A forger must con his way out of a mental institution.
The Contortionist's Handbook
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Review
"What sticks about this remarkable debut are its pitch-perfect shock ending and John Vincent himself--his complex, conflicted mind, original voice, and unnervingly self-defeating existence."
Irvine Welsh, Guardian
'an utterly persuasive and compelling novel, combining zest and enthusiasm...with the craft and guile of a veteran.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
BUY THIS BOOK IF:
You have any interest in psychiatric or psychological matters
You like masses of detail
You like masculine, relatively unemotional biographies
You enjoy books which start in the present and then explain what happened to get to that point.
You have an interest in drug culture
You would rather be left to think at the end of the book than have all the loose ends neatly tied up. This book ends in a mess of ends.
You have any interest in psychiatric or psychological matters
You like masses of detail
You like masculine, relatively unemotional biographies
You enjoy books which start in the present and then explain what happened to get to that point.
You have an interest in drug culture
You would rather be left to think at the end of the book than have all the loose ends neatly tied up. This book ends in a mess of ends.
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK IF:
You like books which start in the present and continue along a standard time scale of chapter 1: two days later, chapter 5: next month, etc.
You like lots of emotions in your books
You cannot handle very long, very detailed sentences
You like books which 'go somewhere' and finish in a very different place to where they started.
The story of a man who constantly changes identites in order to escape from various authorities. he is actually running away from many things, including his past and a dozen authorities all over america. After his fifth overdose, psychiatrists cannot figure out whether it was a suicide attempt or not. As the psychiatrist takes 'Daniel' through the interview, 'Daniel' (or John, or Steven, or Eric, whoever he is today) takes the reader through his life story to how he got where he is.
Good page-turner.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I picked up this book to read a page or two and next thing I knew half an hour had passed me by.
It's very well written. The writer has done his homework, writes with great authority, and entertains.
I'm looking forward to his next: Dermaphoria.
It's very well written. The writer has done his homework, writes with great authority, and entertains.
I'm looking forward to his next: Dermaphoria.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Cazza
Format:Paperback
What a fantastic read! Chuck Palaniuck's recommendation caught my eye and was enough for me to snap this up! I'm glad I did! The novel follows the antics of Daniel Fletcher, a man who is constantly changing his identity. He is so good at it that he can fool anyone and everyone, even the authorities and the psychiatrist brought in to analyse him. He is a great character and Clevenger writes the part so well.
His conversations with the psychiatrist are particularly captivating as he is able to anticipate every move, every gesture and every question posed to him. Clevenger is a stickler for the smallest details and that's what makes him a great writer - I'm sure he could write about fly-fishing and I'd be equally fixated!
I loved it from start to finish. Short, but extremely sweet.
His conversations with the psychiatrist are particularly captivating as he is able to anticipate every move, every gesture and every question posed to him. Clevenger is a stickler for the smallest details and that's what makes him a great writer - I'm sure he could write about fly-fishing and I'd be equally fixated!
I loved it from start to finish. Short, but extremely sweet.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book I've read in ages
This book actually got me reading again. The prose itself is so enjoyable, you won't look back after reading a couple pages. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Arttu Ala-Jokimäki
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable
I chose this book as it was recommended alongside similar authors I appreciate - Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Hunter S Thompson, William Burroughs. Read more
Published 3 months ago by A Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Contortionist heaven.
My daughter is very pleased with the book. Now her and her friend can plan what they are planning to do together.
Published 9 months ago by Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
One of the best written books I've read in a long time. The framing of the novel is great and keeps it fresh.. Every sentence is brilliantly thought out defiantly worth a read.
Published 14 months ago by Amy92
5.0 out of 5 stars
A hell of his own making.
With recommendations from both Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh, I had high hopes for this book and thankfully I wasn't disappointed. Read more
Published 19 months ago by vi
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguing but icy cold
This is one of those books with a "hero" one really shouldn't like, but it`s impossible not to sympathise with him. Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2010 by Four Violets
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly good
This book tells the story of a man who continually changes his name, life history, location and friends, to try and erase his terrible childhood. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2010 by miss_spookiness
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really enjoyed it
This is one of those books which doesn't neatly fit into categories, is it about Psychology? Drugs? Crime? Love? All of the above? Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2009 by Marc Munier
4.0 out of 5 stars
Eloquent and enjoyable
It would be an undeserved slight to describe Clevenger's style as derivative, but his gritty narrative puts one in mind of a film noir voice-over. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2009 by Mark Hurst
1.0 out of 5 stars
Contortionism is painful
Many people seem to have loved this book, so it's got to have something to it - however, it just didn't work for me. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2008 by booksy
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