Saturday 23 April 2016

Killing Johnny Fry by Walter Mosley

"I noticed that he was wearing a condom - a red one. For some reason the color made me angry"

So when your best friend of the opposite sex says, "this is a book you have to read", you download it from iBooks and go for broke, ending your queries about what exactly constitutes a "sexistential novel". Perhaps better known for his Devil in a blue dress,  Walter Mosely's erotic adventure published in 2006 begins with a man tempted to stray by a youthful kiss and feeling quite guilty. When he returns to his girlfriend's place in an unexpected visit, he is confronted by his girlfriend Joelle, in flagrante delicto in what Kevin Smith would describe as " in an uncomfortable place" - not the back of a Volkswagen.

Cordell chances upon an adult video store and an intriguing dvd starring Sisypha Seaman; a tale of an adulterous woman  being caught out by her husband. Not unlike Cordell's own experience, although slightly more extreme. His journey continues as he questions his boring sex life with his girlfriend, his palpable hatred of Johnny Fry and quest for revenge, interacts with his incestuous neighbours and discovers some drug fuelled sex club hijinks.
Yes, this isn't the book you'd lend to your granny.

The tantalising writing easily suspends disbelief and it is easy to get caught up in Cordell's desire for revenge and to resurrect his bruised ego at being cheated on.


4 out of 5 night time reads are sometimes risqué. 


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