Plastic

by Christopher Fowler

Plastic

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Horror, British Literature, Mystery

274 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2013

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Christopher Fowler was an English writer known for his Bryant & May mystery series, featuring two Golden Age-style detectives navigating modern London. Over his career, he authored fifty novels and short story collections, along with screenplays, video games, graphic novels, and audio plays. His psychological thriller Little Boy Found was published under the pseudonym L.K. Fox.
Fowler's accolades include multiple British Fantasy Awards, the Last Laugh Award, the CWA Dagger in the Library, and the inaugural Green Carnation Award. He was inducted into the Detection Club in 2021. Beyond crime fiction, his works ranged from horror (Hell Train, Nyctophobia) to memoir (Paperboy, Film Freak). His column Invisible Ink explored forgotten authors, later compiled into The Book of Forgotten Authors.
Fowler lived between London and Barcelona with his husband, Peter Chapman.

Reviews

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could. Plot-wise? I'd go up to four. June Cryer is an incredibly fickle woman with a serious shopping addiction, and she's watched so much television that of course she gets sucked into a mysterious murder scheme she can't quite abandon. There are times when her shopping addiction seemed a bit too far (you'll know the part) and maybe even offensive to women. If you're a housewife or stay at home mom, you might be turned off by how often "just a housewife" is used as a descriptor.

It's the writing that bumped this down, which is a shame because Fowler is such a lush author. I've never been to London, but he creates such a vivid portrait within my head. My complaint is that nearly every chapter ends with the false lead of a cliffhanger along the lines of "Little did I know things were about to get so much worse." That's telling, not showing. It's lazy, sets up too much anticipation, and kills the momentum. Also, the beginning talks about being a "dead housewife," so I thought it would be really cool that this story would be told from the perspective of a woman who just met a grisly end. Alas, it's not so. Maybe next time?

[Cat {Pemberley and Beyond} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow. For now, all I can say is: aaaaaarggh!! Amazeballs!! :D

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Fowler loves London is obvious in this book, which pits a naive suburban housewife against the diverse and dangerous pleasures of London. June (the name is perfect) is a shopaholic about to be divorced by her philandering husband; cut off from all sources of income, she agrees to housesit for a stranger in a luxury condominium. And then she's present at the murder of a beautiful stranger, and everything just goes right downhill from there.

The suburbs are not especially livable in Plastic: June fills her home with tatty nick-nacks to insulate herself from reality; Lou, her best friend, drinks and despises her husband; Lou's son has a secret life as a shady online entrepeneur. London, by comparison, is filled with life and activity, sometimes violent, but surprisingly good-hearted.

"Plastic" has a lot of meanings in the book: plastic credit cards, plastic surgery. "Plastic" also implies flexibility and an ability to be molded, as June remolds herself. Though she calls herself "just a housewife," this is a housewife who quotes Cicero and uses words like "cuperous" (which I had to look up); she's more than she realizes, even at the beginning of the book. Her transformation is satisfying.

Even though this isn't a Bryant and May book, there's certainly a Bryant-like character who makes a cameo, and there is a mystery. But there's also an interesting protagonist who changes with life-changing events, which makes Plastic a little more than the usual thriller.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun mix of pulp/noir and literary situations. A directionless woman with little in her life but a shopping addiction finds out her husband is banging the neighbor and they're divorcing. She watches a friend of a friend's flat in the big city (London). Exciting romantic encounter ensues! But also sex trafficking and an under the table plastic surgery ring! Ex-cops! Street hooligans! Guns! Prostitutes! Kindly fortune tellers! Gasmen! Drunken neighbors who hate their families! Skateboarding mobsters! Personal trainers!

The ending is a bit perfunctory and on the nose, and I think I'd have to read it again to be entirely sure how I feel about how well the literary and pulp elements mix. Sometimes it creates situations and texture that you just wouldn't get in a straight crime novel. Sometimes it robs the story of immediacy. It definitely complicates June's determination to be involved in a way that isn't entirely useful, robbing her of a clear moral interest in the plot. It also creates some absolutely bonkers situations that wouldn't work in a more straightforward, plot-driven novel.

My opinion would absolutely change with another reading, but do I want to read it again? Would that change be positive or negative? Tough to tell.

CW for forced gender transition and an extreme fridging.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This 'thriller' is oddly pitched as a quite unbelieveable straight story and a satire on compulsive shopping, however other than some clever writing and good descriptions, the satire swiftly outstayed its usefulness and unfortunately the increasingly unlikely happenings only served to illustrate how little story was there. I found the outlandish situations into which our heroine is pitched quite ridiculous, and whilst no doubt intentional the withering away of a feasible reality became quite boring. It was a struggle to conclude this book, unfortunately, and it's certainly not one of Fowler's best. In her introduction Joanne Harris states it took a while for this to get published and lists a number of reasons, however not the one which I suspect in that it's just not that good.

