Review of The Brain Drips Yellow
Posted: 27 Mar 2024, 05:26
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Brain Drips Yellow" by Burn Moor.]
Burn Moor's "The Brain Drips Yellow" blends absurdist fiction and psychological realism, tinged with elements of horror, plunging readers into the tumultuous inner world of Bill Butler's existential crisis. Despite outward signs of success, including a model family, a lavish home, a luxury car, a high-ranking executive role at Willis Corporation, and a recent family vacation to a top-tier resort, Bill feels like a puppet, lacking passion and identity. He grapples with degrading demands from his boss, while his marriage hangs by a thread, sustained more by stability than genuine love. Even his relationship with his daughter is shrouded in uncertainty.
Bill's artistic teenage daughter, Katharine, believes that yellow symbolizes sickness and reflects the darkest depths of a troubled mind on the verge of collapse.
Through narrative techniques such as inner monologues, flashbacks, and streams of consciousness, the story delves into Bill's psyche, where his fragile mind swells until reality blurs. He grapples with the crushing realization that his life lacks meaning. His mind becomes a whirlwind of confusion as he encounters hallucinations and surreal figures like the demon in a dream-like state, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Reflecting on his childhood experiences, Bill wrestles with feelings of inadequacy and shame, haunted by memories of being singled out and ridiculed.
The narrative oscillates between Bill's internal struggles, surreal encounters, and real-life relationships.
Moor's debut novel is the best book I've read this year. The characters are depicted in a highly relatable manner, and their relationships with Bill are portrayed realistically. This book evokes a rollercoaster of emotions—I began by viewing Bill as pathetic, then felt anger towards him, and ultimately experienced a profound sense of sympathy and empathy, particularly when he visits his unpleasant father on his birthday.
The novel is intricately crafted, from the hypnotic speech of Father Presto, a magician turned man of the cloth, to the bustling conversations at Betty’s Beauty Salon, which are filled with gossip and occasional philosophical musings. The depiction of the company where Bill works, along with the nature of its business, serves as a testament to the author's creative prowess. Each scene, from his mystique encounter with Mother Rasta to the interactions with his friend Mark, and his intimate moments with his wife, is expertly crafted.
The book appears to be well-edited, as I only noticed a few minor mistakes while reading, which do not detract from my overall assessment. There is nothing I dislike about this book. I wholeheartedly give it 5 out of 5 stars.
"The Brain Drips Yellow" echoes the narrative styles of literary titans like Franz Kafka and Haruki Murakami, exploring existentialism, surrealism, and the intricate complexities of human consciousness. Fans of these authors would find it a compelling read.
******
The Brain Drips Yellow
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Burn Moor's "The Brain Drips Yellow" blends absurdist fiction and psychological realism, tinged with elements of horror, plunging readers into the tumultuous inner world of Bill Butler's existential crisis. Despite outward signs of success, including a model family, a lavish home, a luxury car, a high-ranking executive role at Willis Corporation, and a recent family vacation to a top-tier resort, Bill feels like a puppet, lacking passion and identity. He grapples with degrading demands from his boss, while his marriage hangs by a thread, sustained more by stability than genuine love. Even his relationship with his daughter is shrouded in uncertainty.
Bill's artistic teenage daughter, Katharine, believes that yellow symbolizes sickness and reflects the darkest depths of a troubled mind on the verge of collapse.
Through narrative techniques such as inner monologues, flashbacks, and streams of consciousness, the story delves into Bill's psyche, where his fragile mind swells until reality blurs. He grapples with the crushing realization that his life lacks meaning. His mind becomes a whirlwind of confusion as he encounters hallucinations and surreal figures like the demon in a dream-like state, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Reflecting on his childhood experiences, Bill wrestles with feelings of inadequacy and shame, haunted by memories of being singled out and ridiculed.
The narrative oscillates between Bill's internal struggles, surreal encounters, and real-life relationships.
Moor's debut novel is the best book I've read this year. The characters are depicted in a highly relatable manner, and their relationships with Bill are portrayed realistically. This book evokes a rollercoaster of emotions—I began by viewing Bill as pathetic, then felt anger towards him, and ultimately experienced a profound sense of sympathy and empathy, particularly when he visits his unpleasant father on his birthday.
The novel is intricately crafted, from the hypnotic speech of Father Presto, a magician turned man of the cloth, to the bustling conversations at Betty’s Beauty Salon, which are filled with gossip and occasional philosophical musings. The depiction of the company where Bill works, along with the nature of its business, serves as a testament to the author's creative prowess. Each scene, from his mystique encounter with Mother Rasta to the interactions with his friend Mark, and his intimate moments with his wife, is expertly crafted.
The book appears to be well-edited, as I only noticed a few minor mistakes while reading, which do not detract from my overall assessment. There is nothing I dislike about this book. I wholeheartedly give it 5 out of 5 stars.
"The Brain Drips Yellow" echoes the narrative styles of literary titans like Franz Kafka and Haruki Murakami, exploring existentialism, surrealism, and the intricate complexities of human consciousness. Fans of these authors would find it a compelling read.
******
The Brain Drips Yellow
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon