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BOOK REVIEW: Confessions of a Crap Artist

I picked this book as an experimental form of reading. Philip K. Dick, who is famous for his science fiction works including Minority Report, Blade Runner, Total Recall, Paycheck, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and many more, became my prey. So I picked one of his famous novel Confessions of a Crap Artist which is not a science fiction. My experimentation problem involved to read an author who written books in different genre, and I must say, though I was satisfied when the book got over, but it was not a pleasure to read this particular book.

Confessions of a Crap Artist is one of Philip K. Dick’s weirdest and most accomplished novels but I did not find it accomplished. Jack Isidore, the main protagonist, is a ‘crap artist’ a collector of crackpot ideas (among other things, he believes that the earth is hollow and that sunlight has weight) and worthless objects, a man so grossly unequipped for real life that his sister and brother-in-law feel compelled to rescue him from it. moreBut seen through Jack’s murderously innocent gaze, Charlie and Juddy Hume prove to be just as sealed off from reality, in thrall to obsessions that are slightly more acceptable than Jack’s, but a great deal uglier.

The book starts with a great beginning, the number of characters are limited, and the plot mainly revolves around the life of Hume’s and Jack Isidore, contradicting each other in few ways. As aforesaid, Jack Isidore is considered a dumb, illogical person by his peers but situation turns around and from the Jack Isidore’s eyes a reader can easily see the peers whether in crisis or not share the same level of mentality in some way or the other and are equally dumb and illogical as Jack and they themselves deserve the title of crap artist.

The novel flows with a beauty. But halfway through, it becomes unbearable and it seems like Philip K. Dick diffuse a bomb, to diffuse the beauty of the book. It also feels like Dick is a bit out of his element here. I am glad I am done with it.

2.5 out of 5!

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Karen says: May 10, 2014 at 11:44 PM Good review, Aman. This book seems like an experiment gone wrong. Many authors can write in different genres and are pretty convincing. Experimenting with our own abilities to write convincingly is something every author should try. If the author tries a third genre - it might actually be quite good. I am grateful that this is not a book for my TBR list. ;-)
Stuff Jeff Reads says: May 10, 2014 at 11:51 PM Thanks for your review. I need to read more Philip Dick. So far, have only read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" Cheers!
zareenn3 says: May 10, 2014 at 11:54 PM Hey thanks for liking my blog! I think you'll be very pleased to know tha your like is the 100th like I got on my blog :) Hmmm seems like an interesting book but if it's kind of a drag I don't want to read it. Thanks again for the like!
GJ Scobie says: May 11, 2014 at 12:31 AM What a weird coincidence though I don't believe in them :-) I just finished reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep last night and then clicked on your blog the now. Look forward to reading what you post.

Good review, Aman. This book seems like an experiment gone wrong. Many authors can write in different genres and are pretty convincing. Experimenting with our own abilities to write convincingly is something every author should try. If the author tries a third genre - it might actually be quite good.
I am grateful that this is not a book for my TBR list. ;-)

Thanks for your review. I need to read more Philip Dick. So far, have only read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" Cheers!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: May 10, 2014 at 11:55 PM This was my third P. K. Dick's book. I was fascinated by his writing when I read Minority Report. I still have to read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, it's there on my TBR for a long time now :)

This was my third P. K. Dick's book. I was fascinated by his writing when I read Minority Report.
I still have to read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, it's there on my TBR for a long time now :)

Hey thanks for liking my blog! I think you'll be very pleased to know tha your like is the 100th like I got on my blog :)
Hmmm seems like an interesting book but if it's kind of a drag I don't want to read it.
Thanks again for the like!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: May 11, 2014 at 12:02 AM You're most welcome and thanks a lot for visiting by my blog. I find your blog quite elegant so count me as a regular visitor. :) Yeah, it's kind of drag in the end, so I won't recommend you.

You're most welcome and thanks a lot for visiting by my blog. I find your blog quite elegant so count me as a regular visitor. :)
Yeah, it's kind of drag in the end, so I won't recommend you.

zareenn3 says: May 11, 2014 at 12:04 AM Ah you're so kind! Looking forward to more reviews!

Ah you're so kind! Looking forward to more reviews!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: May 11, 2014 at 12:06 AM Thanks, and you're welcome anytime here :D

Thanks, and you're welcome anytime here :D

zareenn3 says: May 11, 2014 at 12:10 AM Your welcome and you WILL see me here a lot!
Aman(@amanhimself) says: May 11, 2014 at 12:13 AM :)

Your welcome and you WILL see me here a lot!

What a weird coincidence though I don't believe in them :-) I just finished reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep last night and then clicked on your blog the now. Look forward to reading what you post.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: May 11, 2014 at 12:32 AM Haha, coincidences are the best incidents that can happen to two readers :P Well I hope to hear from you soon too!

Haha, coincidences are the best incidents that can happen to two readers :P
Well I hope to hear from you soon too!

GJ Scobie says: May 11, 2014 at 12:33 AM :-) Cool. Are you on Twitter?

:-) Cool. Are you on Twitter?

Aman(@amanhimself) says: May 11, 2014 at 12:34 AM Yes, mine is: @amanhimself yours?

Yes, mine is: @amanhimself
yours?

GJ Scobie says: May 11, 2014 at 12:37 AM Thank you. Just followed you the now. I'm @gjscobie :-)

Thank you. Just followed you the now. I'm @gjscobie :-)

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