And the Ass Saw the Angel (Essential Penguin): Amazon.co.uk: Nick Cave: Books

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Product Description

'Bible-black humour...enough visitations, portents and religious lunacy to qualify as the second-greatest story ever told' - Elle 'It is as if a Faulkner novel had been crossed with Whistle Down the Wind and then narrated by a stoned blues musician' - Daily Telegraph

About the Author

Nick Cave was born in Australia in 1957. As a member of the rock band, The Bad Seeds, this, his first novel, quickly became a cult classic. He has also appeared in several films.

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

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36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound insight rising form the pit of human depravity., 28 Feb 2002

By A Customer

Knowing Cave's music well, it is perhaps not suprising that he would write a novel about imbreeds, murder, filth, religion, not to mention some of the most unusual narrative language one can find. I love this book, partly, I suppose, because it appeals to that undesirable aspect of everyone's nature that hungers for the grotesque and bestial. However, if this was all it satisfied, I would soon disregard it as gutter literature, there is a subtle and beautiful voice screaming through the vulgar exterior of the words. On the surface, it would appear that Cave is illustrating a damning perspective of Christianity - false profits, brutal extremism and insane fanatasism - but the occassional change in narration allow the reader to glimpse a faint enlightenment, made clearer through its juxtaposition with the external world of our narrator. I see it as an allegory for much of the human situation, exaggerating the dangers of blind faith but also warning against irrational rebellion. Even if you get nothing from analysis of this book (as you may see, I have great trouble articulating my thoughts), then read purely for the poetical descriptions and powerful characterisation. I assure you, you will go through at least eight contrasting emotions as you journey through it.

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An incredible book, must read but be prepared!, 5 Feb 2002

By	nat@barrichello.com (Auckland, New Zealand (British)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: And the Ass Saw the Angel (Paperback)

I read the reviews for this book whilst deciding whether to buy it or not and am certainly very glad that I took their positive advice. In short, the language used throughout the book is unbelievably descriptive and poetical (not surprising given the author) and it is worth buying this book simply to submerge yourself in the incredible flowing imagery that it conjures. Sometimes you have to sit for a while to fully grasp the imagery of one sentence. However, do not think that its poetry indicates a beautiful love story - it has a darker side too.

Some of the very real descriptions of Euchrid, a deformed, slightly mad, product of incest, mute and the incredulous happenings that befall him in his small town are graphically real. The biblical edge provided by the narrative makes it even the more sinister. I cared for Euchrid but was repulsed by him too, and from what I can gather, I am sure he would not have cared for me either. This book is a very refreshing read. The beauty of it's narrative is contradicted by the regular flashes of grotesqueness within it's content. It certainly moved me and hung in my mind for hours whenever I stopped reading.

I certainly recommend that this book be read by anyone wishing to experience a truly absorbing book from an immense talent . I had to read in every spare minute (occasionally through covered eyes) until it was finished. An incredible piece of work.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A novel of breathtaking beauty, 17 Aug 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: And the Ass Saw the Angel (Paperback)

'And The Ass Saw The Angel' proves that not only is Nick Cave's music among the most beautiful you have ever experienced his writing is world class aswell. I first heard about this book after I purchased one of Nick Cave's albums. Though I presumed it would be just another one of those books through which musicians try to make a little more money I thought that I would give it a chance. It has to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. Nick Cave's story of a mute child growing up in the deep South of America is possibly the greatest novel wriiten in the last 50 years. Disturbing yet beautiful, tragic yet heart-warming it is a tale that will rip your heart into a million pieces and atart building it all over again. The way in which Cave describes Euchrid you wouldn't be insane to think that they were the same person. The books climax is one you'll never forget. Believe me it deserves 6 stars!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
Grotesque content, beautifully crafted. Cave's language is unique in its combination of styles - echoes of Arthur Miller, Dylan Thomas and Poe. Read more

Published 25 days ago by G. D. Postle

1.0 out of 5 stars I've never met anyone who has actually read the whole of this book
Amazing that folk are writing excellent reviews when in actual fact the book is unreadable. NC may be a god like genius BUT .....

Published 2 months ago by Donna Green

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark Humor, Dark Book, Not for the Faint of Heart
Euchrid Eucrow, a mute born to an abusive mother and a father obsessed with animal torture, is an outcast in a valley of conservative religious zealots. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Katie Osborne

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark poetry
Cave's obsession with all things grotesque could have led to this book becoming a vile carnival of obscenity. Read more

Published on 9 Jan 2007 by Madly Bobbington-Blythe

2.0 out of 5 stars If He Writes Another Novel, It'll Be Great
Oh, I so hope Nick Cave continues to write, because he is a great storyteller. But he better get a better editor. Read more

Published on 30 Sep 2004 by mandolajoe2

4.0 out of 5 stars Strange and classical in a literary way
This could have been written by Faulkner, Joyce et al. It's written in an early 20th century classical litereary style that evidently displays Cave's obvious talent and... Read more

Published on 1 Jul 2003 by J. Snape

5.0 out of 5 stars beauty
...I finished the book five months ago, it took me an age to read. That though was due to my wanting to last out every page, and create a separate world in my head where the noval... Read more

Published on 3 Jun 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Beauty disfigured is beautiful
I think that Nick Cave is very beautiful and this book is about things so ugly that they are beautiful. He writes of religion and incest in insect-infested dark lands. Read more

Published on 27 April 2001 by best_dress@hotmail.com

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the true original voices in literature
It's a very rare occurance when you can actually truthfully state that a book has an original style, but this is the exception to the rule. Read more

Published on 20 Nov 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars deeper than deep
i bought this book way back in october 1999, i'm still reading it now. No, not for the third or forth time, i'm still reading on the first time. Read more

Published on 16 Jun 2000

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And the Ass Saw the Angel (Essential Penguin) (Paperback)

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