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Carla
Green Ten Year AnniversaryInterviews with the author, contemporary fiction and travel writer, Mark Barry suggests that, 'Carla' along with 'A Shiny Coin For Carol Prentice' are his two favourite books. Both are dark and brooding, with an element of hope and optimism in the face of adversity.Unique, even now, the protagonist is a sufferer of BPD and is written from his viewpoint.The book is a dark, brooding alternative romance novel set in a prosperous middle-English town. Readers interested in crime, psychology, mental health, personality disorders and relationships between men and women will enjoy this book.A mental patient (Jonathan Dexter), with an ongoing history of violence and suffering an extreme form of Borderline Personality Disorder, is discharged into the community after three years in a private asylum. In a prosperous English town, he meets and falls in love with Carla, a beautiful, naïve young wildlife conservation student working behind the bar of an old tavern. The two develop a relationship - a good one, a warm one, one with a future, until things start to go badly wrong.There is self-harm, occasional use of bad language and climatic violence. Suitable for 16+.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Mark Barry
9 books129 followersMark Barry, author of Hollywood Shakedown, the highly acclaimed Carla and the top selling Ultra-Violence, is a writer and publisher based in Nottingham and Southwell. He writes extensively on a variety of topics including, horseracing, football, personality disorders and human relationships, but most recently, he writes about life in Nottingham and monitors closely its ever changing face.
Mark has been interviewed on several Radio chat shows where he has given readings of his work. His writing has been featured in the national press, and he has also been interviewed on television.
Mark resides in Southwell, Nottinghamshire and has one son, Matthew.
Mark has been interviewed on several Radio chat shows where he has given readings of his work. His writing has been featured in the national press, and he has also been interviewed on television.
Mark resides in Southwell, Nottinghamshire and has one son, Matthew.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 19, 2014
I started to read this book at five o'clock this afternoon, and have just finished it. I haven't done that in ages. What a brilliant piece of work.
John Dexter is an extraordinarily mentally disturbed man who has done some terrifying things (many of which are, frustratingly, only hinted at), but he's also oddly likeable. You feel sympathy for him. Yes, this is a love story but it's more like a study of the type of psychological disorders attributed to Dexter. Aside from his completely absorbing case history, the book is witty, clever, street sharp and kinda cool. I can see why it has the 'cult novel' tag. I loved it. Mark Barry, thank you from saving me after a short run of abandoned books! This was a breath of fresh air, albeit a psychotic one.
A couple of things I loved - when John, the narrator, digresses onto another subject, particularly if giving spoilers about a film or book that might interest you, he gives the exact phrase to type into the 'search' on your reading device so that if you like you can skip the digression and get back to the story. Marvellous! I actually took him up on it once, because I found myself wanting to read Norman Mailer's 'An American Dream' - and it worked! But this book is a perfect example of something I believe - never mind all the current trends in what are or are not acceptable in novel writing, when someone writes as well as Barry does they can stray from the plot all they like.
Negatives? Only one: too many uses of the phrase 'Carla and I' which should have been 'Carla and me' - hey, ignore me, it's a particular niggle of mine! I'm sure it won't bother anyone else. I've had this book on my Kindle for over a year, and am so glad I finally got round to opening it. If you've got it on yours too, please do the same!
John Dexter is an extraordinarily mentally disturbed man who has done some terrifying things (many of which are, frustratingly, only hinted at), but he's also oddly likeable. You feel sympathy for him. Yes, this is a love story but it's more like a study of the type of psychological disorders attributed to Dexter. Aside from his completely absorbing case history, the book is witty, clever, street sharp and kinda cool. I can see why it has the 'cult novel' tag. I loved it. Mark Barry, thank you from saving me after a short run of abandoned books! This was a breath of fresh air, albeit a psychotic one.
A couple of things I loved - when John, the narrator, digresses onto another subject, particularly if giving spoilers about a film or book that might interest you, he gives the exact phrase to type into the 'search' on your reading device so that if you like you can skip the digression and get back to the story. Marvellous! I actually took him up on it once, because I found myself wanting to read Norman Mailer's 'An American Dream' - and it worked! But this book is a perfect example of something I believe - never mind all the current trends in what are or are not acceptable in novel writing, when someone writes as well as Barry does they can stray from the plot all they like.
Negatives? Only one: too many uses of the phrase 'Carla and I' which should have been 'Carla and me' - hey, ignore me, it's a particular niggle of mine! I'm sure it won't bother anyone else. I've had this book on my Kindle for over a year, and am so glad I finally got round to opening it. If you've got it on yours too, please do the same!
March 31, 2015
Carla is a compulsive, unrelenting novel in which Mark Barry gives a human face to mental illness. It is the story of John Dexter, a 42 year old man with a personality disorder so extreme he is unable to live independently. Most of his adult life has been spent in prison, mental health facilities or being financially supported by his wealthy father.
However, the novel is about so much more than that and I suspect that every reader probably takes away something different after reading it. In the novel, John describes one of his fellow patients, a woman with a seriously disfigured face, and reflects how when people look into it it’s like a mirror, revealing more about them than the woman herself and I dare say the same might be said of John. For me, it’s a novel about redemption and a man being finally able to accept who he is.
Mark Barry is more than a weaver of stories; he is a master craftsman who makes brave choices not only with his subject matter but in his choice of language and the way he plays with our expectations of style and form. From the outset the tone is chatty and light, in direct contrast with John’s thoughts and feelings. Barry ensures that we connect with John, creating a dialogue between us that then challenges to distance ourselves from him as he reveals the full extent of his ‘madness’.
As John’s tale unfolds, Barry never lets us forget who is in charge as he drip feeds us John’s back story, playfully switching between narrative and exposition. We are given glimpses of John’s past with references to explosive episodes and their consequences so that, even when he tries to show restraint in difficult situations, we are primed and ready when he eventually loses it in a spectacularly dramatic fashion.
John’s disorder is one where he develops obsessive feelings towards women and we get to witness his torment in his relationship with Carla. Carla is a woman young enough to be his daughter, who evokes a protective instinct in John that proves to be his salvation. His need to protect someone becomes greater than his need for affirmation and love.
