I was forewarned by a friend that there might be some “shocking” and potentially disgusting, morally questionable content in Warren Ellis’ first novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN. Okay – sure it was a little “out” there but it was necessary to complete the picture Ellis was trying to paint. I recommend this book to any one who enjoys wonderful descriptive prose, great character banters, and highly-amusing self-talk, internal dialogue and narration. It’s a short read so take a chance.
For those a bit squeamish and majorly concerned about other people’s reaction, read it in a private location. I read this book on the plane and I felt awful (okay, just a little bit) for the woman sitting next to me. She made a highly-audible gasp when she peeked at the book and read about a pumping party gone awry when one transgender man accidentally injected caulking to her friend’s buttocks. That’s what happens when nosy strangers get too curious about their seat neighbors. I felt just a tad guilty (I really didn’t mean to make her uncomfortable), a bit amused (hope that taught her a lesson), and highly grateful (because it was the safest thing she could have read from the book) all at the same time. However, the book was so great that my neighbor’s transgression couldn’t even distract me long enough to consider actually putting it down. It was all worth it.
