Closer: A Novel (Cooper, Dennis)

Few contemporary authors possess such zeal in examining the lives of tortured gay teenagers. Cooper is a lustful writer, a stylist virtuoso whose stories at once sicken and delight. Closer details a youthful gay boy named George Miles who is used so thoroughly by those lecherous freaks he comes across, he almost ceases to be a human being. This includes prolonged descriptions of scatophelia and worse...much much worse. Presented in clipped, adjective-light sentences, Cooper has written a vile book that makes up for its lack of heart/general human emotion, with what seems to be a never-ending stream of human misery, self-desctruction, calloused blundering, evil, evil characters. It is not what you might call family-friendly. Really this is some of the sickest "literature" available (though not as protracted as Ellis' American Psycho) though it doesn't come off as trying to shock just for shock's sake (ala Palahniuk)...most of the time. Sometimes George is forced to endure such heinous things as anal basement surgery (a man wants to saw him apart to get off...) that we flinch and sort of pull away, wondering to ourselves if "stuff like this really happens in our real world." Now as I write this I listen to birds chirping outside and the sun is bright and hot, alluring. This book is the anthesis of a sunny day. It is a catastrophic dungeon of a read, a hobbled, pitch-black, brutal little ditty (clocking in at almost novella length) that shows, from many points of view, the way a young mind can be destroyed. It is not a book for teenagers, or those with weak stomaches. Similar to the Marquis de Sade, whom I'm told Cooper drew much of his influence, it might leave you loathing humanity as a whole. At the same time, however, it is really difficult to put down (if you enjoy writers I've mentioned). You might hate yourself for liking it, but there is a kind of weight to it in the absence of hope and light. There is a kind of disparity that is difficult to comprehend, but at the same time enlightens. Like you feel after falling down a long stairwell. The blur at the bottom, in the grime, every muscle contracting, flushing sweat, the breath you draw in feels electrified. That feeling is Dennis Cooper. A mythical breath of human degradation, something near art but not quite. More like a deleriously-entertaining horror show you feel sort of guilty recommending to people.

I read the book twice before I wrote this review (which was quick to do since the novel is only 130 pages long), once to read the content, and again to see Cooper's vision. While I cannot personally identify with his facination and association with love/sex/violence/death, I cannot deny that this book is powerful. George Miles is incredibly sympathetic and complex despite lacking clarity, while those around him are so incredibly depraved and self-indulgent (to the point that they BS themselves). If you can read past the "rebellious" content, then it's for you.

Dennis Cooper is an incredible writer who dares to go places very few other authors refuse to touch. His books are shocking, grotesque but also masterfully structured, beautifully written and seem even more vital than ever in 2020. If you can stomach the extreme depictions of sexual violence you’ll find an incredible and indelible voice you’ll never forget.

It’s hard to keep the players straight (no pun intended) among this nihilistic cabal of 17-year-old queer guys. Lots of sex, much of it S&M, with no insight about why other than ennui.

Will not waste anymore money on this so called author. Made two attempts and both are trash. Could not connect with any character and stories are very shallow and one dimensional. Both are in the trash headed for landfill. Not even worth recycling.

The story was about a high school student whose ego is inflated by a teacher and some critics saying his deconstructed drawings were impressive. He found a lonely boy as a model that he could use and abuse. I just couldn't see this story going anywhere worthwhile and removed it from my Kindle. Too many good goods to read.

Fast and efficient. Item as described.

I'm a straight woman and so I'm not the target audience of this book, and yet I love it. I've read all the George Miles Cycle books. They've been my fave since my early 20's along with Peter Sotos' work, who I discovered through. In my view it's his best book. His work won't appeal to regular people gay or straight. Dennis Cooper's work always comes back to me over time. This book about drugged out serial killer gay character, will be considered to be homophobic by some, but Cooper uses homosexuality as a back drop it's not the main focus of the novel. It also wouldn't be any different with a heterosexual character. I highly recommend this book to anyone regardless of sexual preference.

ich konnte es nicht fassen, dass ich d.c. erst nach zwanzig jahren lesen und tausenden büchern entdeckt habe; er passt zu mir die faust ins gesicht (oder anderswo hin).ich weiss, er kann abschreckend sein und einiges liest sich wirklich schwer und ich finde es schwierig, "normalen leuten" reiz und mehrwert seiner literatur klar zu machen. aber gott weiss wie dringemd ich ihn als junger homosexueller gebraucht hätte. umso froher ihn jetzt noch zu entdecken, wo er noch munter und sehr aktiv ist (dringende empfehlung auch für seine filme, seinen blog, etc).glaube würde als erstes sachen wie "god,jr" empfehlen, ganz ohne perversitäten, oder sein letzes buch "i wished", was nochmal eine sehr zärtliche rückschau ist auf seine lebenslange liebe/faszination/inspiration/obsession george miles (möge er in frieden ruhen).bin nun letzten beiden monate durch 11 seiner bürger durchgefegt und mann war das ein ritt..10/10

I couldn't really get into this one. It was dressed as something supposedly out-there and subversive, but I found it a bit trite.

je ne me suis pas attaché aux personnages. Ce n'est pas un mauvais livre, mais je n'étais pas super emballé.