John’s relationship with Carla is not his whole story; it’s simply a slice of a life that has been defined by unhappiness and pain. It is, for John, however, a life changing period and possibly the most precious time of his life – “A life in just over ten weeks.” Regardless of the outcome of the novel (which I won’t reveal) John’s story is never going to be a happy one. Barry foreshadows the tragedy that John carries around with him by recurrent references to suicide. For example, John has spent each morning and evening since the age of 15 contemplating ways to commit suicide. For me, one of the most poignant lines in the novel comes when John asks us, “Can you imagine a life where you never wake up feeling well?”
Carla is not an easy read but it is an important one and it forces us to face the reality of mental illness. Barry takes us on a tour of the mental health system with its reliance on drugs, talk therapy and the more invasive ECT whilst tenderly offering us a glimpse of characters like Leroy, a murderer for whom there is no chance of rehabilitation. Barry gives us no answers but, by giving us John, he invites us to acknowledge that maybe, given the right set of circumstances, we are all just one step away from madness.
As John loses his heart to Carla, he cautions us to fear for her safety but, ironically it is John himself who garners our sympathy. A man who, as a little boy, was left so traumatised by his mother’s abandonment of him and his subsequent brutal experience of public school, his personality fractured in a way that he can never recover from. It is John’s self-awareness that is his saviour. It allows us to forgive him all his failings and allows him to finally accept himself for who he is.
Carla is a novel that will leave you feeling battered and bruised but ultimately in a better place for having read it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
However, the novel is about so much more than that and I suspect that every reader probably takes away something different after reading it. In the novel, John describes one of his fellow patients, a woman with a seriously disfigured face, and reflects how when people look into it it’s like a mirror, revealing more about them than the woman herself and I dare say the same might be said of John. For me, it’s a novel about redemption and a man being finally able to accept who he is.
Mark Barry is more than a weaver of stories; he is a master craftsman who makes brave choices not only with his subject matter but in his choice of language and the way he plays with our expectations of style and form. From the outset the tone is chatty and light, in direct contrast with John’s thoughts and feelings. Barry ensures that we connect with John, creating a dialogue between us that then challenges to distance ourselves from him as he reveals the full extent of his ‘madness’.
As John’s tale unfolds, Barry never lets us forget who is in charge as he drip feeds us John’s back story, playfully switching between narrative and exposition. We are given glimpses of John’s past with references to explosive episodes and their consequences so that, even when he tries to show restraint in difficult situations, we are primed and ready when he eventually loses it in a spectacularly dramatic fashion.
John’s disorder is one where he develops obsessive feelings towards women and we get to witness his torment in his relationship with Carla. Carla is a woman young enough to be his daughter, who evokes a protective instinct in John that proves to be his salvation. His need to protect someone becomes greater than his need for affirmation and love.
John’s relationship with Carla is not his whole story; it’s simply a slice of a life that has been defined by unhappiness and pain. It is, for John, however, a life changing period and possibly the most precious time of his life – “A life in just over ten weeks.” Regardless of the outcome of the novel (which I won’t reveal) John’s story is never going to be a happy one. Barry foreshadows the tragedy that John carries around with him by recurrent references to suicide. For example, John has spent each morning and evening since the age of 15 contemplating ways to commit suicide. For me, one of the most poignant lines in the novel comes when John asks us, “Can you imagine a life where you never wake up feeling well?”
Carla is not an easy read but it is an important one and it forces us to face the reality of mental illness. Barry takes us on a tour of the mental health system with its reliance on drugs, talk therapy and the more invasive ECT whilst tenderly offering us a glimpse of characters like Leroy, a murderer for whom there is no chance of rehabilitation. Barry gives us no answers but, by giving us John, he invites us to acknowledge that maybe, given the right set of circumstances, we are all just one step away from madness.
As John loses his heart to Carla, he cautions us to fear for her safety but, ironically it is John himself who garners our sympathy. A man who, as a little boy, was left so traumatised by his mother’s abandonment of him and his subsequent brutal experience of public school, his personality fractured in a way that he can never recover from. It is John’s self-awareness that is his saviour. It allows us to forgive him all his failings and allows him to finally accept himself for who he is.
Carla is a novel that will leave you feeling battered and bruised but ultimately in a better place for having read it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
November 26, 2014
A ferocious tale of mental illness told with masterful wit and brutal candor:
This is an extraordinary book, a ferocious story told with a mix of wit and gut punching candor, that offers an unflinching view of living with mental illness. Told in the first-person narrative of a 42-year-old man from a wealthy English family who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder, the reader is taken on a wild ride with the brilliant but emotionally ravaged John as he launches, yet again, in a quest to find warmth and love in the arms of a woman. In this case, the titular Carla.
Exploration of mental illness has been taken on by many an author and often quite successfully. Too Bright To Hear Too Loud To See by Juliann Garey covers the territory in a powerful tale of bipolar disorder; even James Frey's notorious A Million Little Pieces (a book I loved) dealt with the mental illness aspects of addiction. But Mark Barry's treatise not only digs deep into the particular disorder he’s exploring, but it also brings a brilliant sense of humor to the proceedings, unique when covering such a savage topic. I laughed out loud so many times you'd think I was reading a comedy, and yet this story is so alarming, so jarringly brutal, and often so deeply heartbreaking, it would seem impossible to be told with as droll a touch as it is. That element, the mix of humor and horror (not an exaggeration) is what pulls this book out of the pack. That, and Mr. Barry's utter facility with word flow and rhythm.
As we meet John, he very candidly explains his illness, gives us some background on how it’s impacted his life over his 42 years, and why he's living under the particular constraints he is. After years of therapy, drugs, and even long-term commitment, he now lives independently, though financed well by his father. His story begins when he meets the new barmaid at the local pub, 20-year-old, Carla, a sweet, guileless college student to whom he becomes increasingly more attached as they connect over social banter at the bar. As this indefinable relationship develops, John explains to the reader his history of histrionics in the specific arena of pursuing women, disarmingly blunt about how badly it tends to go, and as we watch and listen -- sometimes in panic -- he torments himself, moment-by-moment, over every smile, innocent touch, forgotten text, walk in the park, or email with its "two kisses." He's frank about his own failings and weaknesses, and for that we care about him and want him to succeed, but given the merciless depths to which he'll torment himself in service to his illness, we dread where this seemingly charming relationship is headed.