[Julie Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. At times it had me laughing out loud, and at other's gripping the edge of my seat. The writing is superb, full of irresistable black humour and at the same time passing acerbic comments on the modern human condition with razor sharp insight. I liked June Cryer, but I like Alaska Dash a lot more. Brilliant. Loved it!

[mathiev · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun!

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

described as Bridget Jones/Thelma Louise/ Tarrantino and that's what it was. fun

[Jayne Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel had a fast moving and exciting plot, and the author has a good writing style. I should have liked it more than I did. I think that was mainly due to my failure to connect with the protagonist and narrator, June (say that name and immediately she's a pensioner. But apparently she's 29). I never knew who she was - it's hard enough for a male author to narrate as a woman and hats off to him for stepping up, but June came across less as a woman than as a man with low self-esteem. And then there were the sudden changes of personality: one minute she is hesitant, liver of a sheltered life, not at all streetwise. Next minute she is resourceful, brave, knower of facts, user of long words, sprinting along roads at high speed in high heels (not apparently noticing that the heels got broken a couple of paragraphs earlier). In short, she is anything the plot requires at any given time. And it irked me that her husband was called Gordon - authorly shorthand to indicate the guy is a nerd, a loser, a generally laughable idiot. It always annoys me when writers use this cheapest of devices (I'll give you one guess what my husband's name is).

What I liked very much was the humour, which bubbled along nicely and included some genuine laugh out loud moments. The one about throwing out a perfectly good housewife, and better still the one about Greggs' bakery and the iced genitals are worth looking out for. I'm not sure I'll be seeking out any of the author's other work though.

[Rebecca Altmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know how to rate this and wasn't sure if it was a 3 or a 4 star read.

This is my first Christopher Fowler book and I picked it up off the 'New books' stand at the local library because the blurb on the back was interesting.

It is a crime thriller but I guess it is also poking fun at the genre in some ways, with a clever take on character and plot. I thought it was a bit far fetched - but then no more so than many of the political thrillers I've read that make you wonder about the dark side of life portrayed in these stories and question the reality of your own sheltered, comfortable life. Or is that just me?

The plot does get a little confusing and I had to go back and re-read chapter one after I finished, just to get things straight in my mind.

I enjoyed it and there are some rather pithy observations of relationships and how people compensate for dissatisfaction with their lives by engaging in self-destructive behaviour rather than fixing the problem. It is also a story about coming-of-age or self-actualisation with a lead character who realises that she has been existing in a vacuum of her own making, rather than living. Hell of a way to make that discovery though!

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got bored halfway through and skipped to the end. sorry

[Nathan Flamank · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars actually...

Fowler knows London better than any other author currently writing (well, the darker London, the hidden London) and here the landscape of our great city brings to life this tale of one housewife's nightmare and eventual awakening.

Fowler has written his darkest novel for many a year with PLASTIC and this story of modern consumption and conspicuous consumerism and society's obsession with all that glitters really packs a wallop.

Alas it does lose its way in a couple of places and I felt that certain scenes did nothing to further an otherwise all-consuming dark, urban thriller.

Fans of early Fowler (Disturbia, Psychoville, Calabash) will love this and Fowler, along with Tim Willock, are probably the two best British novelists that we currently have and as with all of this author's works to date its original, fresh, literary (without being stand-offish) and not at all in the "seen it/read it all before" brigade.

For those that haven't read Fowler this novel is a pretty decent book to tempt you in to his world (but be warned you'll never look at London in the same way).

[Zoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

This started our brilliantly and packed full of wit and one liners. June, a housewife to a boring but rich moron called Gordon is addicted to shopping. She frequently indulges - using the husbands credit cards and then finds out that Gordon is leaving her for the next door neighbour. All's good so far, I started to enjoy this little tale.

Suddenly June witnessed a bizarre murder whilst house sitting for a friend. This in itself was beyond random but I let it go. After a while, this whole thing became farfetched and unbelievable. Because June was witness to this bizarre murder, she was suddenly being chased by a gang of no-goods. She almost died a few times, then managed to hold the gang leader hostage and demanded him to take her shopping. Then the police caught them. In a nutshell.

Unbelievable but not in a good way.

