The Zoo

by Jamie Mollart

Brilliant and successful, James Marlowe puts in long alcohol and cocaine fuelled hours as an advertising director, creating a new campaign for an international bank. As his life disintegrates around him he comes to despise his client, the corporate world, and himself. Now his imagination is fired not by slogans, but by a set of characters he calls The Zoo They lead him into a new, crazier world than the one that's thrown him out. The way back to sanity, the wife and son he's lost, might lie behind the fantasy.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2015

About the author

I’m a writer based in the Leicestershire countryside. My first novel, The Zoo, was published to critical acclaim in 2015 by Sandstone Press. Amazon made me one of their rising stars that year.

My short story, Home Game, was featured in the Lost and Found anthology
published by Dahlia Press.

My second novel, Kings of a Dead World is due to be released on June 10th 2021.

My third is being worked on as we speak.

I’ve been a long running guest on Litopia, the web’s biggest writing podcast, interviewed by BBC Ulster, BBC Radio Leicester, BBC Radio Nottingham, featured at The Isle of Man Book Festival, Lowdham Festival, Writing East Midlands’ Writing Conference and have taught novel writing for Writing School Leicester.

I’m a member of Nottingham Writers Studio and The Society of Authors.

I love words and all they can do. I hope you like mine.

Reviews

[Tony Riches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Mollart's first novel, The Zoo, is original and thought-provoking. It should be depressing to watch the successful world of a man slowly unravel until he no longer knows who he is or cares what he does. Instead, this is one of those books you can't stop thinking about, well after you reach the last page. Jamie's inside knowledge of the advertising world gives his writing an authentic edge, littered with sparkling one-liners and instantly recognisable characters.

His great achievement is to make the reader really care about his eponymous ant-hero, James Marlowe, despite his many flaws. I don't want any spoilers in this review, so all I can say is he teases the reader with clever metaphors until you just have to know how he will use them. When he finally does, it is brilliantly understated. And the 'zoo' of the title? If I told you, I'd have to explain everything.

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don’t understand how i feel lmao

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book really pulls no punches!

First of all - definitely do not judge this book by its cover - I was really quite taken by it, but it honestly gives you no clues as to what's awaiting inside the pages!

This was a really dark and gritty read which takes us on a journey into the mind of James Marlowe as he completely succumbs to the many struggles of his life.

I found this really quite uncomfortable to read in places - just because of the intensity of the decline in James's mental health.
Don't get me wrong, I do think this was really well written, but I would not recommend this for those sensitive to this topic.

I think the writing style reflected James's state of mind really quite well, leaving us with further questions at times - but I think this mirrored the way the character was feeling and left us feeling a little disjointed too.

I wasn't too keen on James from the start, he was one of those selfish and bullish characters that you often see in his profession (apologies to all the nicer salesmen!) - but I gradually came around to seeing the more human side of him and in the end felt rather more empathetic towards him.

A different and very interesting read and a well written debut.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways

This book feels like the cold sweat you wake up in from a dream that wasn't a nightmare but you couldn't quite grasp its meaning either. And it's absolutely brilliant! The abyss did gaze back into me a few times while reading this book...

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
"It's been here as long as I have. I've asked them to take it away from me three times, but each time I sank into a despair that was physical and begged for it, so they returned it. We are tied together."

"He knows this is his position, he expects it, but doesn't seek it, and this is why it is his."

"It says nothing. Why would it? It doesn't need to say a thing."

"Look at the handset. Seven holes to hear from, shaped like a starburst, one lonely hole to speak into. I run my fingers over them, blocking them one at a time with the swirl of my fingerprint. More holes to listen through than to speak through."

" 'I would think that this place would be a recruiting ground for Atheism.' she says.
'I don't think you can recruit for Atheism, can you?' "

"I expected maelstrom and instead I see domestication."

"Some instinctual respect for authority nearly stops me, then I force my hands through and pull it apart."

"We're not as literal as snakes or moths. We don't shed ourselves in such an obvious way, but we're always losing parts of ourselves and rebuilding."

"I want a cigarette. I want alcohol. I want a line."

"He is one of them, but not of them."