Beyond the exhilarating flow of Barry's storytelling style, which is like skiing on undulating phrases and verbal moguls, the detail with which he depicts John's responses to his mental triggers is excruciating, sometimes wincingly so. Part of what makes this story extraordinary is its fierceness in offering an honest portrayal of what a borderline personality struggles with and is driven by. Certainly I never understood the disorder to the degree I do now. Wrenching.
As the plot develops, new characters come into the fold to create more obstacles, certainly something John does not need, but it’s when Carla’s estranged father shows up that the things takes an unexpected and violent turn. The results of this are not for the faint of heart, nor do they bode well for our narrator, but we hold out hope for this man who struggles so relentlessly to get it right this time.
Powerful, painful, and intense. I look forward to reading Mark Barry’s other works; it’s rare that I so enjoy the sheer storytelling poetry of an author’s prose.
This is an extraordinary book, a ferocious story told with a mix of wit and gut punching candor, that offers an unflinching view of living with mental illness. Told in the first-person narrative of a 42-year-old man from a wealthy English family who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder, the reader is taken on a wild ride with the brilliant but emotionally ravaged John as he launches, yet again, in a quest to find warmth and love in the arms of a woman. In this case, the titular Carla.
Exploration of mental illness has been taken on by many an author and often quite successfully. Too Bright To Hear Too Loud To See by Juliann Garey covers the territory in a powerful tale of bipolar disorder; even James Frey's notorious A Million Little Pieces (a book I loved) dealt with the mental illness aspects of addiction. But Mark Barry's treatise not only digs deep into the particular disorder he’s exploring, but it also brings a brilliant sense of humor to the proceedings, unique when covering such a savage topic. I laughed out loud so many times you'd think I was reading a comedy, and yet this story is so alarming, so jarringly brutal, and often so deeply heartbreaking, it would seem impossible to be told with as droll a touch as it is. That element, the mix of humor and horror (not an exaggeration) is what pulls this book out of the pack. That, and Mr. Barry's utter facility with word flow and rhythm.
As we meet John, he very candidly explains his illness, gives us some background on how it’s impacted his life over his 42 years, and why he's living under the particular constraints he is. After years of therapy, drugs, and even long-term commitment, he now lives independently, though financed well by his father. His story begins when he meets the new barmaid at the local pub, 20-year-old, Carla, a sweet, guileless college student to whom he becomes increasingly more attached as they connect over social banter at the bar. As this indefinable relationship develops, John explains to the reader his history of histrionics in the specific arena of pursuing women, disarmingly blunt about how badly it tends to go, and as we watch and listen -- sometimes in panic -- he torments himself, moment-by-moment, over every smile, innocent touch, forgotten text, walk in the park, or email with its "two kisses." He's frank about his own failings and weaknesses, and for that we care about him and want him to succeed, but given the merciless depths to which he'll torment himself in service to his illness, we dread where this seemingly charming relationship is headed.
Beyond the exhilarating flow of Barry's storytelling style, which is like skiing on undulating phrases and verbal moguls, the detail with which he depicts John's responses to his mental triggers is excruciating, sometimes wincingly so. Part of what makes this story extraordinary is its fierceness in offering an honest portrayal of what a borderline personality struggles with and is driven by. Certainly I never understood the disorder to the degree I do now. Wrenching.
As the plot develops, new characters come into the fold to create more obstacles, certainly something John does not need, but it’s when Carla’s estranged father shows up that the things takes an unexpected and violent turn. The results of this are not for the faint of heart, nor do they bode well for our narrator, but we hold out hope for this man who struggles so relentlessly to get it right this time.
Powerful, painful, and intense. I look forward to reading Mark Barry’s other works; it’s rare that I so enjoy the sheer storytelling poetry of an author’s prose.
April 3, 2015
I found this a difficult read. Not because the writing was poor, to the contrary; it is excellent in many ways, but because I found the story both compulsive yet disturbing.
Usually, when reading a book to review I read it twice, once just to take in the story and again to discover what works for me. I try to avoid spoilers, saying only if the different components of the story, the characters, the dialogue, the setting etc., work as far as I'm concerned, and why.
But Carla is problematic for me. Mark Barry really gets into the mind of John Dexter, a middle-aged man who struggles with the knowledge of who and what he is; a man with a severe personality disorder who has lived most of his life either in mental health care or in prison. Yet who has, in a way, been cushioned from the realities of the outside world by the wealth of his father. The challenge when reading the book is that it is a monologue and everything, therefore, is seen and related through the eyes of the protagonist, who is, to say the least, an unreliable narrator. There is no room for the reader to try, or even want, to envisage the setting, the action, in any other way than how he tells us.
The tone of the dialogue is conversational, even casual as John relates the stories of his past actions, and of events he was involved in, directly to the reader, many of which are chilling and disconcerting. And this sinister foundation of his life, and his self-knowledge, is reinforced, I think, by the short terse sentences that break up the longer narrative, especially with the juxtaposition of the internal dialogue where we learn of the chaos of his emotions and thought processes; his history of recurring thoughts of suicide. There are two sentences that particularly stood out for me. “ Borderlines like me? Way too much emotion.”. Says it all!
But the strange thing is that, as the reader, I emphasised with this character even whilst being repelled by him.
The title of the book, Carla, is taken from the character with whom the protagonist is obsessed and it is this fixation on Carla, a young, pretty woman, that is the pivot around which the plot and the decline of John Dexter revolves. Yet it is with her, within this situation, that the protagonist discovers that he can relate to someone else; can empathise,can truly care. Perhaps this could have been his redemption. Perhaps …
The foreshadowing of the inevitable result is drip fed throughout the story. The denouement however, was a shock.
And it is at this point that I’ll leave it. Suffice it to say, I think Mark Barry is a good author and I would like to recommend this book.
Usually, when reading a book to review I read it twice, once just to take in the story and again to discover what works for me. I try to avoid spoilers, saying only if the different components of the story, the characters, the dialogue, the setting etc., work as far as I'm concerned, and why.
