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Title: Mostly disappointing
Review: DBC Pierre is an unusually talented wordsmith, with a keen sense for unique metaphors and similes. But his ability seems not to extend beyond such small-scale exercises. The novel is meandering, tedious and riddled with plot holes and improbable twists, and lacking in the kind of anecdotic detail that gives a story depth and texture. The topic is ambitious, grandiose even, but the treatment is amateurish and uninsightful. Finally, and most annoyingly, the allegedly Texan voice is utterly fake. It is incredibly ambitious for DBC Pierre to attempt to write in a vernacular that is not his own, and he fails miserably. The use of ridiculously quaint character names and homonymes is initially cute and works well, but overuse ultimately kills it.Maybe one day we'll find out why this book won one of the most prestigious British literary prizes. Peter Finlay's ultimate scam?
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