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The Brave
Rafael's world is a place where armed guards patrol a dump to prevent poor families from foraging through the garbage. With his family, Rafael lives on the edge of the refuse heap in a forgotten corner of America's Southwest. Desperately poor, he is determined to give his family some respite from their dire poverty, even if it means trading his own life to do it.
Rafael finds a man who says he will pay many thousands of dollars in exchange for his life: and so he agrees to "star" in a snuff film.
215 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 21, 2011
This is one of the most depressing books I've ever read. It is every bit the downer that classics like 1984, The Jungle, and All Quiet on the Western Front are. It gets so bad that, after a while, you dare yourself to turn the next page and see if it can get even worse. And, quite often, it does.
This is the story of Rafael, a young alcoholic who lives in a shantytown on the edge of a municipal dump. The dump is the primary source of income for the assortment of marginalized figures who pick through it in hopes of finding scrap metal to sell. Most of that money goes to booze, with cheap food and other creature comforts placing a distant second. However, the owners of the dump have taken to posting armed guards who shoot first and ask questions later. Rafael, with a wife and three children to care for, sees the hopelessness of this situation and tries to find a way to get his family out. He thinks his lifeline has appeared when he is pointed toward a very unusual opportunity: if he agrees to be the main attraction in a snuff film, the filmmaker will give his family $35,000.
To the illiterate, naive Rafael, this sounds like a princely sum, one that will buy his family a better life and all the things he can't provide any other way. He even gets an advance of $200 and a final few days to spend with his family before he reports to his new "job".
Our knowledge of what is going to happen to Rafael makes his subsequent interactions with his family all the more poignant, especially since they think he has somehow landed gainful employment and will be bringing home a steady paycheck. But the appearance of even $200 in this impoverished group sets off a chain of events that ultimately leaves them even worse off than before.
So yes, seriously depressing, and I haven't even gone into all the horrible details because I don't want to spoil it. Let's just say this book is nihilism personified. I gave it five stars because it was such a visceral experience that it would not leave me alone after I was done with it. Any book that can hit my psyche that hard earns my respect, even if I never read it again.
This is the story of Rafael, a young alcoholic who lives in a shantytown on the edge of a municipal dump. The dump is the primary source of income for the assortment of marginalized figures who pick through it in hopes of finding scrap metal to sell. Most of that money goes to booze, with cheap food and other creature comforts placing a distant second. However, the owners of the dump have taken to posting armed guards who shoot first and ask questions later. Rafael, with a wife and three children to care for, sees the hopelessness of this situation and tries to find a way to get his family out. He thinks his lifeline has appeared when he is pointed toward a very unusual opportunity: if he agrees to be the main attraction in a snuff film, the filmmaker will give his family $35,000.
To the illiterate, naive Rafael, this sounds like a princely sum, one that will buy his family a better life and all the things he can't provide any other way. He even gets an advance of $200 and a final few days to spend with his family before he reports to his new "job".
Our knowledge of what is going to happen to Rafael makes his subsequent interactions with his family all the more poignant, especially since they think he has somehow landed gainful employment and will be bringing home a steady paycheck. But the appearance of even $200 in this impoverished group sets off a chain of events that ultimately leaves them even worse off than before.
So yes, seriously depressing, and I haven't even gone into all the horrible details because I don't want to spoil it. Let's just say this book is nihilism personified. I gave it five stars because it was such a visceral experience that it would not leave me alone after I was done with it. Any book that can hit my psyche that hard earns my respect, even if I never read it again.
April 4, 2018
Il “coraggio” della disperazione
Libro letto qualche anno fa, dopo aver visto a tarda notte in TV l’omonimo film che Johnny Depp, ha tratto dal romanzo. Una storia di emarginazione, miseria e tragedia; la storia di un uomo che per poter assicurare un futuro alla propria famiglia (moglie e due figli) non vede altra via d’uscita se non quella di recitare in uno snuff-movie.
Cupo, angosciante e disperato anche il romanzo. E’ breve, lo si legge in un soffio, ma resta impresso nella memoria, difficile da dimenticare.