But Carla is problematic for me. Mark Barry really gets into the mind of John Dexter, a middle-aged man who struggles with the knowledge of who and what he is; a man with a severe personality disorder who has lived most of his life either in mental health care or in prison. Yet who has, in a way, been cushioned from the realities of the outside world by the wealth of his father. The challenge when reading the book is that it is a monologue and everything, therefore, is seen and related through the eyes of the protagonist, who is, to say the least, an unreliable narrator. There is no room for the reader to try, or even want, to envisage the setting, the action, in any other way than how he tells us.
The tone of the dialogue is conversational, even casual as John relates the stories of his past actions, and of events he was involved in, directly to the reader, many of which are chilling and disconcerting. And this sinister foundation of his life, and his self-knowledge, is reinforced, I think, by the short terse sentences that break up the longer narrative, especially with the juxtaposition of the internal dialogue where we learn of the chaos of his emotions and thought processes; his history of recurring thoughts of suicide. There are two sentences that particularly stood out for me. “ Borderlines like me? Way too much emotion.”. Says it all!
But the strange thing is that, as the reader, I emphasised with this character even whilst being repelled by him.
The title of the book, Carla, is taken from the character with whom the protagonist is obsessed and it is this fixation on Carla, a young, pretty woman, that is the pivot around which the plot and the decline of John Dexter revolves. Yet it is with her, within this situation, that the protagonist discovers that he can relate to someone else; can empathise,can truly care. Perhaps this could have been his redemption. Perhaps …
The foreshadowing of the inevitable result is drip fed throughout the story. The denouement however, was a shock.
And it is at this point that I’ll leave it. Suffice it to say, I think Mark Barry is a good author and I would like to recommend this book.
March 6, 2015
An extraordinary story, fascinatingly and honestly narrated by John Dexter, forty-two years old and from a wealthy background. John has a history of mental illness, or more precisely Borderline Personality Disorder, and has been in and out of psychiatric care for years. The most recent being ‘three years of intense psychotherapy’ with the associated medications, some of which were experimental. Now he’s living alone in a flat funded by his father who, rather than hands on help, prefers to throw money at John and hope for the best. And taking into account John’s mother left when he was at an impressionable age his self abandonment issues begin to seem a little more understandable.
On a visit to one of the local pubs John meets, Carla, the young barmaid and he is immediately lost. John knows the scenario well and he also knows his behaviour is illogical but is powerless to stop. During the course of the narrative he explains in detail how he’s unable to cope rationally and emotionally with his feelings and the inevitably of his doomed relationships.
With Carla, John is able to curb his more extreme inclinations, and to his surprise Carla seems to like him. They share an interest in the environment and take walks together. Their developing friendship brings unwelcome consequences by throwing other characters into the mix and showing Carla to be a more complex character than at first thought.
John’s story is a very individual one, reflective and disturbing, told with no holds barred and in great detail. The writing is brilliant. A raw journey inside the mind of the protagonist and his analysis of the disorder that’s influenced and blighted his life. The daily struggle he faces is heart breaking and described beautifully with a wry humour that charms. It’s a compelling, tragic and sometimes immensely brutal story, with an ending I was not expecting and one that will stay with me for quite some time, I think.
On a visit to one of the local pubs John meets, Carla, the young barmaid and he is immediately lost. John knows the scenario well and he also knows his behaviour is illogical but is powerless to stop. During the course of the narrative he explains in detail how he’s unable to cope rationally and emotionally with his feelings and the inevitably of his doomed relationships.
With Carla, John is able to curb his more extreme inclinations, and to his surprise Carla seems to like him. They share an interest in the environment and take walks together. Their developing friendship brings unwelcome consequences by throwing other characters into the mix and showing Carla to be a more complex character than at first thought.
John’s story is a very individual one, reflective and disturbing, told with no holds barred and in great detail. The writing is brilliant. A raw journey inside the mind of the protagonist and his analysis of the disorder that’s influenced and blighted his life. The daily struggle he faces is heart breaking and described beautifully with a wry humour that charms. It’s a compelling, tragic and sometimes immensely brutal story, with an ending I was not expecting and one that will stay with me for quite some time, I think.
January 17, 2015
John Dexter has an extensive history of mental illness, resulting in an ongoing struggle with everyday life. He finds himself attracted to Carla, a young barmaid at his local pub. Is this his chance for happiness or will the relationship implode, as so many have before?
John is a candid and compelling narrator. You’re sitting in the snug with him and he’s pouring his heart out to you over a few pints. While he shares his history of aberrant behaviour and his intense feelings for Carla, there are moments when you furtively look around the bar looking for escape and others where you daren’t interrupt even though you fancy another pint. As his story unfolds, you feel embarrassment, irritation and shock, as well as sympathy and anxiety. You know it’s unlikely, but you can’t help but want a happy ending for him.
While John may lack self-control, Mark Barry is completely in control of his words. This is sensitive, witty, sharp, hard-hitting writing - perfect for telling this damaged man’s story.
John is a candid and compelling narrator. You’re sitting in the snug with him and he’s pouring his heart out to you over a few pints. While he shares his history of aberrant behaviour and his intense feelings for Carla, there are moments when you furtively look around the bar looking for escape and others where you daren’t interrupt even though you fancy another pint. As his story unfolds, you feel embarrassment, irritation and shock, as well as sympathy and anxiety. You know it’s unlikely, but you can’t help but want a happy ending for him.
While John may lack self-control, Mark Barry is completely in control of his words. This is sensitive, witty, sharp, hard-hitting writing - perfect for telling this damaged man’s story.
December 29, 2015
This was interesting, especially if your into finding out what makes people tic. The author really gets into the psychology and mental health aspects of the narrator. Uniquely written and interesting read. I would recommend this book.
June 21, 2017
When you can write like this then you have the right to be a pushy spokesman on behalf of Indie fiction, as the author indeed is. And Carla is everything that an Indie novel should be: unpretentious, passionate, convincing, well-informed and above all, fast-paced. The story is simple. The narrator, a man incapacitated by destructive mental issues throughout his life struggles to apply advice given to him by his psychiatric mentor in order to manage and control his obsessional love of a charming, placid young woman. The back and forth time-wasting self-torture, and constant enervating doubts and suspicions, serve to demonstrate that love can be in itself crippling even to people apparently settled in a stable psychological milieu, though generally without the concomitant physical self-harm. This is neatly encapsulated in a brutally honest stream of consciousness. Curiously and ironically, in a desperate attempt to emphasise his feelings of worthlessness and perceived misunderstood well-meaning persona, the narrator sometimes comes across as narcissistic. Many will disagree with me but that is because without doubt Carla is, as numerous reviews testify, so well written that it provokes different emotional responses.
