Rating: 
Summary: English Anti-Psycho
Review: "Being Dead" is a remarkable novel by a remarkable author. Jim Crace turned pulp-fictionism upside down and proved that it is possible to be disillusioned about humanity and the wonders of the human mind without becoming a mere cynic. When Bret Easton Ellis wrote "American Psycho" he created a genre, but he also indicated the direction into which this genre would commercially drift away and lose its strength. Concentrating on Patrick Bateman - the cold, cynic killer - he made the genre attractive for voyeurists. Jim Crace does something different. He tells the story of Joseph and Celine, a couple of middle-aged zoologists, who are cruelly killed on a sunny afternoon at Baritone Bay. The killer, however, disappears from the stage as soon as he has fulfilled his basic and rudimentary task of slaughtering the couple. From then on Craze remains with the dead and their daughter. His writing is the work of an analyst: carrying out a post-mortem. He finds lots of things that are ridiculous about humans, and the "wonder of life" leaves hardly any space for deifying humanity. But dignity remains. And it posts a powerful stop to the final attempt at simply equating wounds and death and the frailty of life with vulnerability.
Rating: 
Summary: Dark, gruesome, but great!
Review: When is a love story not a love story? When two lovers are found dead in the dunes. Jim Crace's Being Dead is a magnificent tale told in an unconventional way. Instead of telling the story of Joseph and Felice starting with how they met, got married, had kids, grew old and so on, Crace starts with their demise. From there, the narrative develops in many different directions. Most disturbingly, perhaps, is how their bodies decay on the beach after their murder. He also tells the story of how they met years earlier, not far from where there bodies lie. Another story works backwards, very slowly, on the day they met their demise. And finally, there is the story of their daughter, as she slowly discovers what has happened to her parents. These four intertwined narratives reveal much about Joseph and Felice, perhaps more than would the traditional "love story." Being Dead is inventive, creative, and a pleasure to read, but it is definitely not for the faint of heart. The description of the bodies' decay is very graphic and some would find it disturbing. The gruesome scenes are not gratuitous and I found the descriptions to be so well done, so elegantly crafted, that they're almost a pleasure to read. If you think you have the stomach for some rough descriptions, I highly recommend this novel.
Rating:
Summary: NearPerfect,& VeryUnique!
Review: Mr. Crace is one of those outstanding, underrated authors whose every book is totally different than any other! This may be his most haunting, and thought provoking of all! At times gruesome,at times mesmorizing and beautiful, it is one that you'll read non-stop, and it will linger too! Life and death are the themes of this book, and it is hard to imagine a better short novel exploring these two eternal themes.
Rating: 
Summary: Imaginitive Description!
Review: The author certainly puts thought into his words. I was amazed. This book was on a recommended list by Michael Cunningham (author of THE HOURS). I certainly see what Cunningham saw in this exquisitely original piece that did win the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. I'm only giving it three stars because the subject matter (a murder and the aftermath description of the decaying bodies) is disturbing. It made me think twice when the author wrote:
'Life is. It goes. It does not count. That was the hurtling truth that comes to rattle everyone as they grow up, grow old.'
I almost resented that line--because in my view...Life does matter and does count...by giving, sharing and touching...we pass on wonderful things to future lives. I did LOVE when the author wrote 'Love songs transcend, transport...' It's too bad a compilation CD didn't accompany the book. I'd love to hear the tunes that the author would select. Enjoy--if you so choose.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Book Ever Written
Review: This book is by far the most important piece of modern literature attainable today.The folks that have written poor reviews obviously need their art spoon-fed to them. Perhaps they should be reading and reviewing the latest Harry Potter installment, and leave the important books to intelligent readers. The Guru has spoken...wormtownreview dot com
Rating: 
Summary: COULDN'T STAND IT.
Review: UGH. I didn't think I would ever say this, but before 1/3 of
the book was done I longed for something with more refined
sensibilities. By the time 2/3 of the book was done, so was I.
It is obvious that Crace is a good writer. Unfortunately, his
topic stinks - as it were.
Rating:
Summary: Descriptive and empathetic life and death journey..
Review: Joseph and Celice spend their last moments of life together on a remote beach, the emotions of their thirty year marriage all there with them. Some anger, some regret, some frustration, and love. Just after they make love like teenagers in the sand, they are brutally murdered, and as their bodies decompose together in death, their lives are reflected upon in this wonderful tale of an ordinary couple and their ordinary love for each other.
Mr. Crace's description of Joseph and Celice's decomposition is realistic and wonderfully disgusting in its detail, yet he brings this same absorbing prose into his descriptions of their lives together, their individual feelings, the passing of time during their marriage, and the passing of time in reflection after their death. Great book!
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