" 'How does that make you feel?' she asks.
'How do you think it makes me feel?' I ask her because I don't know the answer anymore. "

[Richard Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few books that go beyond entertainment reading for me, but The Zoo has surprised me and made me feel like a better man for having read it. Author Mollart has created the soul-wrenching testimony of an inevitable slide into madness by a character I recognized all too well. James is a man at the pinnacle of his professional achievement, the creative partner in an accomplished, highly respected advertising agency. Sadly, it's a business that doesn't allow either a lot of time for family or humanity. The taut, first-person, immediacy of the writing voice works perfectly with the story line, revealing only as much of the truth as the reader is able to process. We know something is deeply wrong from the beginning, but the depth of the reckoning James is facing grows to a chasm that had me so absorbed, I actually felt fear for this man and his family. The process of his possible redemption comes from a completely unexpected direction and it is to Mr. Mollart's great credit, that instead of caving to a conclusion that almost seems pre-destined, there is proof in the process, at last. Denying those things we cannot tolerate and giving evil a free ticket because it's more expedient will always catch up with those of us that engage in the self-deception it requires. The Zoo is one of the best serious books I've read in some time. If you have ever worked in the ad biz, this book will affect you in ways you can't imagine. Thank you, Mr. Mollart.

[Snoakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been a number of excellent novels about mental health recently. Hopefully this means it is finally losing its stigma.

The Zoo is definitely one to add to that list. It has two threads - one following James Marlowe as he spirals out of control into a complete breakdown fuelled by workplace stress, self-loathing, alcohol and cocaine. The opposing strand follows his story post-breakdown as he tries to claw his way back to reality. He isn't always a likeable character - as his life and his mind whirl away from his grip he treats those around him appallingly. And yet Jamie Mollart has written him with compassion - however badly he behaves we care about what happens to him, how he got to where he ended up in the hospital and whether he will ever be able to leave.

The Zoo is a constant menacing presence on his road to potential recovery. On one level they are simply a collection of toys and yet on another they are deeply significant to James - does he believe they controlling him? Are they causing his delusions, paranoia and hallucinations or are they somehow the architects of his downfall?

I wholeheartedly recommend this - if you loved The Shock of the Fall there's a very good chance you will enjoy this too. It has heart and depth, a well-structured gripping storyline, believable characters and situations and a vivid depiction of a man's descent into psychosis, with a beautifully understated ending. And yes, it made me cry.

[Lisa Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh fab yet disturbing read with a lot of local (Leicester) references.

[Lori Jean Zuber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins with James Marlowe, an ad executive that has a talent for selling anything. He learns the campaign he’s working on has jolted his idea about what he really does-sell things regardless of the company’s dealings. While the abuse of alcohol and drugs keep the truth at bay, he finds himself in a moral dilemma. And so his downward spiral begins. His life is crumbling and the reader embarks on the journey that goes back and forth from his life outside in the world to life in a mental hospital.

This is a gripping novel that is hard to put down. Mollert has done an amazing job with the character development of Marlowe and the vast scenery necessary to switch from one extreme to the other. I definitely recommend this book! One of my favorites so far this year!

[Lynette Inglis · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a story.

I felt very disjointed whilst reading this which I think was intentional by the author. I was keen to follow the descent into madness from the main character.

The reason for a three star review and not higher is that I feel there was a lack of details and explanations for some parts. I feel like was also intentional to mirror the loose ends that the main character would also have, but as a reader and bystander to the story, some closure would have been good.

A difficult read due to the sensitive subject matter but well written.

[Alison Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me really confused all the way through but in the last few chapters I began to make sense of it. A story about how a decision made without thinking about it deeply can have consequences that affect a whole life and the lives of those close to the decision maker. Also a story about how we should all consider our moral and ethical duties in this world and how seemingly simple everyday choices can have devastating impact on others in this world.

[Rhian · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Marlow is an advertising executive whose life spirals out if control under the influence of alcohol and drugs. And what part does the mysterious & threatening zoo play? Moving between the present, in a psychiatric ward, and past events that led there this novel takes us into James' unravelling mind. Although James is fundamentally unlikeable, the author makes the reader care about him, and hope that he will find redemption.

[Kelli Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Mollart was able to create a character that is very unlikeable yet complex and made me want to read more. This book follows the main character's descent into madness and addiction. While I did not like him, I did find myself caring what happened. We get an inside look of life as an ad executive that spirals out of control. We also got a deeper look at the advertising world, something I've not given much thought to prior to this book.

[Ceris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely cracking book. A bit surprised that it hasn't had any prize recognition, as it really deserves it.