Any doubts? Only mine, and nothing that should result in a churlish loss of a star due to my personal taste. The author has stated that ‘short’ is the operative word when composing modern Indie works, and Carla definitely races towards a denouement at lightning speed. In this breathlessly rapid Twitter world of soundbites, résumés, compilations and 10-second attention spans this makes sense. Yet, even though I personally feel terrorised by time wasting, I do make an exception when it comes to literature. I am quite willing to spend weeks on Middlemarch or Moby Dick but not seconds waiting for a web page to upload, for example. And maybe because I’m not especially a film buff like the author I am not so obsessed with overblown Sergio Leone-type grand finales, especially in novels. Those are my takes on a sizzling work of Indie creative writing, too good to be labelled as ‘pulp fiction’.
Any doubts? Only mine, and nothing that should result in a churlish loss of a star due to my personal taste. The author has stated that ‘short’ is the operative word when composing modern Indie works, and Carla definitely races towards a denouement at lightning speed. In this breathlessly rapid Twitter world of soundbites, résumés, compilations and 10-second attention spans this makes sense. Yet, even though I personally feel terrorised by time wasting, I do make an exception when it comes to literature. I am quite willing to spend weeks on Middlemarch or Moby Dick but not seconds waiting for a web page to upload, for example. And maybe because I’m not especially a film buff like the author I am not so obsessed with overblown Sergio Leone-type grand finales, especially in novels. Those are my takes on a sizzling work of Indie creative writing, too good to be labelled as ‘pulp fiction’.
May 4, 2015
Recently released from a mental hospital, John Dexter moves to a quiet Peak District town where he lives a solitary life on an income his father provides. His story, both moving and human, is one that remains with me now. John suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder, which negatively affects his relationships with women, and is unable to form any kind of romantic attachment without it turning into obsession. He spends most days drinking and friendless, until he meets Carla who he instantly falls in love with.
I know what you’re thinking.
You’re thinking you’ve been here before… Is there any point in reading on?
Believe me, there is.
What I didn’t expect when I read Carla was how much I would like John. Though why wouldn’t I? He’s an intelligent man, who’s disarmingly honest about his condition. His light, conversational tone is a great foil for the story he tells us: one of tragedy, dark obsessions, personal hatred and violence. It draws you in, informing us about his condition and his attraction to Carla. He also tells us that eventually it all went ‘very, very wrong’. From the very beginning he hides nothing, disclosing everything with beguiling candour and humour. As a reader, you are prepared for the worst, holding on tightly during the entire uncomfortable journey. Yet despite the horror of all he divulges, he is extremely affable and as readers, we continue to want the best possible outcome.
Over the course of two-hundred pages we experience everything John does - his inner battle to control his urges, his knowledge that his thoughts and actions are at odds with his need to be an ordinary person, and his justifiable fears that eventually he will ruin everything during his quest to woo his love. He is a very sympathetic character. Despite his mental illness, he has the same needs and desires as anyone else; he wants to live freely and love freely, and as readers, we can appreciate and identify with this. We can also understand some of his impulses and obsessions - we all go a little mad when we are gripped by love.
Whilst reading Carla, my mind was transported to other fictional characters with whom mental illness was a major theme. In my own personal comparison, John came out favourably. He was certainly more accessible and empathetic than Salinger’s disillusioned teenager Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye. He was also more aware of his own motivations. Jed Parry in Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love, who has De Clerembault’s Syndrome, is completely delusional, and his blind persistence as he doggedly stalks his victims alienates the reader. At times I felt similar fears and frustrations when reading John’s internal monologue. However, despite this, he has many redeeming features and remains sympathetic throughout. Finally, I was reminded of Glenn Close’s character in the film Fatal Attraction. John as an obsessive is far more considered, complex and well-rounded. His thoughts are often irrational and destructive, but he is far from one-dimensional. Barry characterises his protagonist in a rich and multi-faceted way; his compulsions are not purely reactive and hysterical as demonstrated by the Alex Forrest role.
Despite the ‘very, very wrong’ outcome of John and Carla’s romance, the journey there isn’t what I expected. In writing this story, Barry poses the question: given the right circumstances, can someone with such ingrained impulses and urges evolve into a better person? The story is essentially one about self-discovery; trying to step away from a given path when everything around you is signposting disaster. John is certainly open to learning about himself, and from the point at which he meets Carla, he continually attempts to develop and improve. And as Carla responds to her admirer favourably, we see him through her eyes as well as his own. However, as readers, we are almost in a state of suspended animation, as we wait for him to be ‘found out’. Just as John himself - bloated with self-loathing - also waits.
Though I think this is a marvellous book - a deceptively easy read that broaches a range of themes on the nature of love and mental illness; asking where obsession stops and love begins - there are a few issues that meant I could only give it four out of five stars. Firstly, on rare occasions, I found the dialogue didactic and clunky - especially at one point, when John and Carla discuss environmental issues. Secondly, though John is well-developed, some of the other characters feel less authentic (Carla, particularly, seems like she’s been dropped into the novel from another century. John is such a strongly drawn character, I want to see in her what he sees.) Thirdly, though I really appreciate delving into the darkest recesses of John’s mind, his life, and experiences at the psychiatric hospital, there are times when his narrative is a little repetitive. Having said that, the descriptions are brilliantly painted, and only enhance the complexities of John’s personality and experiences. Having said that, during a concluding scene at Carla’s childhood home, the author seems to gallop through events. It was such a defining moment in the tale, I wished the author had slowed his pace. Yes, it is an action scene, but the language doesn’t hesitate on any particular image and therefore feels rushed. Finally, there is an episode in the book where John dresses up as a woman to anonymously appear at an environmental event that Carla organises. No-one realises he is a man, though as he is six foot four, this doesn’t ring true.
