The Carnivorous Lamb (Little Sister's Classics)
by Agustin Gomez-Arcos
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Book Summary Information
Author: Agustin Gomez-ArcosIntroduction: Sharon G. Feldman
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-12-01
ISBN: 1551522306
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
Book Reviews of The Carnivorous Lamb (Little Sister's Classics)
Book Review: Beautiful language describes creepy incestuous brothers in an either romantic or scary (but ultimately frustrating) allegory
Summary: 2 Stars
The NYC LGBT Center book group discussed this book in January 2010. It came with high recommendations. We had a good sized group turn out to discuss it, but...
Wow. A couple of readers liked this book and found the writing to be - although tough at first - ultimately seductive and enthralling. A couple of readers found it all very creepy and disturbing - one reader found it so off-putting that he couldn't finish it. The story takes place in Spain under the Fascist rule of Franciso Franco. Crazy narcissistic Mom (who's a good Catholic) and formerly powerful communist Dad (who really doesn't appear in the novel, having been banished to his office) have two very handsome sons who have orgasmic sex with each other a lot. They're separated and then they get together again (after Mom and Dad are both dead) to live happily ever after. The maid, who presents some of the material - including the wedding of the two brothers at the end of the novel - is the most sane and normal and sympathetic character presented.
The (new) introduction to this book says that it's an allegory. I believe that the point is that Spain (represented by Catholic mom and Communist dad) has become so corrupt and crazy under Franco that anything that it produces is weird and incomprehensible (like the creepy younger brother, who keeps his eyes closed for 16 days after birth). Personally, I was pulled into the story over and over again by the flowery language and beautiful imagery, but then disturbed by the weird incest. Everyone agreed that many of the scenes are completely over the top, as imagined by a wild drag queen, sometimes in a good funny way, but usually in a horrifying overly theatrical way. Knowing a little about Franco and Spain helps a little too, unless you ignore the allegory and just read it for the language. Maybe it's romantic and beautiful, or intentionally hair-raising and scary. I'm not sure. Maybe it's both, and that's the point.
I give it two stars for the language and to represent those readers who liked the book. It seems like too much of a cult item to be of interest for book groups or general readers.
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