“Il coraggioso” è anche una delle ultime apparizioni sullo schermo degne di nota del grandissimo Marlon Brando.
https://youtu.be/tNTsfnCFakw
Libro letto qualche anno fa, dopo aver visto a tarda notte in TV l’omonimo film che Johnny Depp, ha tratto dal romanzo. Una storia di emarginazione, miseria e tragedia; la storia di un uomo che per poter assicurare un futuro alla propria famiglia (moglie e due figli) non vede altra via d’uscita se non quella di recitare in uno snuff-movie.
Cupo, angosciante e disperato anche il romanzo. E’ breve, lo si legge in un soffio, ma resta impresso nella memoria, difficile da dimenticare.
“Il coraggioso” è anche una delle ultime apparizioni sullo schermo degne di nota del grandissimo Marlon Brando.
https://youtu.be/tNTsfnCFakw
August 12, 2023
TW: Language, racism, classism, graphic scenes, alcoholism, drugs, sexual abuse
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:Rafael's world is a place where armed guards patrol a dump to prevent poor families from foraging through the garbage. With his family, Rafael lives on the edge of the refuse heap in a forgotten corner of America's Southwest. Desperately poor, he is determined to give his family some respite from their dire poverty, even if it means trading his own life to do it.Rafael finds a man who says he will pay many thousands of dollars in exchange for his life: and so he agrees to "star" in a snuff film.
Release Date: October 1991
Genre: Horror
Pages: 212
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. The writing style
2. The characters
3. The plot
What I Didn't Like:
1. Some parts are slow and ramble
Overall Thoughts:
This book is seriously gut wrenching. There are moments where you just stop and have to breathe deeply because what Rafael wants to do for his family is heartbreaking.
At first you meet Rafeal and he is not a great person. He loves drinking and has been drinking since he was pretty much a child. He hears about a quick way to get a large amount of money from his bartender. It pays $25,000 but Rafeal wants more - $30,000 and won't take a penny more. From this moment on you see how society treats him mostly because he is poor and also because he is an alcoholic.
I want to say this is NOT an extreme horror story. We get a moment where the man who's making the snuff movie describes to him what is going to take place - that's about all the gore you experience. No, the real horror is traveling with Rafeal as he is judged by how he looks and how society treats him because he is poor. On top of that you go through his last day and half as he spends time with his kids, wife, family, and friends. Its absolutely agonizing when you know these are his last moments. I seriously got teary eyed when he was trying to fit in as much time with his wife and kids. I got upset at how he was judged based on his surroundings.
Final Thoughts:
That ending had me in tears. His wife trying to make sure everything is perfect for his first day of work and him kissing his family goodbye. Shit..... It was so sad.
With the premise of this book being about snuff movies I thought it was just going to be extreme gore to the max but this book takes you to a place of "Imagine if you got to say goodbye and what are you leaving behind."
Recommend For:
• If you liked A Little Life
• Complex characters
• Sad books
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:Rafael's world is a place where armed guards patrol a dump to prevent poor families from foraging through the garbage. With his family, Rafael lives on the edge of the refuse heap in a forgotten corner of America's Southwest. Desperately poor, he is determined to give his family some respite from their dire poverty, even if it means trading his own life to do it.Rafael finds a man who says he will pay many thousands of dollars in exchange for his life: and so he agrees to "star" in a snuff film.
Release Date: October 1991
Genre: Horror
Pages: 212
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. The writing style
2. The characters
3. The plot
What I Didn't Like:
1. Some parts are slow and ramble
Overall Thoughts:
This book is seriously gut wrenching. There are moments where you just stop and have to breathe deeply because what Rafael wants to do for his family is heartbreaking.
At first you meet Rafeal and he is not a great person. He loves drinking and has been drinking since he was pretty much a child. He hears about a quick way to get a large amount of money from his bartender. It pays $25,000 but Rafeal wants more - $30,000 and won't take a penny more. From this moment on you see how society treats him mostly because he is poor and also because he is an alcoholic.
I want to say this is NOT an extreme horror story. We get a moment where the man who's making the snuff movie describes to him what is going to take place - that's about all the gore you experience. No, the real horror is traveling with Rafeal as he is judged by how he looks and how society treats him because he is poor. On top of that you go through his last day and half as he spends time with his kids, wife, family, and friends. Its absolutely agonizing when you know these are his last moments. I seriously got teary eyed when he was trying to fit in as much time with his wife and kids. I got upset at how he was judged based on his surroundings.