This is a beautifully written book, where the descriptive passages are sheer poetry, and Barry’s ability to allow us into the mind of a complexly tortured individual is genius. We see the darkness and madness of a tortured mind, but above everything, we see a human being. As individuals, we would never want someone like John to be part of our lives, yet through the course of this book, the reader becomes his friend. We can understand why his family continue to stand by and support him. We want to put an arm around him and lead him onto a different path - all the time knowing that this isn’t possible. He is a victim to himself, and nothing can save him from that - only himself.
I know what you’re thinking.
You’re thinking you’ve been here before… Is there any point in reading on?
Believe me, there is.
What I didn’t expect when I read Carla was how much I would like John. Though why wouldn’t I? He’s an intelligent man, who’s disarmingly honest about his condition. His light, conversational tone is a great foil for the story he tells us: one of tragedy, dark obsessions, personal hatred and violence. It draws you in, informing us about his condition and his attraction to Carla. He also tells us that eventually it all went ‘very, very wrong’. From the very beginning he hides nothing, disclosing everything with beguiling candour and humour. As a reader, you are prepared for the worst, holding on tightly during the entire uncomfortable journey. Yet despite the horror of all he divulges, he is extremely affable and as readers, we continue to want the best possible outcome.
Over the course of two-hundred pages we experience everything John does - his inner battle to control his urges, his knowledge that his thoughts and actions are at odds with his need to be an ordinary person, and his justifiable fears that eventually he will ruin everything during his quest to woo his love. He is a very sympathetic character. Despite his mental illness, he has the same needs and desires as anyone else; he wants to live freely and love freely, and as readers, we can appreciate and identify with this. We can also understand some of his impulses and obsessions - we all go a little mad when we are gripped by love.
Whilst reading Carla, my mind was transported to other fictional characters with whom mental illness was a major theme. In my own personal comparison, John came out favourably. He was certainly more accessible and empathetic than Salinger’s disillusioned teenager Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye. He was also more aware of his own motivations. Jed Parry in Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love, who has De Clerembault’s Syndrome, is completely delusional, and his blind persistence as he doggedly stalks his victims alienates the reader. At times I felt similar fears and frustrations when reading John’s internal monologue. However, despite this, he has many redeeming features and remains sympathetic throughout. Finally, I was reminded of Glenn Close’s character in the film Fatal Attraction. John as an obsessive is far more considered, complex and well-rounded. His thoughts are often irrational and destructive, but he is far from one-dimensional. Barry characterises his protagonist in a rich and multi-faceted way; his compulsions are not purely reactive and hysterical as demonstrated by the Alex Forrest role.
Despite the ‘very, very wrong’ outcome of John and Carla’s romance, the journey there isn’t what I expected. In writing this story, Barry poses the question: given the right circumstances, can someone with such ingrained impulses and urges evolve into a better person? The story is essentially one about self-discovery; trying to step away from a given path when everything around you is signposting disaster. John is certainly open to learning about himself, and from the point at which he meets Carla, he continually attempts to develop and improve. And as Carla responds to her admirer favourably, we see him through her eyes as well as his own. However, as readers, we are almost in a state of suspended animation, as we wait for him to be ‘found out’. Just as John himself - bloated with self-loathing - also waits.
Though I think this is a marvellous book - a deceptively easy read that broaches a range of themes on the nature of love and mental illness; asking where obsession stops and love begins - there are a few issues that meant I could only give it four out of five stars. Firstly, on rare occasions, I found the dialogue didactic and clunky - especially at one point, when John and Carla discuss environmental issues. Secondly, though John is well-developed, some of the other characters feel less authentic (Carla, particularly, seems like she’s been dropped into the novel from another century. John is such a strongly drawn character, I want to see in her what he sees.) Thirdly, though I really appreciate delving into the darkest recesses of John’s mind, his life, and experiences at the psychiatric hospital, there are times when his narrative is a little repetitive. Having said that, the descriptions are brilliantly painted, and only enhance the complexities of John’s personality and experiences. Having said that, during a concluding scene at Carla’s childhood home, the author seems to gallop through events. It was such a defining moment in the tale, I wished the author had slowed his pace. Yes, it is an action scene, but the language doesn’t hesitate on any particular image and therefore feels rushed. Finally, there is an episode in the book where John dresses up as a woman to anonymously appear at an environmental event that Carla organises. No-one realises he is a man, though as he is six foot four, this doesn’t ring true.
This is a beautifully written book, where the descriptive passages are sheer poetry, and Barry’s ability to allow us into the mind of a complexly tortured individual is genius. We see the darkness and madness of a tortured mind, but above everything, we see a human being. As individuals, we would never want someone like John to be part of our lives, yet through the course of this book, the reader becomes his friend. We can understand why his family continue to stand by and support him. We want to put an arm around him and lead him onto a different path - all the time knowing that this isn’t possible. He is a victim to himself, and nothing can save him from that - only himself.
October 9, 2017
Omg I'm still absorbing this book. Still recovering from it. Can't even decide on a proper review.
March 12, 2015
This intriguing novel tells the story of John Dexter, a man with severe mental health issues. John falls in love far too easily and far too quickly, his feelings too intense both for him and for the women who find themselves at the receiving end of his affections. John is a complex character; the glimpses we are given of his past account for his thirst for reciprocated attention and add a real depth to the novel. The first person viewpoint draws you in, and you find yourself alternately rooting for John and then feeling so frustrated by him that you want to reach into the book and shake him - all the while knowing that it isn’t his fault and that he can’t help himself.
John has Borderline Personality Disorder - a disorder that causes sufferers to have difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships, with an extremely heightened fear of abandonment. This aspect was handled very sensitively but realistically. John is well aware of his issues, but this self-awareness doesn’t mean he has control, and part of the skill of the writing is that it conveys so well John’s own frustration at his inability to change how he knows things will end, while putting the reader through those same frustrations. His pursuit of young student and barmaid Carla is alternately touching and terrifying.
The narrative is, on the whole, believable and compelling and Mark Barry can definitely write and write well. However, there were a couple of issues with the book that prevented me from loving it.
It might sound pedantic to some, but the author consistently capitalises the ‘he’ or ‘she’ following a closing speech mark after question marks and exclamation marks as in:
“Who?” She replied.
