Under the Skin, Michel faber- READ THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY TODAY (Under the Skin - Michel Faber)

Member Name: felixklee

Product:	Under the Skin - Michel Faber
Date:	10/07/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The book inspires you and can change the way you think

Disadvantages: The story ends eventually

Under the Skin (novel)
Michel Faber
2000
Publishers- Canongate books ltd.
RRP £7.99 (Cheaper on Amazon, don't destroy the business of small independent book shops though)

Well what can I say, this book is mesmerising and a one off. Michel Faber is a young gifted writer. Under the Skin is a dark book, which touches on political themes around big business, intensive farming, and environmental decay. Personally I feel blessed to have read the book as it has hugely influenced me in my own writing.

The story itself is set in North Scotland, the main character is a 'female' called Isserly who spends her days searching the roads in her car for muscular well tone male hitch hikers. But why? As the novel unfolds and the reason becomes more and more clear, the reader is pushed into a completely unexpected and increasingly terrifying world.

Michel Faber has wonderful mind, wit and ability to transform your opinions on the smallest things. The book lasts for 296 pages and when I say lasts I really mean it lasts never disappointing the reader and constantly giving you enough to leave you tantalised but never enough to ruin the suspense and joy.

'Isserley took a deep breath, tried to get her heart rate down. She couldn't take him now, obviously; she had lost her chance. Whether or not he was married with children had become irrelevant in an instant; on balance she would rather not find out.'

The story is constantly unfolding throughout and as a reader I never wanted to put it down, only maybe to eat but then still found it hard to eat without having the pages neatly nested under my chin. I really want to re iterate the importance of this book, if I was teaching English at secondary school, university or higher I would get my pupils to read this book. It slaps anything Jane Austen or J.K Rowling have written in half but sadly like most great books do not get the recognition they truly deserve. The book has remnants of Animal farm and yes we might have the modern George Orwell, wouldn't that be fantastic.

Heres an after thought, the book is so good they are creating a film on the book to be released in 2010 but sadly Brad Pitt has been confirmed to star in it. so lets hope he doesn't ruin it. I feel people might appreciate it more when the film is released but remember today you have a chance to read this book and if you don't I feel its the day wasted. Thank you.

The book was short-listed for the Whitbread Award but for some reason mystifying to me it sadly didn't win, possibly because of the idiocy on the judging side.

The Independent on Sunday called it
'strange, adept, original....would that more first novels were as adventurous or as funky and daring in their conception.'

The daily Telegraph called it
' Teases and prods the reader up a plethora of literary blind alleys before hauling them screaming towards its final, thrilling destination.

Summary: IF you don't read this book in your lifetime you have wasted your life.