Final Thoughts:
That ending had me in tears. His wife trying to make sure everything is perfect for his first day of work and him kissing his family goodbye. Shit..... It was so sad.
With the premise of this book being about snuff movies I thought it was just going to be extreme gore to the max but this book takes you to a place of "Imagine if you got to say goodbye and what are you leaving behind."
Recommend For:
• If you liked A Little Life
• Complex characters
• Sad books
IG | Blog
June 12, 2015
En écrivant ce livre, Gregory McDonald voulait dépeindre la cruauté des plus puissants et la misère humaine. Il est au final parvenu à donner une profonde dignité à cette misère.
April 8, 2022
I watched Johnny Depp's movie based on the book before reading it. I don't have the same disdain critics have for the movie - it was fine; too cartoonish and drawn out to be good - but was not satisfied with how it handled the story. The concept weighed on my mind for days as I felt awful for Rafael's situation but I ultimately craved for gaps to be filled. McDonald's book, which I read within a week of seeing the movie, was much more satisfying, in the sense that the absolute horror of the story was complete.
I finished the book over the course of a day; I could not help but pick it up after putting it down. The Brave provokes the deepest sense of empathy I've felt for a character, as the combination of Rafael's problems led him down a path that viscerally felt wrong but could not be avoided. There is a feeling of impending doom throughout this book and the use of dramatic irony pulls you along, knowing the possible extent of the gruesome fate that awaits Rafael and his family. The Christ-like imagery gives you something more to consider, and, while fairly obvious, is not lacking in imagination.
In terms of graphic content, I didn't find it as shocking as other reviews have stated. There is a very matter-of-fact description of the script of a snuff film, and McDonald even includes a warning (and justification) about this, but we never see it actually unfold. McDonald knows the weight of his words and uses them with clear intention; overall, the description in question paints a picture of a sickening character and Rafael's horrendous situation. It's certainly not suitable for anyone but adults and may upset someone who is squeamish, but it is purposeful and not there just for shock value.
Overall, The Brave is like watching a train derail and careen into a canyon; from the get-go, you know something abjectly hideous will happen to a lot of people, but you cannot look away as it gets progressively worse. You're left searching for things that can turn the story around and you want the best for the Browns, but you know what's coming. Dramatic irony and the parallels to Christ leave you with questions and plenty to consider once you reach the back cover.
I finished the book over the course of a day; I could not help but pick it up after putting it down. The Brave provokes the deepest sense of empathy I've felt for a character, as the combination of Rafael's problems led him down a path that viscerally felt wrong but could not be avoided. There is a feeling of impending doom throughout this book and the use of dramatic irony pulls you along, knowing the possible extent of the gruesome fate that awaits Rafael and his family. The Christ-like imagery gives you something more to consider, and, while fairly obvious, is not lacking in imagination.
In terms of graphic content, I didn't find it as shocking as other reviews have stated. There is a very matter-of-fact description of the script of a snuff film, and McDonald even includes a warning (and justification) about this, but we never see it actually unfold. McDonald knows the weight of his words and uses them with clear intention; overall, the description in question paints a picture of a sickening character and Rafael's horrendous situation. It's certainly not suitable for anyone but adults and may upset someone who is squeamish, but it is purposeful and not there just for shock value.
Overall, The Brave is like watching a train derail and careen into a canyon; from the get-go, you know something abjectly hideous will happen to a lot of people, but you cannot look away as it gets progressively worse. You're left searching for things that can turn the story around and you want the best for the Browns, but you know what's coming. Dramatic irony and the parallels to Christ leave you with questions and plenty to consider once you reach the back cover.
August 21, 2013
To say that Gregory McDonald's The Brave is one of the most nauseating books I've ever read is not to say that there isn't plenty to recommend it to a certain type of reader. The narrative is so inevitable, once I began reading--after, say, the first 30 pages--I felt like I was standing at the bottom of a steep hill watching a boulder gathering speed as it sped down toward me, a sort of Sisyphus in reverse. But it isn't Sisyphus that McDonald had in mind, apparently, when writing The Brave: it was Jesus Christ. If you like your Christian allegories tinged with enough sadism to make your skin crawl (again, all by page 30), then The Brave is for you. The Christ parallels are not heavy-handed, but as inevitable as the plot movement. There is an interrogation by a round-faced smiling Pilate. There is a last supper. There is a crucifixion, of sorts (that doesn't happen until after the novel ends, but believe me, you will know in sickening detail what is to happen to your protagonist, Rafael).
