищни изпити, повишения в работата, задръствания по улиците, телевизионни програми, далечни войни и сексуални игри са били за едното нищо.“
Не знаех как ще ми се отрази сега „Mall“ – може би вече клоня към конформизъм, дори и консерватизъм, нежелаеща някой около мен да действа като героите в романа. Но се радвам, че я прочетох, защото ми хареса как пише Богосян. И най-вече това беше нужната доза освестяване на фона на мирния ми безновинарски свят. Напомняне „всеки може да се озове във филм“. С една крачка, дори в средата на установения „зрял“ живот. И цялата каша може да е любопитна картина само докато не те засяга лично.
И тук дрогата има място като в „Секс, наркотици и рокендрол“. Сигурно увличането често е с „цел бягство от действителността“, а понякога и за да си „гот“, арт или „анти“, нещо такова: „Ти си малко интелектуалец, а?“
Не зная стигането до подобни състояние има ли отрезвяващо действие, но нека авторите продължават да бъдат безкомпромисни в описанията си:
“*** се събуди от вампирския си сън, плувнал в студена пот и с празна глава. Като човек, който пада отвисоко и се мъчи да сграбчи с ръце въздуха, умът му търсеше да се улови поне за едно нещо, което му е познато. Но *** виждаше единствено черно на черен фон. Не само не знаеше къде се намира и колко е часът, но дори не помнеше името си. Беше изгубен.“
„Плътта бе само препятствие пред по-голямо и по-голямо ускорение. С ускорението грохотът на телевизионните гласове, туптенето на артериите, бученето на пулса се катализираха в крайна верижна реакция. Масивните турбини на физиологията на ***, нажежени до бяло, достигаха момент на усукване и започваха да се топят.“
И сексът е тук – могъщата движеща машина.
„Това правеха – целуваха се, опипваха се слепешком и се боричкаха, заемайки причудливи пози на просторната предна седалка на луксозната кола, докато накрая се разделиха като борци, които се готвеха за нова схватка.“
Искаше ми се да препиша и по-бурни и цветущо описани сексуални сцени. Но предполагам не бива такива думички и изрази да се копират тук. В цели три по-необичайни сексуални комбинации („младеж-зряла жена“ и други) си помислих за имиджа на мъжете като „опасните същества“. Но освен действието на връхлитащия тестостерон, не падат ли именно те понякога в капана на „опасните женички“?
„Как изобщо някоя жена би проумяла тревогата от това да си мъж, вечно да се гърчиш под камшика на тестостерона?“
И го разбирах този мъж, и го съжалявах, и му се ядосвах. Така и с почти всички герои всъщност. А мечтата ми да отида в най-различни американски щати не намаля и с един процент. Да не се стига никъде до „протеста“ на Мал. Дали оттук тръгва всичко?
„Колкото по-индивидуален се опитва да бъде всеки, толкова повече си приличат всички.“
Read
December 23, 2017I've been intrigued by Bogosian as a sort of renaissance man so I've wanted to read this novel of his for awhile now. It predates a bunch of real life American mass killing sprees (although it was written after Columbine) so for better of for worse it now seems a bit naive in its treatment of one, as if it's trying to tackle a modern problem with old technology. I think too he strikes a couple of wrong chords, especially with his portrayal of the attitudes and competencies of the police, who seem almost like keystone cops in a way that doesn't mesh with the black humor of the rest of the book.
I like the structure of this book, though: short chapters in the point of view of vastly different denizens of a suburban mall. It feels like he didn't quite get to the heart of some of them, but he writes from the point of view of a naif alterna-teen boy better than anyone I've seen, and he has some great flowery prose. This seems like it was a fun book to write, a fun exercise, and even though I don't think it really got to where it was going, for the most part it's still a good example of building tension and point of view.
Example of suburban teen POV:
"Jeff was trying to be miserable, but the misery wasn't big enough. it wouldn't cover him."
"What difference does it make? All that thinking and passion and desire to see the big picture was a thing only book people cared about. The people who came to this mall or drove their cars on the freeway or watched sitcoms didn't care about the big picture or history or literature or any of that. Trying to understand was old-fashioned. There was nothing to understand. The mall was right here right now and that was all that counted."
Example of psycho POV:
"This was all a person could ask for in life. to touch others, mess with their destiny. Otherwise a person just came and went, as if he was never alive in the first place. Mal's shadow days were over. Mal had tossed a hook deep down the world's throat, was reeling it in and it couldn't get away."
I like the structure of this book, though: short chapters in the point of view of vastly different denizens of a suburban mall. It feels like he didn't quite get to the heart of some of them, but he writes from the point of view of a naif alterna-teen boy better than anyone I've seen, and he has some great flowery prose. This seems like it was a fun book to write, a fun exercise, and even though I don't think it really got to where it was going, for the most part it's still a good example of building tension and point of view.
Example of suburban teen POV:
"Jeff was trying to be miserable, but the misery wasn't big enough. it wouldn't cover him."
"What difference does it make? All that thinking and passion and desire to see the big picture was a thing only book people cared about. The people who came to this mall or drove their cars on the freeway or watched sitcoms didn't care about the big picture or history or literature or any of that. Trying to understand was old-fashioned. There was nothing to understand. The mall was right here right now and that was all that counted."
Example of psycho POV:
"This was all a person could ask for in life. to touch others, mess with their destiny. Otherwise a person just came and went, as if he was never alive in the first place. Mal's shadow days were over. Mal had tossed a hook deep down the world's throat, was reeling it in and it couldn't get away."
December 8, 2013
Голям фен съм на пиесите на Ерик Богосян. Затова ми беше много интересно да прочета и негов роман. Като цяло тематиката е същата- размисли и остра сатира на консуматорското общество. Специално този роман много ми напомня на Чък Поланик и Брет Истън Елис. Също и на Гняв на Стивън Кинг. Чете се бързо и определено те кара да се замислиш. Определено ще проверя писал ли е и други неща в дългата форма.
Want to read
July 26, 2011Best thing about the book: THE SHORT CHAPTERS!!! I love short chapters. It makes reading a book so much easier! Anyway, about the actual story now. Loved it! The mix of different characters was fantastic and all the added elements such as murder, sex, drugs... Highly recommended!
September 24, 2011
Brilliant, amazing, dark, hilarious all those words that describe a book you need to read right now.
A detailed review of mine would not give it justice. Twelve stars.
A detailed review of mine would not give it justice. Twelve stars.
December 19, 2020
First novel from one-time playwright wunderkind turned Law and Order: Criminal Intent actor. Although about 240 pages, it is a fast-moving tale of a cast of screwed up people hanging out at the mall. Oh, and one of them is a meth-head shooter.
I don't know if I would search out this book but if you see it, it is worth a read if you are in the mood.
I don't know if I would search out this book but if you see it, it is worth a read if you are in the mood.
Read
July 25, 2025Very edgy but I thought this was the right amount of dark and funny, I’m a fan of Eric Bogosian.
November 6, 2011
A disturbing trip through the mind of a psychopath and his victims. I enjoyed the crisp writing of Bogosian and the gritty reality of his suburban landscape. The most difficult part of the book for me was the cast of characters. I didn't find myself liking any of them. That may have been Bogosian's point, though.
January 25, 2008
The summary on the back cover sounded great, but the book didn't really do it for me.
Read
January 3, 2025Okay I found this in a little free library so it was fate and also there is a reference to Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire in this book... DOES HE KNOW?!??!?!?!
Anyways, as is standard with Bogosian, a nasty and interesting book. This one deals with the rotting, festering wound that is suburbia by following a variety of suburbanites with different backgrounds/lives. I wanted a little more from the ending, it wrapped up very quickly and it didn't really feel like Jeff and Danny got proper endings to their character arcs. I think I enjoyed Perforated Heart more because this book, as you might be able to tell from the gun on the cover, is about a brutal mall shooting, so it was very stressful to read in a non-fun way. My copy didn't have a dust jacket so I went in completely blind.
But overall, I really enjoy Bogosian's no-nonsense writing style and his dedication to writing NASTY books with HATEABLE characters. His style reminds me a little bit of Kathe Koja or Chuck Palahniuk.
Anyways, as is standard with Bogosian, a nasty and interesting book. This one deals with the rotting, festering wound that is suburbia by following a variety of suburbanites with different backgrounds/lives. I wanted a little more from the ending, it wrapped up very quickly and it didn't really feel like Jeff and Danny got proper endings to their character arcs. I think I enjoyed Perforated Heart more because this book, as you might be able to tell from the gun on the cover, is about a brutal mall shooting, so it was very stressful to read in a non-fun way. My copy didn't have a dust jacket so I went in completely blind.
But overall, I really enjoy Bogosian's no-nonsense writing style and his dedication to writing NASTY books with HATEABLE characters. His style reminds me a little bit of Kathe Koja or Chuck Palahniuk.
May 19, 2021
Un día cualquiera en alguna ciudad gringa. Un tiroteo mas, un asesino en masa más.
En realidad no acabo de entender las motivaciones de Mel, mas alla de cierta patología causada por la adicción a las anfetaminas que terminaron potenciando una alienación hacia el sueñop americano y a la promesa de felicidad y libertad completas, sustituida por la frustración. Los demás personajes sson sosos y algo tontos. El adolescente pacheco que cierra el libro me pareció el peor de todos. Sin embargo, parece un reflejo fiel de personajes que uno encontraría en un supermercado cualquier dia de la semana.
La narración es clara y veloz (excepto los pasajes oniricos-alucinogenos de Jeff) y el libro se lee de un tirón, ideal para una tarde aburrida y con llovizna. (O para cuando se vaya la luz y no haya nada bueno en Netflix)
En realidad no acabo de entender las motivaciones de Mel, mas alla de cierta patología causada por la adicción a las anfetaminas que terminaron potenciando una alienación hacia el sueñop americano y a la promesa de felicidad y libertad completas, sustituida por la frustración. Los demás personajes sson sosos y algo tontos. El adolescente pacheco que cierra el libro me pareció el peor de todos. Sin embargo, parece un reflejo fiel de personajes que uno encontraría en un supermercado cualquier dia de la semana.
La narración es clara y veloz (excepto los pasajes oniricos-alucinogenos de Jeff) y el libro se lee de un tirón, ideal para una tarde aburrida y con llovizna. (O para cuando se vaya la luz y no haya nada bueno en Netflix)
December 6, 2017
I went into this after reading 2 of Eric's other books so I should've know what to expect. Unlike Suburbia and Talk Radio, this was a novel, requiring him to stretch things out a little more. It was short enough for me to not regret reading it, but all the usual wannabe edgy tropes made it a 1.5. Not just one, but two problematic age gap couples? The mall as a central location as commentary on consumerism? Unnecessary swearing? Check, check, and check! The only thing that saves this book is the fact that it changes perspectives too much to keep you from knowing any one character (let's be real, either Mal [the shooter, who is just harsher in hindsight in 2017] or Jeff [who I'm assuming is the author's self insert]) too much to the point of hating them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2024
For me this book is a combination of action, suspense and intrigue, I find it fascinating how each character is portrayed, their personality, their weakest points and his darker side than all humans have but that is greatly exaggerated in that book.
Something that I enjoyed was seeing how each character that you previously had an opinion of and knew, get together with the others and make a mix
that you never imagined.
I think it's a book worth reading,that leaves you intrigued with each page you turn, although in terms of people it is easy to read, I think that some scenes are a little ambiguous and somewhat difficult to understand.
Something that I enjoyed was seeing how each character that you previously had an opinion of and knew, get together with the others and make a mix
that you never imagined.
I think it's a book worth reading,that leaves you intrigued with each page you turn, although in terms of people it is easy to read, I think that some scenes are a little ambiguous and somewhat difficult to understand.
December 30, 2024
Whether you like it or not this is a page turner. I personally love this author - love how he describes things, and his characters, and his settings… he’s really good at the dystopian suburban. Main critique I read was that it flashes between the characters too much making it difficult to really tap into the characters. To that I say, chill out and fill in the blanks yourself.
Ending was nice … opened up in a cool way. I thought it was funny when jeff was walking through the mall and gets annoyed at poverty of his own imagination haha. He’s like such a suburban Kerouac.. I mean that as a diss but he young so it’s totally redeemable lol
Ending was nice … opened up in a cool way. I thought it was funny when jeff was walking through the mall and gets annoyed at poverty of his own imagination haha. He’s like such a suburban Kerouac.. I mean that as a diss but he young so it’s totally redeemable lol
June 27, 2018
Насилие, насилие, наркотики, одержимость едой, одержимость сексом, еще раз насилие. На то он и "циничный триллер". Вы вполне вправе ожидать, что тема вам не понравится. Но ради формы - "Торговый центр" однозначно стоит читать. Ни один из его героев - даже те, что совершают хорошие поступки - не вызывает (не заслуживает?) сострадания. Впрочем, это часто случается и в жизни.
