Consumed, by David Cronenberg

David Cronenberg has directed some movies that I found to be weird, memorable, and unlikeable, so I should not have been surprised that I would find his first novel, Consumed, to be weird, memorable, and unlikeable.

A French philosopher on the run, under suspicion for killing--and eating--his wife.  Their former students, whom the couple regularly invited into their bedroom.  A couple of international journalists who are covering the philosopher and the students, and who tend to get invited into their subjects' bedrooms.

Consumed is, at times, a clever, literate novel, but tries too hard on both counts.  Too clever by half, too literate by half.  When it's not clever and literate, it's tiresome.  Really tiresome.

Some subset of readers will like Consumed.  But it wasn't for me.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!