[Pete Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional thriller

I was a big fan of Fowler's some years ago, Psychoville, Spanky and the Sharp Knives collection particularly sticking in my mind. I stopped searching out his stuff when he got into the Bryant & May books (not my kind of thing), after searching for his stuff on Amazon, I was surprised to find nothing... until very recently! Thought I'd give this a go as it sounded more akin to the novels I'd enjoyed so much in my youth and I'm very pleased to say it was a brilliant read. A rollercoaster of a suburban thriller written from the point of view of a bored housewife, I really couldn't put it down and completed it in two sittings (despite being quite lengthy). Highly recommended, I'll definitely be searching out some more of his newer stand-alone novels. An exciting return to form!

[Ade Couper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it's by Christopher Fowler- what did you think I was going to give it...?

Plastic is very grim- but it's also very very funny. June, a housewife, discovers her husband is having an affair with an air hostess, at which point he cuts up her store cards & sells the matrimonial home. June then looks after a swanky apartment for a friend-of-a-friend for a weekend, during which time all sorts of complications ensue....

This is a deliciously dark and funny book, with some quite scathing social commentary on our 21st-century lifestyles within. It's also incredibly well-written, & is a brilliant dystopian novel- parts of this genuinely reminded me of some of JG Ballard....

Worthy of your attention.

[Anji · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written,as you would expect from Mr Fowler,and I salute him for trying something different,but as enjoyable as this was,it was the sort of book I would associate with Jenni Eclair, who is a fine writer by the way and her novel Camberwell Beauty is an excellent black comedic observation about life,class and expectations of a woman's role in both family and society. Plastic is a brave story and I can identify with aspects of June's life, and it is especially interesting reading a story written by a man,but told from a woman's point if view. As an observation it works because there are aspects which resonate,I am sure, with a lot of women trapped in loveless marriages living empty meaningless lives,seeking feeling, solace and comfort in the pursuit of a bargain. Enjoyable.

[Zayneea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though Christopher Fowler has so many books published, I hadn't actually read any of his work until this book. I chose to read this as by chance when I had finished reading a different book full of lots of short stories, I had decided to reserve every single book it listed in the back of that and I ended up with this one being the first to arrive from that list. The short chapters made it easier to read and more difficult to put down. I would have given it 4 stars if the plot was a bit more realistic, but at times I was just thinking that what was happening was silly. It is a decent read though. Full of shopping / a mystery about murder.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite top tier fowler but still very good, June was a believable and interesting lead character with complex personality and motivations, the kidnap shopping spree was perhaps a step too far and some of her choices were questionable but otherwise well constructed. The plotting lagged a little about half way in but the climax was excellent fun.

[Martin Crieff · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. A quick read, though the protagonist annoyed me at the beginning and she made some really stupid choices throughout the book. Loved her friend though; she was a great secondary character. I prefer the Bryant and May series to this though.

[Ted Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bleak little thriller set in London, which ends with a most unusual car chase and extended bout of retail therapy at gunpoint.

As always, great stuff from Mr Fowler, at turns, funny, uncomfortable, informative and highly entertaining

[David Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

In terms of genre, I see this as a dark farce in which a shopaholic goes through a form of extreme aversion therapy and responds appropriately.

http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/1...

[Ken Hillson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rather enjoy Christopher Fowler's writing. He's both erudite and at the same time compulsive. This book, sadly, failed to live up to my expectations. The plot meandered too much and much of the protagonist's actions seemed too far-fetched. A pity.

[Skyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Plastic twice now, and adored it both times. It's dark and funny, and I connected tremendously with June (despite not being a shopaholic). Easily one of my favourite books from the past few years.

[Boris Feldman · Rating 1 out of 5]

That I finished this book is a sign of OCD. I wanted to quit from 50% forward. I love Fowler's Bryant & May series. This novel, not part of the series, was horrid. Dark. Hopeless. Thinly plotted.
Back to the octogenarians, please.

[Deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black comedy with an unlikely heroine. June, a housewife with a shopping addiction and a husband who has been having an affair. When asked to look after an apartment for the weekend in an exclusive tower block she says yes, but things rapidly go wrong. Slow to get started things do pick up.

[Lynsey Passmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, Christopher Fowler is witty, funny and his observations are always right on the money. Brilliant!

[Lauren Hubbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads really needs half stars! I give this 3.5.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

amusing read with a twist

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much. Brilliant, just brilliant.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realise credit cards were QUITE so dangerous.

Wow - this was a fun but slightly disturbing read. A tale of a shopaholic housewife's descent from suburbia to disturbia in the space of a weekend! Christopher Fowler's mind works in mysterious ways, with wondrously imaginative results.