April 18, 2023
I actually enjoyed this one. However, all the characters were assholes except for Jeff. He was the sanest and most likable in spite of his dreads and tripping on acid most of the story. The cheating housewife goes home to her unsuspecting husband and kid without any sort of comeuppance. That was disappointing. Other characters got theirs or didn’t deserve it. 1 star off for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2019
Egy újabb regény elkorcsosult társadalmunk embertelenségéről. Nem kell túlragozni: nagyszerű olvasmány, pár órás kikapcsolódás némi izgalommal, mélyebb gondolatokkal.
Újat, egyedit ne is keress benne, szimplán kiváló cucc a maga módján.
Újat, egyedit ne is keress benne, szimplán kiváló cucc a maga módján.
July 26, 2023
This one's different I feel like a lot happened but also nothing happened. Like there was a plot but there wasn't. It was like morally grey slice of life. In the end nothing really concludes itself. With all of that being said I still enjoyed it a very short somewhat mindless read.
November 23, 2025
I really feel like I read this before, but I have no hard evidence of that. In any event, it's an uncomfortably familiar tale of white suburban violence. with an assortment of degraded suburban characters. Bogosian is a poet about it, tho.
November 28, 2017
First published in 2000, this depiction of a crazed gun rampage showed the direction America was headed.
June 11, 2018
sympameh
September 3, 2024
Not something I would have normally gravitated towards, but ended up hooking me in right away.
May 30, 2025
Pretty gruesome
April 18, 2010
Bogosian, Eric. Mall (2000) ***
A grunge movie in the making
Alienation, frustration, self-loathing and other afflictions of the mall crowd are celebrated here in a kind of David Lynch/Quentin Tarantino movie made into a novel. Well, actually, what wordsmith and cultural shock artist Eric Bogosian, who indeed does weld a mean pen, has in mind is something the other way around. His novel first, a six-figure option next, and then the screen play (at ten grand per week), and finally an exploitive cinematic production for the grunge crowd.
He has served up, for our delectation, the following characters:
MAL, short for Malcolm, a kind of fat boy urban soldier of fortune on speed, who pops mom one (or two actually) in the head with his .22 before setting off for the mall with his real arsenal for further fun and games.
DONNA, a pleasingly plump bored housewife who has a gargantuan appetite for all things food and a whole bunch of things sex, the kind of extreme darling that empties a half gallon of ice cream while watching the first ten minutes of Jerry Springer. She wanders over to the mall to try on some threads and provide a peep show for
DANNY, a sexually confused, uptight yuppie who hasn't been in marital bliss for awhile--actually he hasn't been in marital bliss for so long that his doctor recommends...well, Amazon.com has a taboo against what he recommends, but perhaps you can guess.
JEFF, a counter-cultural mall groupie on an acid trip who's read Steppenwolf (the book, not the band, duh) and imagines he will be a great writer some day, but right now he hasn't the time to actually DO any writing since he is finding himself and pursuing his need to hang with
ADELLE, a sweet young underprivileged thing with the pure heart of a sadist who shows DANNY what it's like to feel helpless in handcuffs.
Etc.
The plot revolves around the central deed, performed by MAL just so he can REALLY FEEL ALIVE. All the characters are like spokes in the wheel to this center that leads to the mall. The prose is sound-bite smart and the chapters are short. Bogosian's average word length is little more than four letters, while the pages practically turn themselves.
It would seem that there is little redemption here, but it all depends on who's doing the reading. Bogosian does serve up some adolescent Zen-like philosophy that is sure to please any thirteen-year-old. In fact, since I feel compelled to pan this opus, it will undoubtedly become a cult classic and the defining novel of a generation.
Well, maybe not. Anyway, JEFF is the character Bogosian identifies with and he gets all the philosophic lines. For example:
"What difference does it make if I think or I don't think? We're just these bags of flesh with sensors designed to make us think we're so precious." (p. 150)
"This is a place I cannot escape--myself. I cannot escape myself...I am locked into this moment, this self, this place forever. How did I get here? Why here and not someplace else?" (p. 199)
"Jeff was infected with a brain disease that forced him to try to make sense of his life." (p. 244)
Bottom line: this is an X-rated novel for young urban…philosophers.
