This isn't really my kinda book. I don't generally like books that are "snapshot of a period of time in someone's life" types of stories, which is what this one is. Also, not so enjoyable reading about torturing animals and killing children. No thanks. ( )

Boys own story with several gratuitous murders of infant siblings and relatives thrown in. The book ends with a plot reversal that defeats credulity. But I give it three stars for the real enjoyment I derived from sharing Frank's imaginative world and obsessive involvement in his craft and the attention to detail in descriptions of the things he makes and destroys before the plot derails itself in the final pages. ( )

who ever recommended this book to me is an asshole.

Well. I didn't know anything about this one going into it. I've previously read The Crow Road and one of the sci-fi Culture books. Suffice to say it's unlike those, or anything else, I've ever read.

The 5 star rating system of this website is insufficient as a measure here. ( )

While I liked Bank's Culture novels a lot back when I read them 10 years ago, this one failed to grip my attention. Who are these people that find The Wasp Factory shocking or disgusting or horrific? Cruelty to animals seems like a regular thing for some kids growing up on the country side, and lots of the stuff that happens feels generic: imbue small animal skulls with protective powers, etc. Been there, done that.

Bank's short book seems devoid of any purpose. As horror if falls short. It lacks the urgency of We Have Always Lived in the Castle - probably because it feels like Banks simply amused himself writing this, it has his mischievous boyish smirk all over it, whereas Shirley Jackson was basically writing about her own agony. The language is okay, Banks is a smooth writer, but this book simply started to feel boring & repetitive after page 30. I DNF'ed at 40%.

After I stopped, I read some spoiler reviews of this, and boy, I'm glad I stopped. Psychological depth zero, and the entire set-up of the story hinges on one ludicrous idea.

More reviews on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten It ( )