It offers a brilliant exploration of the advertising industry, and the effect your job can have on your mental health. Definitely one for book groups, as there's so much to unpack and discuss.

[Eva Edge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say I didn't understand this book. It was way to complicated for me. Probably because I never stepped on THAT side and don't know the feeling... I don't know. It wasn't my book.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was a great read. The madness of James was so expertly captured. I really felt his struggles and some of the references were totally off the scale.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part Cuckoo's nest, part Mad Men. Not best read on an e-reader.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5!⭐️

Fight Club (minus the fight club) meets American Psycho... but make it Britsh

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75⭐️.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on insanity

[Dee Hough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of the book and this is my own honest review. This being the first of Jamie's books I have read, I was instantly drawn to the description.
Absolutely loved it but had to dip in and out of it due to my own mental ill health struggles.. It's a bit close to home.. lol
The narrative grips you in by the neck and takes you on a journey like no other. Spitting you out on the last page. The characters are all very different and so very engaging. The story is really intense, insane very fast passed paced, like watching a blockbuster film. It is a very gritty read, not for the faint hearted but that makes it so good. Highly recommended.

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not too sure how I feel about this book. Watching the demise of a man from having it all to nothing. I found it confusing in parts but the last few chapters worked it out for me. I still think of this book and the effect it had on me whilst reading it.

[Helga Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure what to make of this book. I found it be be very deep, dark intense and often confusing.
I did read it all however not sure it’s my kind of book

[S.P. Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost everyone I know who has worked in advertising or marketing has had attacks of conscience, from the small twinges of "isn't this all a bit trivial" to the full blown attacks of "why I am wasting my life and talents as the mouthpiece for dubious companies." For James Marlowe in "The Zoo", the full blown attack surfaces as part of a heavy cocktail of drink, drugs and family problems as the once-successful ad man's life smashes and fragments into psychosis. "The Zoo" intersperses chapters chronicling this descent into madness with chapters where James is in a psychiatric hospital, his thoughts dominated by "The Zoo" of the title - an enigmatic collection of toy figures. Are these malevolent, or do they represent meaning and possibly redemption?

This story is original and compelling, and like the substances James abuses, totally addictive. The descriptions of the psychotic episodes are nightmarish and visceral - there are touches of William Burroughs here, as well as Irvine Welsh and Bret Easton Ellis. It's an ambitious work, with plenty of social commentary as well as a fascinating glimpse into the subject of blood minerals, via the fictitious African country, Nghosa.

The ad agency lifestyle portrayed is recognisable to anyone who has worked in the business, but I felt it reflected the way things were in the last decades of the last century, rather than how things are today. Advertising agencies in the 21st century are struggling to survive, and have had their wings of excess cut by the bean-counters.

However, I'm pleased that the author created the obnoxious anti-hero James Marlowe. It makes a change to read a story about someone who has next to no redeeming features, but in whom you can recognise (unfortunately) some of your own worst characteristics. "The Zoo" has something in common in this respect with Frederic Beigbeder's "9.99" - it's a mirror to the dark side of ourselves.

Not easy subject matter, but very easily read, "The Zoo" gets a thumbs-up from me.

[Saoirse Milotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Marlowe has sold his soul to the corrupt world of advertising and has landed himself the biggest client of his career, an international bank trying to improve their image. Little does he know that this transaction will also cost him his sanity. The harder he works the more the cracks begin to appear, until he finds himself falling headfirst into a devastating spiral of drink, drugs and shame. As his grip on reality loosens, everything he holds dear falls away from him. Hospitalised, alone and terrified, James is haunted by characters in The Zoo - a dark, menacing force that seems to control him. If he can just discover who these creatures are and what they want from him, he may be able to survive the nightmare and start on the road to recovery.