--a review by Dennis Littrell
A grunge movie in the making
Alienation, frustration, self-loathing and other afflictions of the mall crowd are celebrated here in a kind of David Lynch/Quentin Tarantino movie made into a novel. Well, actually, what wordsmith and cultural shock artist Eric Bogosian, who indeed does weld a mean pen, has in mind is something the other way around. His novel first, a six-figure option next, and then the screen play (at ten grand per week), and finally an exploitive cinematic production for the grunge crowd.
He has served up, for our delectation, the following characters:
MAL, short for Malcolm, a kind of fat boy urban soldier of fortune on speed, who pops mom one (or two actually) in the head with his .22 before setting off for the mall with his real arsenal for further fun and games.
DONNA, a pleasingly plump bored housewife who has a gargantuan appetite for all things food and a whole bunch of things sex, the kind of extreme darling that empties a half gallon of ice cream while watching the first ten minutes of Jerry Springer. She wanders over to the mall to try on some threads and provide a peep show for
DANNY, a sexually confused, uptight yuppie who hasn't been in marital bliss for awhile--actually he hasn't been in marital bliss for so long that his doctor recommends...well, Amazon.com has a taboo against what he recommends, but perhaps you can guess.
JEFF, a counter-cultural mall groupie on an acid trip who's read Steppenwolf (the book, not the band, duh) and imagines he will be a great writer some day, but right now he hasn't the time to actually DO any writing since he is finding himself and pursuing his need to hang with
ADELLE, a sweet young underprivileged thing with the pure heart of a sadist who shows DANNY what it's like to feel helpless in handcuffs.
Etc.
The plot revolves around the central deed, performed by MAL just so he can REALLY FEEL ALIVE. All the characters are like spokes in the wheel to this center that leads to the mall. The prose is sound-bite smart and the chapters are short. Bogosian's average word length is little more than four letters, while the pages practically turn themselves.
It would seem that there is little redemption here, but it all depends on who's doing the reading. Bogosian does serve up some adolescent Zen-like philosophy that is sure to please any thirteen-year-old. In fact, since I feel compelled to pan this opus, it will undoubtedly become a cult classic and the defining novel of a generation.
Well, maybe not. Anyway, JEFF is the character Bogosian identifies with and he gets all the philosophic lines. For example:
"What difference does it make if I think or I don't think? We're just these bags of flesh with sensors designed to make us think we're so precious." (p. 150)
"This is a place I cannot escape--myself. I cannot escape myself...I am locked into this moment, this self, this place forever. How did I get here? Why here and not someplace else?" (p. 199)
"Jeff was infected with a brain disease that forced him to try to make sense of his life." (p. 244)
Bottom line: this is an X-rated novel for young urban…philosophers.
--a review by Dennis Littrell
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2014
This is from my blog The Nic Report
One night a few years ago I happened across a movie called 'Talk Radio'. I was stunned by what I was watching and barely moved until the final tense moments of this riveting film. It was about a very charismatic talk radio host (think Howard Stern but more political) and one fateful day at work. I'm not here to review the movie so I'll keep this short. It was just brilliant. The dialogue was so perfect, I was not surprised when I realized it was originally a stage play. The main character of the film was played by Eric Bogosian, who I thought looked liked Jerry Seinfeld after many years of hard drinking. I don't mean to sound cynical.
I eventually looked up the movie online and discovered that Eric Bogosian not only acted in it, but wrote the movie and the original stage play. I also learned that he was the author of two novels. I made a mental note to look for his books.
So eventually I stumbled upon a copy of his novel, 'Mall'. 'Mall' tells the story of five people whose lives intersect one night at the local mall. These characters are regular suburbanites; from an emotionally distracted teenager, to tired middle-aged housewife.
Eric Bogosian has a near perfect nack for dialogue. He knows how people speak. You get the impression that the author has spent a lot of time with a lot of different people; He's spent part of his career performing monologues as wide variety of metropolitan characters.
But the great character writing doesn't just come from the dialogue. 'Mall' is written in a third-person past tense style where each chapter focuses on a different character, alternating until the wires cross. His focus on inner-dialogue reveals that nastiness and hidden desires of the characters. The character of 'Mall' are most definitely flawed, but the way in which those flaws are revealed only result in the reader becoming even closer to them.
'Mall' is a novel that I would recommend to readers of someone like, say, Chuck Palahniuk. The dark wit and elements of satire mixed into this book bring to mind the early works or Palahniuk. But what's great about 'Mall' is that the narrator is Mr. Bogosian himself. With 'Mall' he writes in a spares style that I believe makes it more accessible for readers. But of course readers have to know this book exist!