“Can you have a look at those stats for me?” She asked optimistically.
Trivial? Possibly, but for me this became distracting, detracting from the text and spoiling my enjoyment of the novel. For me at least, attention to detail is vital.
I also felt that a couple of scenes weren’t realistic - I won’t go into too much detail for fear of spoiling the plot, but I didn’t really understand John dressing as a woman for the open day. I can understand that his disorder might have driven him to do this, but would he really have got away with it? I also felt the final scenes at Carla’s house were rushed and could have used more detail.
Does this mean the book is bad? No, on the contrary, this is a very good book. Does this prevent me from recommending it? Not at all, I absolutely recommend it. But these things are enough to prevent me giving ‘Carla’ five stars, which is a shame.
John has Borderline Personality Disorder - a disorder that causes sufferers to have difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships, with an extremely heightened fear of abandonment. This aspect was handled very sensitively but realistically. John is well aware of his issues, but this self-awareness doesn’t mean he has control, and part of the skill of the writing is that it conveys so well John’s own frustration at his inability to change how he knows things will end, while putting the reader through those same frustrations. His pursuit of young student and barmaid Carla is alternately touching and terrifying.
The narrative is, on the whole, believable and compelling and Mark Barry can definitely write and write well. However, there were a couple of issues with the book that prevented me from loving it.
It might sound pedantic to some, but the author consistently capitalises the ‘he’ or ‘she’ following a closing speech mark after question marks and exclamation marks as in:
“Who?” She replied.
“Can you have a look at those stats for me?” She asked optimistically.
Trivial? Possibly, but for me this became distracting, detracting from the text and spoiling my enjoyment of the novel. For me at least, attention to detail is vital.
I also felt that a couple of scenes weren’t realistic - I won’t go into too much detail for fear of spoiling the plot, but I didn’t really understand John dressing as a woman for the open day. I can understand that his disorder might have driven him to do this, but would he really have got away with it? I also felt the final scenes at Carla’s house were rushed and could have used more detail.
Does this mean the book is bad? No, on the contrary, this is a very good book. Does this prevent me from recommending it? Not at all, I absolutely recommend it. But these things are enough to prevent me giving ‘Carla’ five stars, which is a shame.
June 12, 2014
Gripping chilling and utterly compulsive
Assuming you’re a reasonably well balanced person, have you ever wondered what it’s like to be clinically insane? Not barking raving mad so that everyone knows it, but quietly deranged, nursing ghastly obsessions, at times unable to think rationally? Mark Barry’s book is probably the closest you are ever going to get to understanding the mindset of such a madman.
Yet John Dexter, the first person narrative’s protagonist, is somehow likeable, you care what happens to him. Underneath his crazy obsessiveness he seems a nice guy: indeed he is a nice guy, he never aims to harm anyone. Clever, well educated and from a rich middle class family, poor Dexter almost had it all, except that the one ingredient, normality, was missing in his mind.
The story begins with his passionate feelings of love for Carla, a 19-year-old student, 21 years his junior. It continues with the ramifications of this, step-by-step paces into the unknown, made more momentous because Carla, to John’s amazement, appears to reciprocate his feelings. I won’t go into details because it would spoil the book, and this is a book you want to take at your own pace, to enjoy as the tale unfolds. It’s bizarrely a story about a man who knows that his thinking and behaviour is skewed, he can observe himself as if he’s someone else.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ending – again I won’t reveal it as it would spoil your enjoyment. I enjoyed getting to know poor old John Dexter. And I ended up wondering just how many John Dexters there are in the world, silently suffering, struggling to surmount their problems, yet to the outsider, apparently as normal as anyone else?
Just like the best books, this is a totally original idea and it leaves you thinking, what if?
It’s a tale that you don’t often come across, in some ways it’s unnerving, in that it gets inside the mind of the person who’s telling the story in a very unique way. And it’s utterly memorable. If you read this book you won’t forget it. Ever.
Assuming you’re a reasonably well balanced person, have you ever wondered what it’s like to be clinically insane? Not barking raving mad so that everyone knows it, but quietly deranged, nursing ghastly obsessions, at times unable to think rationally? Mark Barry’s book is probably the closest you are ever going to get to understanding the mindset of such a madman.
Yet John Dexter, the first person narrative’s protagonist, is somehow likeable, you care what happens to him. Underneath his crazy obsessiveness he seems a nice guy: indeed he is a nice guy, he never aims to harm anyone. Clever, well educated and from a rich middle class family, poor Dexter almost had it all, except that the one ingredient, normality, was missing in his mind.
The story begins with his passionate feelings of love for Carla, a 19-year-old student, 21 years his junior. It continues with the ramifications of this, step-by-step paces into the unknown, made more momentous because Carla, to John’s amazement, appears to reciprocate his feelings. I won’t go into details because it would spoil the book, and this is a book you want to take at your own pace, to enjoy as the tale unfolds. It’s bizarrely a story about a man who knows that his thinking and behaviour is skewed, he can observe himself as if he’s someone else.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ending – again I won’t reveal it as it would spoil your enjoyment. I enjoyed getting to know poor old John Dexter. And I ended up wondering just how many John Dexters there are in the world, silently suffering, struggling to surmount their problems, yet to the outsider, apparently as normal as anyone else?
Just like the best books, this is a totally original idea and it leaves you thinking, what if?
It’s a tale that you don’t often come across, in some ways it’s unnerving, in that it gets inside the mind of the person who’s telling the story in a very unique way. And it’s utterly memorable. If you read this book you won’t forget it. Ever.
October 6, 2014
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
John Dexter has Borderline Personality Disorder, quite a special case indeed, and he's recently become infatuated with Carla, a young woman working at a local pub. Well, "infatuated" is too light a word; he's fallen head-over-heels in love with her, and upon first sight, no less. See, that's one of his main issues: he falls hard and fast, and when the inevitable happens, he just doesn't have the emotional capabilities to cope. So, this is just going to be another in a string of intense failings, right? Or will his many years of therapy actually come through for him this time?