This is a truly exceptional debut novel from Jamie Mollart. It delves into the polished, manipulative world of corporate advertising and the corruption and exploitation it glosses over, a world only those with no empathy can succeed in. James is a selfish, smarmy character yet you cling to the hope he will be saved. The chapters swing from his incarceration in a psychiatric hospital to the months leading up to his climatic breakdown, creating a deep atmosphere of foreboding that will grip you to the end. This sure to be one of the big hits of 2015, and deservedly so.
4.5 stars

[Maya Panika · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a successful ad-man's descent into insanity told in alternating scenes: from his current post-breakdown life in a psychiatric unit, and the months immediately before when he was working on a new advertising campaign for a Dutch Bank - the tainted account that ultimately brings his drug and alcohol-fuelled world crashing down.
In the present, James Marlowe finds himself sectioned and incarcerated, living a life of almost constant horror, beset by frightening and paranoid delusions; a fantasy life staged on a set made of bizarre and horrifying hallucinations. Abandoned by his beloved wife and child and shunned by fellow inmates, James lives in terror of The Zoo, a collection of children's toys - plastic figures who exert a malevolent hold on his imagination.
The Zoo is a mesmerising story. Bleak and dark, devoid of even a chink of hope until the absolute end, it is brilliantly well written, without an ounce of fat or padding. It had me hooked from beginning to intense and extraordinary end. Powerful. Astonishingly good. A truly remarkable début.

(Note for the editors. How, if he loses his phone on page 270, can he text Alan and Hilary on page 272?)

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this book were quite interesting. It's clear the author has deep experience in the field. There was potential for a great story with the ad man going crazy seeing the results of his work. I picked up the book based on the potential.

But it doesn't work, as the author's experience is clearly in advertising and not writing. The book is heavy on telling and short on showing. In this rather short novel, the f word shows up 143 times, along with more than 120 different references to alcohol. If the author wants to express anger, the characters start cursing. Instead of showing drunkness, we get copious recitations of how much alcohol was consumed. This book is dark and ugly, I agree with the other reviews, but the use of so much profanity makes it seem like the author is just trying to shock the reader. Maybe it's a difference between British and North American sensibilities.

The zoo thing doesn't really work that well either, since the secondary characters aren't developed well enough to hazard guesses or care during the closing scene. Almost a 1-star, but there was actually a good story buried under the clunky zoo bit and the unfortunate writing style.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible debut novel. A thought provoking portrayal of a man's slow decent into madness, The Zoo is a fast paced, intriguing and perfectly constructed tale. To talk of the plot in great detail would spoil it, it concerns a man working in advertising who devotes too much time to his job, a job that gives him little self respect and leads him to the dark side of drugs and alcohol at the expense of his family and everything he holds dear. Inbetween the story of his fall we spend time in the present, where he resides in a home for the mentally ill, taking cues from a mysterious 'Zoo', a collection of toys he believes to be guiding him. As the book progresses we learn much about how he came to this, what The Zoo is and why it affects him so. Everything dovetails perfectly in a satisfying conclusion that's difficult to second guess but exacting in its execution.

I found this a hugely enjoyable read and await future novels from Mr Mollart with some anticipation.

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

High-powered advertising executive, James Marlowe, is delighted when he wins the brief to create a new campaign for an international bank. But his involvement in the corporate world comes at a heavy cost, as he becomes increasingly dependent on drugs and alcohol in a vain attempt to keep the unethical nature of this endeavour out of mind. This distances him from his beloved wife and son and, eventually, from himself, as a psychotic breakdown lands him in a psychiatric hospital, terrified by a collection of plastic and metal animals and figurines which he calls The Zoo. It’s there that the reader first meets him, and there that we sit alongside him as he gradually pieces together the sequence of events that have brought him to the lowest point of his life.
Review continues http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdo...

[Rosanne McAdam · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first page the style of writing keeps you gripped. The Zoo is a very intriguing story of a man's progression to madness. From prioritising his job, drugs and alcohol over his family and friends, the main character gets into your head very quickly. Although his behaviour and actions are awful you can't help desperately wanting him to redeem himself. The novel is written in two alternating timelines - going from the months leading to his psychotic breakdown which results in his present time spent in a psychiatric facility. Anything else on the plot would just spoil the book.

I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways and absolutely couldn't wait to get started on it. It's an amazingly haunting and extraordinary book from the first page. Will definitely be passing around my family to give them a read!

[Jason Anscomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and thought it makes you think whilst being a real page turner. I wanted to know more about the zoo. What was it and why did it control this man?
I felt the author really get in the shoes of the main protagonist. We know this guy or someone like him. The world of advertising is brilliantly realised through these pages. The characters involved, the sometimes questionable aspects of working in an industry which it's only drive is to sell you more shit.
Fans of Irvine Welsh, Brett Easton Ellis may well like this book. There is something of the unhinged human on auto-pilot to proceedings.
I give it five stars as its the guys first novel and he now has my attention!