David Peace: Occupied City

I've read David Peace's 'The Damned United' and 'Tokyo Year Zero' previously, and thought they were both brilliant. Given I love Yorkshire, Ellroy and British writers doing something ambitious, how could I not. I'd planned to pick up Occupied City for a while, but I read a worryingly negative Times review last year - something along the lines of 'if only he'd stop believing so deeply in his own genius.' Strangely, the main press quote on the front of the paperback is from The Times.

Anyway, for me the review proved correct. I very rarely put a book down after starting, but I have done this time. It just feels like he's pushed the repetition and 'I'm transcending prose' thing much too far this time. The opening was dull, overwrought and portentous. It just shows that the kind of writing that was so successful in Tokyo Year Zero walks very close to the line.

I'll probably give it another go soon, just in case it's me.