Coming from a Psychology background, this book really hits the nail on the head. I was greatly appreciative that the author took the time to outline the different requirements for a diagnosis of BPD and how John fits within each one. It's an interesting read from a fictional perspective, and it has its ups and definitely its downs, but the psychological aspect is spot-on, as well. The ways John chooses to cope with his failings, emotional downfalls, etc, are accurately depicted, from self-harm to drinking himself to oblivion, and while it's not something that everyone can identify with, it's made all the more easier to understand through the author's use of explanatory exposition and narration from John himself, discussing his diagnosis with the reader.
This is the first book I've read of this author, and I plan to add him to my list of those to seek out in the future.
5 stars
John Dexter has Borderline Personality Disorder, quite a special case indeed, and he's recently become infatuated with Carla, a young woman working at a local pub. Well, "infatuated" is too light a word; he's fallen head-over-heels in love with her, and upon first sight, no less. See, that's one of his main issues: he falls hard and fast, and when the inevitable happens, he just doesn't have the emotional capabilities to cope. So, this is just going to be another in a string of intense failings, right? Or will his many years of therapy actually come through for him this time?
Coming from a Psychology background, this book really hits the nail on the head. I was greatly appreciative that the author took the time to outline the different requirements for a diagnosis of BPD and how John fits within each one. It's an interesting read from a fictional perspective, and it has its ups and definitely its downs, but the psychological aspect is spot-on, as well. The ways John chooses to cope with his failings, emotional downfalls, etc, are accurately depicted, from self-harm to drinking himself to oblivion, and while it's not something that everyone can identify with, it's made all the more easier to understand through the author's use of explanatory exposition and narration from John himself, discussing his diagnosis with the reader.
This is the first book I've read of this author, and I plan to add him to my list of those to seek out in the future.
5 stars
February 6, 2015
I have just come up for air after reading the last page of Carla. John Dexter really does has problems and this is a reassuring read. After all, you and I would never go to those lengths and act on those impulses…would we? Love can do strange things indeed; how far would you go?
John’s story is a difficult one to read at times. After several sessions in a psychiatric hospital and with a father who just wants to help…by paying someone else to help John..John is back in the real world. This novel is very original and it really is like sitting down beside a stranger and hearing their story – hearing their thoughts out loud and watching them bring those thoughts to colourful life whilst you silently plead with them not to. For all that John is a likable character and I felt for him. He has a desperate need to react the way he has been told is acceptable but his emotional make up is such that he falls over the precipice and he falls hard, coping the only way he knows how. This is a love story but a dark one, made up of presumption and an all encompassing obsession with details. This book is really rather good and the ending made me like John even more but I can’t tell you why without spoilers so you will just have to read it yourself and find out!
John’s story is a difficult one to read at times. After several sessions in a psychiatric hospital and with a father who just wants to help…by paying someone else to help John..John is back in the real world. This novel is very original and it really is like sitting down beside a stranger and hearing their story – hearing their thoughts out loud and watching them bring those thoughts to colourful life whilst you silently plead with them not to. For all that John is a likable character and I felt for him. He has a desperate need to react the way he has been told is acceptable but his emotional make up is such that he falls over the precipice and he falls hard, coping the only way he knows how. This is a love story but a dark one, made up of presumption and an all encompassing obsession with details. This book is really rather good and the ending made me like John even more but I can’t tell you why without spoilers so you will just have to read it yourself and find out!
March 5, 2013
I bought this book as a gift in paperback from the Indielit catalogue for my partner for Christmas and, as he enjoyed it, I decided to read it myself.
Told in the first person in a clinical, factual style, within a few pages I wanted to discover more about Jonathan Dexter and how his mind worked. Mark Barry's storytelling draws the reader into Dexter's world, a place most of us can't imagine and yet, it's beautifully described and crafted so we can empathise with this character. Dexter's path is a dark one and his all consuming love for Carla is extreme and yet the story is believable and touching as we watch an intelligent human being battle with his demons, desperately trying to shield from harm the person he most loves and cares about.
One moment I was scared for Dexter and the next for Carla as the story unfolded, weaving through the complexities of human behaviour towards Dexter's fate.
If you're looking for a book about real love, human relationships and the workings of the human psyche, read this one! It gets my 5* rating as I would recommend it and will definitely read it again.
Told in the first person in a clinical, factual style, within a few pages I wanted to discover more about Jonathan Dexter and how his mind worked. Mark Barry's storytelling draws the reader into Dexter's world, a place most of us can't imagine and yet, it's beautifully described and crafted so we can empathise with this character. Dexter's path is a dark one and his all consuming love for Carla is extreme and yet the story is believable and touching as we watch an intelligent human being battle with his demons, desperately trying to shield from harm the person he most loves and cares about.
One moment I was scared for Dexter and the next for Carla as the story unfolded, weaving through the complexities of human behaviour towards Dexter's fate.
If you're looking for a book about real love, human relationships and the workings of the human psyche, read this one! It gets my 5* rating as I would recommend it and will definitely read it again.
June 22, 2014
This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. The mark of great storytelling for me is whether or not I can leave the characters whilst I’m reading and my emotions after I’ve finished the book. If I say that I read this in less than a day and I didn’t want it to end you get the picture. I rooted for John, I loved Carla, it made me cry and I was left feeling bereft (this is always a good thing!). The characters were wonderfully drawn and the detail of the darker aspects of John and his history so knowledgeable and assured I trusted Barry completely. Truly brilliant writing in a style I love and I shall definitely be reading more from this author.
October 9, 2012
Carla is the story of a perceived mentally-ill person, John Dexter, who shares his story truthfully about his psychiatric illnesses, hospitalizations, and his obsessive love for a woman half his age. He speaks to the reader, as if writing a blog, sharing painful memories with acceptance, his writings cathartic, purging his fear. The story held my interest to the very last page and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.
June 19, 2013
This first person account is incredibly personal and detailed. From the first page I was hooked. A psychological, dare I say "thriller", that made me laugh, made me cringe and made me cry. This is a book that I will read more than once. So much to take in with only one reading. Very descriptive. I could see the people and places in my mind's eye. Mark Berry has now become one of my favorite writers.
March 15, 2015
Completely different from most reads
You really get into the mind of the clinically insane
The ending is absolutely gripping
You really get into the mind of the clinically insane
The ending is absolutely gripping
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