Not to give away any plot points, suffice it to say that Rafael is dirt poor, living with others including his wife and three children in Morgantown, an unincorporated, unrecognized dust bowl that exists alongside a dump which, through picking, serves as the only means of income for Rafael and his poor brethren. In a visit to the city, Rafael follows up on a lead that promises to pay enough money to guarantee deliverance--or salvation, if you will--for all of Rafael's family and friends. The only catch: it will cost Rafael his life.
An indictment of have/have not America, of the prevalence of alcoholism among the very poor, of racism, of classism, The Brave is difficult to resist even as one feels he must put it down or else. I found myself reminded several times of Jack Ketcham's The Girl Next Door--except that McDonald's novel has substance and subtext that makes the creepy-crawlies much more well deserved.
Oh, and the final piece of the Christ allegory: the resurrection? I will leave that up to readers to decide, as they interpret the ramifications of the "contract" Rafael carries with him to the very end.
Not to give away any plot points, suffice it to say that Rafael is dirt poor, living with others including his wife and three children in Morgantown, an unincorporated, unrecognized dust bowl that exists alongside a dump which, through picking, serves as the only means of income for Rafael and his poor brethren. In a visit to the city, Rafael follows up on a lead that promises to pay enough money to guarantee deliverance--or salvation, if you will--for all of Rafael's family and friends. The only catch: it will cost Rafael his life.
An indictment of have/have not America, of the prevalence of alcoholism among the very poor, of racism, of classism, The Brave is difficult to resist even as one feels he must put it down or else. I found myself reminded several times of Jack Ketcham's The Girl Next Door--except that McDonald's novel has substance and subtext that makes the creepy-crawlies much more well deserved.
Oh, and the final piece of the Christ allegory: the resurrection? I will leave that up to readers to decide, as they interpret the ramifications of the "contract" Rafael carries with him to the very end.
December 15, 2025
Superbe lecture où l'on suit les derniers jours d'un homme, par contre, c'est quoi le chapitre 3 ? Je ne pensais pas que des mots pouvaient me dégoûter carrément. Au début, il y a un avertissement de l'auteur qui nous dit qu'on n'est pas obligé de lire le chapitre, je cite : "Il aurait aimé ne pas l'écrire." Bah d'accord, mais sinon l'histoire est vraiment géniale et très touchante. Merci le daron pour la recommandation !
February 8, 2024
Un roman court mais prenant. On a envie de savoir l'après tout ça, le personnage principal et même toute la "ville" est touchante.
November 28, 2007
The first chapter involves a man signing up to be killed in a snuff film. His family needs money.
And then - miracle of miracles - the story gets more depressing from there.
The unease created by the book is maybe the equivalent of The Day the Clown Cried, the unreleased Jerry Lewis Holocaust pic. Descriptions of that movie are plum jaw dropping.
The Brave isn't a bad book, but its a punch in the head if you're expecting Fletch like shenanigans.
And then - miracle of miracles - the story gets more depressing from there.
The unease created by the book is maybe the equivalent of The Day the Clown Cried, the unreleased Jerry Lewis Holocaust pic. Descriptions of that movie are plum jaw dropping.
The Brave isn't a bad book, but its a punch in the head if you're expecting Fletch like shenanigans.
August 22, 2012
This book was a hard read and it banged around in my head for weeks afterward. Couldn't stop feeling how sorry I was for the main character and everything that happened to the poor bastard. If you're looking for the witty barbs and quick pace of Fletch and Flynn, this is not the book to pick up. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think I could read it again. It'd be like going back to the same bar when you got the hell beaten out of you the first time.
June 1, 2017
I can honestly say that of all the books I have read (and I am an avid reader), I can recall the images from this book more easily than any other. I read it when I was young, I'm 57 now and it has stayed with me all these years. Its not an easy book to read. But it is very powerful and will make you think and feel more than you might like. I highly recommend it.
August 22, 2024
Full Review
This is a book that very well deserves to come back into print. It’s a brutal, unflinching look at life for those on the very bottom of society. It’s a searing indictment against the world that devalues human life and turns it into a commodity. It’s a book that’s needed now more than ever.
