Crustaceans

by Andrew Cowan

It’s December and there is one foot of snow. Paul, the narrator, is driving east to the seaside in the imaginary company of his son, Euan, whose sixth birthday this would have been. As he drives, and later as he wanders the coast, Paul assembles in detail the fragments of a life that seemed to have ended with Euan’s. In this beautifully modulated, heart-rending novel, Andrew Cowan fathoms the relationship between a parent and child, as seen through the eyes of a man struggling to come to terms with his life and losses as both father and son. All the more powerful for its delicacy and restraint, this is a novel that resonates in the mind long after the last page.

Genres: Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 2000

Reviews

[Tom Croskery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equal parts morbid and mysterious

[Jetan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Crustaceans to be beautifully written and poetic. Any book that can silence everything else around me, is a great read. A dreamlike journey as you walk along side a father who reflects on life events as he grieves his only child. Beautiful.

[Noel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was quite frankly an abomination. Never before have I been subjected to such drivel: the dreary prose, the melodramatic complaints... even the ridiculously irrelevant title adds to an impression of overated rubbish. In my opinion this excuse for an enlightened novel comes first in only one known category: that of the worst book I have undertaken thus far. Spare yourself. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK, and instead put it to better use as premium quality bog roll.

[David Gagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugely emotional novel dealing as it does with such trauma. Beautifully written and heart breaking.

[Walter Van Praag · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am easily confused and have trouble concentrating at the best of times, but I occasionally got a little lost reading this beautiful book. Though nicely written, almost poetic at times, and covering a sad set of events really, I do recommend people give this book a go. Without going into details or spoilers, the book is pretty much about a dysfunctional family, one that could easily be your own :) It covers a couple of sad events and ends on a sad note. Not exactly an uplifting book, but an interesting read that will take you away from your own reality....

[Karoline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure if something was lost in translation for me or if it really was that boring. It's very English and a lot of the words, phrases, and expressions were a little beyond me.