African Psycho by Alain Mabanckou - review

[BrianLindenmuth]

African Psycho is the first English translation by Alain Mabanckou. Its a first person account of Gregoire Nakobomayo, would be killer, that takes as its inspiration Brett Easton Ellison’s novel American Psycho. Where as the protagonist from Ellison’s novel is a success at his chosen vocation its interesting to note that Nakobomayo is ultimately a failure. It’s this fundamental inability to successfully commit any crime that makes him such an intriguing character. He bounces back and forth between tragedy and farce so that he ultimately gains the smallest possible measure of sympathy from the reader. Which in the end leaves us feeling slightly odd because of what we are feeling when he doesn’t kill. Read More

[BrianLindenmuth]

Good catch. I fixed it.

[Sandra Ruttan]

Brian, you've linked to Ken Bruen's Ammunition in 'read more', you big tease!