This is a book that very well deserves to come back into print. It’s a brutal, unflinching look at life for those on the very bottom of society. It’s a searing indictment against the world that devalues human life and turns it into a commodity. It’s a book that’s needed now more than ever.
August 15, 2015
Comment peut on être pauvre et heureux?
Comment des personnes peu scrupuleux peuvent ils profiter de la faiblesse d'autrui? Et ses violences gratuites sont plus que dérangeantes.
Malgré tout, Rafael reste convaincu de ses actions.
C'est un livre qui m'a beaucoup touché.
Comment des personnes peu scrupuleux peuvent ils profiter de la faiblesse d'autrui? Et ses violences gratuites sont plus que dérangeantes.
Malgré tout, Rafael reste convaincu de ses actions.
C'est un livre qui m'a beaucoup touché.
November 25, 2025
Poignant et déchirant. Après avoir fini le livre, on a pas l’impression que l’histoire va tant nous coller, et puis au fil du temps on se rend compte qu’elle s’est accrochée à notre esprit. Quand je pense à ce livre ça me rend triste pour le monde. Bref.
September 21, 2017
This book is the only one I've read by Gregory McDonald but I was under the impression that the Fletch series is more comedic.
The Brave is a very troubling look into the division between classes and how even people who might be considered poor (the bus driver who used to be a drunk but then got a job) look down on people poorer than themselves. I always read this book urging Rafael to reconsider, to think about what "Mister McCarthy" is actually doing. There are so many slights characters make towards Rafael that are infuriating, even by people he thinks are friendly to him I think the only tertiary character that doesn't treat Rafael completely like dirt is the woman behind him in line at the store.
The Brave is a very troubling look into the division between classes and how even people who might be considered poor (the bus driver who used to be a drunk but then got a job) look down on people poorer than themselves. I always read this book urging Rafael to reconsider, to think about what "Mister McCarthy" is actually doing. There are so many slights characters make towards Rafael that are infuriating, even by people he thinks are friendly to him I think the only tertiary character that doesn't treat Rafael completely like dirt is the woman behind him in line at the store.
January 3, 2026
this book is sad. theres one chapter towards the beginning where violence & torture are talked about (for the snuff film mentioned in the blurb) but thats the only time you really experience anything about that story aspect. the majority of the book follows Rafael as he just tries to live his last few days with his family & those he knows.
its heartbreaking knowing what will happen as you watch Rafael just trying to do good things for those around him one last time. he just wants them to remember these good moments and hopes his sacrifice will truly get at least his wife & children out of poverty. I cried.
cw: blood, gun violence, mentions of torture & cancer, death, abuse by authorities (cops & security guards), alcohol use, drugs, classism, racism
its heartbreaking knowing what will happen as you watch Rafael just trying to do good things for those around him one last time. he just wants them to remember these good moments and hopes his sacrifice will truly get at least his wife & children out of poverty. I cried.
cw: blood, gun violence, mentions of torture & cancer, death, abuse by authorities (cops & security guards), alcohol use, drugs, classism, racism
February 20, 2024
I've read so many books by Mcdonald over the years. The vast majority of them are very similar in style. But this one stands out like no other book of his.
This one is much darker and has none of the comic tones that you expect on his writing.
This is a tale of a young Indian man, down in his luck, and is willing to do the worst thing possible to take care of his family.
I was unable to put this book down. While I knew what would happen, I kept finding myself hoping that he wouldn't go to his new job.
Overall, one of the best books I've ever read.
This one is much darker and has none of the comic tones that you expect on his writing.
This is a tale of a young Indian man, down in his luck, and is willing to do the worst thing possible to take care of his family.
I was unable to put this book down. While I knew what would happen, I kept finding myself hoping that he wouldn't go to his new job.
Overall, one of the best books I've ever read.
October 19, 2022
When the author puts a warning in about a difficult to read chapter containing planned human cruelty you know it is going to be a hard read. The descriptions are vivid and powerful making you feel and think more than you may like to. It's a bleak, story about poverty, sacrifice and cruelty, it's gut-wrenching, heartbreaking and beautiful. I definitely recommend this book. It is more vivid than the Johnny Depp film which had a different twist but was just as powerful.
May 6, 2025
This is a gnarly book. An extremely poor Native American living in terrible conditions and making a disastrous decision to try and save his family and friends that will never work. It's such a certainty that the author doesn't even need to tell you. Analogous to the Christ story except no one will ever be saved.
November 11, 2023
Ça suinte le désespoir, ça pue l’injustice et ça dégouline de cruauté.
Nous découvrons les derniers jours de vie de Rafael dans une tension extrême et suffocante.
Un roman qui dépeint et accuse la précarité.
Un snuff movie avec un peu de lumière.
Glaçant, impitoyable et bouleversant.
Nous découvrons les derniers jours de vie de Rafael dans une tension extrême et suffocante.
Un roman qui dépeint et accuse la précarité.
Un snuff movie avec un peu de lumière.
Glaçant, impitoyable et bouleversant.
August 6, 2022
esperaba otra cosa, pero a la vez si me gustó, lo recuerdo aun, sobretodo que fue insufrible a ratos leerlo
September 25, 2022
Very good AND very hard read. If you're at all sensitive to violence skip this one.
October 6, 2022
Painfully sad.
Read
April 13, 2023holy heck.
January 2, 2024
C'est noir, c'est crade, c'est sans espoir. Mais c'est bien
March 23, 2024
This depressing
March 23, 2016
« Il est illettré, alcoolique, père de trois enfants, sans travail ni avenir. Il survit près d’une décharge publique, quelque part dans le sud-ouest des États-Unis. Mais l’Amérique ne l’a pas tout à fait oublié. Un inconnu, producteur de snuff films, lui propose un marché : sa vie contre trente mille dollars. Il s’appelle Rafael, et il n’a plus que trois jours à vivre… Avec ce roman, Gregory Mcdonald n’a pas seulement sondé le cœur de la misère humaine, il lui a aussi donné un visage et une dignité.«
Jusqu’où la détresse peut nous mener? La plus belle manière de mourir est-elle de savoir comment, quand, où et pourquoi? Si c’est le cas Rafael a de quoi trépasser heureux. Il va sauver sa femme et ses trois enfants. Il leur donnera le moyen de peut-être s’en sortir sans lui alors que s’il restait il ne ferait que les entraîner dans sa propre chute.
Dans trois jours, Rafael va mourir…. Ces quelques heures il va les passer à « jouer à si j’avais une vie normale ». Il ouvre un compte à la banque, il offre une robe à sa femme,… Il fait comme si tout allait bien mais il reste un « déchet humain », ce que personne ne manque de lui faire comprendre durant ses dernières heures de liberté. Très vite le troisième chapitre arrive avec sa description de tous les sévices qu’il doit subir avant de mourir. FIN!
Récit touchant et pourtant terrible de cet homme vivant dans un bidonville américain. Racisme, misère, avenir sans espoir,… Quelques pages pour montrer ce qu’est ou plutôt ce qu’on peut encore vivre dans nos sociétés soit disant développées.
Comme le dit un critique sur Babelio.com: « Ce livre vous prendra littéralement aux tripes , s’insinuera en vous tel un poison ayant la faculté de vous inoculer une tristesse infinie… »
Ame sensible s’abstenir!
Si vous préférez regarder un film plutôt que de lire un roman, Johnny Depp en a fait un film, « The Brave », dans lequel il tient le rôle principal. Je ne l’ai pas vu mais si vous le connaissez n’hésitez pas à me dire ce que vous en avez pensé.
++
Jusqu’où la détresse peut nous mener? La plus belle manière de mourir est-elle de savoir comment, quand, où et pourquoi? Si c’est le cas Rafael a de quoi trépasser heureux. Il va sauver sa femme et ses trois enfants. Il leur donnera le moyen de peut-être s’en sortir sans lui alors que s’il restait il ne ferait que les entraîner dans sa propre chute.
Dans trois jours, Rafael va mourir…. Ces quelques heures il va les passer à « jouer à si j’avais une vie normale ». Il ouvre un compte à la banque, il offre une robe à sa femme,… Il fait comme si tout allait bien mais il reste un « déchet humain », ce que personne ne manque de lui faire comprendre durant ses dernières heures de liberté. Très vite le troisième chapitre arrive avec sa description de tous les sévices qu’il doit subir avant de mourir. FIN!
Récit touchant et pourtant terrible de cet homme vivant dans un bidonville américain. Racisme, misère, avenir sans espoir,… Quelques pages pour montrer ce qu’est ou plutôt ce qu’on peut encore vivre dans nos sociétés soit disant développées.
Comme le dit un critique sur Babelio.com: « Ce livre vous prendra littéralement aux tripes , s’insinuera en vous tel un poison ayant la faculté de vous inoculer une tristesse infinie… »
Ame sensible s’abstenir!
Si vous préférez regarder un film plutôt que de lire un roman, Johnny Depp en a fait un film, « The Brave », dans lequel il tient le rôle principal. Je ne l’ai pas vu mais si vous le connaissez n’hésitez pas à me dire ce que vous en avez pensé.
++
March 2, 2016
Rafael s'apprête à vivre ses trois derniers jours. Il a fait une affaire. C'est sûr. Une avance de 250 dollars et un montant total de 30 000 dollars! Avec ça, sa famille va pouvoir s'en sortir.
Rafael est alcoolique et analphabète. Il vit aux abords d'une décharge, à Morgantown, avec sa femme, ses trois enfants et une petite communauté de rejettés sociaux.
Rafael vient de vendre sa vie pour un snuff movie. Il avait toujours cru que son existence ne valait rien, mais ce sacrifice va rapporter gros à ses survivants.
Malgré la violence des propos tenus par le réalisateurs par rapport au déroulement de la scène du film, Rafael n'a pas fait demi-tour. Il veut le meilleur pour sa famille, car il sait qu'ils peuvent s'en sortir. Il leur manque juste un peu d'argent pour s'intégrer à cette société qui ne veut pas d'eux.
Les mots de l'auteur sont durs quand il décrit le snuff movie, mais le récit est encore plus dur. Les conditions de vie de cette "communauté" sont inconcevables et pourtant elles existent vraiment. Le mot espoir ne fait plus partie du vocabulaire de la plupart d'entre eux, excepté pour Rafael depuis qu'il a "signé" le fameux contrat. Le seul refuge, c'est l'alcool. Cet ami qui panse les blessures (au propre comme au figuré) et qui aide à surmonter la souffrance d'une vie sans avenir.
Ce qui m'a le plus dégoûté dans cette histoire, c'est la facilité avec laquelle le gros réalisateurs s'est joué de ce pauvre type. Il le vole sans scrupule. Lui promet un avenir doré pour ses proches... et Rafael est le seul à ne pas se rendre compte de la supercherie. Il est honnête et pense faire une bonne affaire. Il pense mener la danse lors de la négociation alors qu'il n'est qu'un pion.
Et pourtant le bonheur n'est pas loin. On sent toute l'émotion de cet homme lorsque pour une fois dans sa vie, il va pouvoir offrir des cadeaux à ses proches.
Le regard que la société porte sur ces démunis fait froid dans le dos.
Un roman qui fait réfléchir.
Rafael est alcoolique et analphabète. Il vit aux abords d'une décharge, à Morgantown, avec sa femme, ses trois enfants et une petite communauté de rejettés sociaux.
Rafael vient de vendre sa vie pour un snuff movie. Il avait toujours cru que son existence ne valait rien, mais ce sacrifice va rapporter gros à ses survivants.
Malgré la violence des propos tenus par le réalisateurs par rapport au déroulement de la scène du film, Rafael n'a pas fait demi-tour. Il veut le meilleur pour sa famille, car il sait qu'ils peuvent s'en sortir. Il leur manque juste un peu d'argent pour s'intégrer à cette société qui ne veut pas d'eux.
Les mots de l'auteur sont durs quand il décrit le snuff movie, mais le récit est encore plus dur. Les conditions de vie de cette "communauté" sont inconcevables et pourtant elles existent vraiment. Le mot espoir ne fait plus partie du vocabulaire de la plupart d'entre eux, excepté pour Rafael depuis qu'il a "signé" le fameux contrat. Le seul refuge, c'est l'alcool. Cet ami qui panse les blessures (au propre comme au figuré) et qui aide à surmonter la souffrance d'une vie sans avenir.
Ce qui m'a le plus dégoûté dans cette histoire, c'est la facilité avec laquelle le gros réalisateurs s'est joué de ce pauvre type. Il le vole sans scrupule. Lui promet un avenir doré pour ses proches... et Rafael est le seul à ne pas se rendre compte de la supercherie. Il est honnête et pense faire une bonne affaire. Il pense mener la danse lors de la négociation alors qu'il n'est qu'un pion.
Et pourtant le bonheur n'est pas loin. On sent toute l'émotion de cet homme lorsque pour une fois dans sa vie, il va pouvoir offrir des cadeaux à ses proches.
Le regard que la société porte sur ces démunis fait froid dans le dos.
Un roman qui fait réfléchir.
March 24, 2015
Δεύτερο βιβλίο του Γκρέγκορι Μακντόναλντ που διαβάζω, μετά το καταπληκτικό Φλετς που διάβασα πέρυσι. Ενώ το Φλετς ήταν ένα ευχάριστο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, με σκερτσόζικους διαλόγους, αστείες ατάκες και σκηνές, το Γενναίος είναι ένα στενάχωρο σε σημεία μυθιστόρημα που περιγράφει μια άλλη Αμερική, αυτή των απόκληρων που ζουν στην άκρη ενός σκουπιδότοπου, σ'έναν καταυλισμό ονόματι Μόργκανταουν.
Πρωταγωνιστής της ιστορίας είναι ο 21χρονος Ραφαέλ, ο οποίος είναι παντρεμένος με τρία μικρά παιδιά, αλκοολικός, αγράμματος και άνεργος που ψάχνει να βρει μια δουλειά να ζήσει την οικογένειά του. Τελικά θα βρει μια δουλειά: Θα πρωταγωνιστήσει σε μια snuff movie όπου όσα θα τραβήξει θα είναι αληθινά... Ξέρει ποιο θα είναι το τέλος του, αλλά δέχεται τη δουλειά που θ'αποφέρει στην οικογένειά του τριάντα χιλιάδες δολάρια, που θα την κάνουν να φύγει από εκείνον τον βούρκο που ζει τώρα. Στην ιστορία μας βλέπουμε τις λίγες μέρες που περνά με την οικογένειά του και τους φίλους στην Μόργκανταουν, πριν έρθει η μέρα των γυρισμάτων της ταινίας...
Πολύ αξιόλογο βιβλίο, μικρή γροθιά στο στομάχι, που μας αποκαλύπτει και ένα σκοτεινό σημείο του Αμερικάνικου Ονείρου. Έχει μεταφερθεί και στον κινηματογράφο, το 1997, με πρωταγωνιστή τον Τζόνι Ντεπ.
Πρωταγωνιστής της ιστορίας είναι ο 21χρονος Ραφαέλ, ο οποίος είναι παντρεμένος με τρία μικρά παιδιά, αλκοολικός, αγράμματος και άνεργος που ψάχνει να βρει μια δουλειά να ζήσει την οικογένειά του. Τελικά θα βρει μια δουλειά: Θα πρωταγωνιστήσει σε μια snuff movie όπου όσα θα τραβήξει θα είναι αληθινά... Ξέρει ποιο θα είναι το τέλος του, αλλά δέχεται τη δουλειά που θ'αποφέρει στην οικογένειά του τριάντα χιλιάδες δολάρια, που θα την κάνουν να φύγει από εκείνον τον βούρκο που ζει τώρα. Στην ιστορία μας βλέπουμε τις λίγες μέρες που περνά με την οικογένειά του και τους φίλους στην Μόργκανταουν, πριν έρθει η μέρα των γυρισμάτων της ταινίας...
Πολύ αξιόλογο βιβλίο, μικρή γροθιά στο στομάχι, που μας αποκαλύπτει και ένα σκοτεινό σημείο του Αμερικάνικου Ονείρου. Έχει μεταφερθεί και στον κινηματογράφο, το 1997, με πρωταγωνιστή τον Τζόνι Ντεπ.
August 17, 2011
un traumatisme, un coup de poing dans l'estomac dont les ravages se répercutent sur l'ensemble des intestins, un mix de tous les romans de Zola, un condensé de Rougon Macquart, une lecture dont on ne ressort pas indemne, un puit de désespoir tel que même le lecteur se demande s'il pourra remonter. Une grande oeuvre, un gigantesque livre, mais je ne le relirai pas.
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