This is only one of three novels by a writer I would say is one of my all time favorites. I recommend 'Mall' by Eric Bogosian'.
One night a few years ago I happened across a movie called 'Talk Radio'. I was stunned by what I was watching and barely moved until the final tense moments of this riveting film. It was about a very charismatic talk radio host (think Howard Stern but more political) and one fateful day at work. I'm not here to review the movie so I'll keep this short. It was just brilliant. The dialogue was so perfect, I was not surprised when I realized it was originally a stage play. The main character of the film was played by Eric Bogosian, who I thought looked liked Jerry Seinfeld after many years of hard drinking. I don't mean to sound cynical.
I eventually looked up the movie online and discovered that Eric Bogosian not only acted in it, but wrote the movie and the original stage play. I also learned that he was the author of two novels. I made a mental note to look for his books.
So eventually I stumbled upon a copy of his novel, 'Mall'. 'Mall' tells the story of five people whose lives intersect one night at the local mall. These characters are regular suburbanites; from an emotionally distracted teenager, to tired middle-aged housewife.
Eric Bogosian has a near perfect nack for dialogue. He knows how people speak. You get the impression that the author has spent a lot of time with a lot of different people; He's spent part of his career performing monologues as wide variety of metropolitan characters.
But the great character writing doesn't just come from the dialogue. 'Mall' is written in a third-person past tense style where each chapter focuses on a different character, alternating until the wires cross. His focus on inner-dialogue reveals that nastiness and hidden desires of the characters. The character of 'Mall' are most definitely flawed, but the way in which those flaws are revealed only result in the reader becoming even closer to them.
'Mall' is a novel that I would recommend to readers of someone like, say, Chuck Palahniuk. The dark wit and elements of satire mixed into this book bring to mind the early works or Palahniuk. But what's great about 'Mall' is that the narrator is Mr. Bogosian himself. With 'Mall' he writes in a spares style that I believe makes it more accessible for readers. But of course readers have to know this book exist!
This is only one of three novels by a writer I would say is one of my all time favorites. I recommend 'Mall' by Eric Bogosian'.
September 4, 2010
Found this book in the parking lot at Joaquin Miller Park. Needed a quick and (literally) light book to take on a backpack trip.
The book tells the stories of five people who experience a series of difficult events in and around a suburban mall. Characters overlap, but only one connects with all of the core characters. The book strives to make a lot of social commentary about the suburban way of life. However, the characters remain character types pushed through a story rather than characters interacting and actively affecting a chain of events. It would have taken a lot more pages to draw the actual characters out, but I don't think this story would have benefited from more pages.
Writing was fine, but seemed to try hard to shock at times. Basically, it was okay for a short, quick read that I didn't have to give a lot of my brain space. The end is better than I expected because the author leaves room for the reader to tease out what might happen next.
The book tells the stories of five people who experience a series of difficult events in and around a suburban mall. Characters overlap, but only one connects with all of the core characters. The book strives to make a lot of social commentary about the suburban way of life. However, the characters remain character types pushed through a story rather than characters interacting and actively affecting a chain of events. It would have taken a lot more pages to draw the actual characters out, but I don't think this story would have benefited from more pages.
Writing was fine, but seemed to try hard to shock at times. Basically, it was okay for a short, quick read that I didn't have to give a lot of my brain space. The end is better than I expected because the author leaves room for the reader to tease out what might happen next.
December 18, 2016
Rating: 2.5
December 26, 2010
I enjoyed how the story is told from the perspectives of mutliple people, surrounding events taking place at the same time, in the same location, with virtually no cognizance of the other protagonists & players existence and actions, although they be interconnected and contiguous.
It's startling how one person's life can be "ruined" in an instant while another's seemingly bleek and despondent existence can experience an upswing in an eye's blink.
The unexpected musings of the unknowingly narcissistic teen was a twist I took pleasure in.
Was also surprised to see the author is the Captian from Law & Order as well as the evil mastermind of Under Siege, lol.
It's startling how one person's life can be "ruined" in an instant while another's seemingly bleek and despondent existence can experience an upswing in an eye's blink.
The unexpected musings of the unknowingly narcissistic teen was a twist I took pleasure in.
Was also surprised to see the author is the Captian from Law & Order as well as the evil mastermind of Under Siege, lol.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews