About this title: The floundering Bowery Auctions house in Glasgow is commissioned to haul away the belongings of a woman's brother. It turns out that the brother had some amazing pieces--pieces of a quality that might get Bowery up off of its knees--and so Mr. Rilke is sent to begin the process. Upon his arrival, Rilke finds that things aren't going to be quite ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. This book has medium cover wear, light creases on covers, light page edge wear. I will ship this book out on the next business day! Each book individually hand cleaned. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Canongate Pub
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9781841953830ISBN:1841953830
Description: Good in Good jacket. 68-V Books rated "Good" may have some notes, underlining, or highlighting. These books also may contain the previous owner's name, stamp, sticker, or gift inscription, or may be library discards. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers! Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very good. Book has appearance of light use with no easily noticeable wear. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. 2003-Paperback---Used-Good. Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Description: Good. 2003, Paperback. Used-Good Hall Street Books Proudly ships all books from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours M-F. 100% Money-Back Guarantee and No-Worry return policy. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd
Date Published: 2003-05-01
ISBN-13:9781841954042ISBN:1841954047
Description: Good. Spine creased; pages clean and tight. Every heavytail order includes with a sweet! We carefully hand clean and reinspect each and every item we ship. Our quality control process ensures items to be in the condition described or better. Heavytail is determined to earn your repeat business through old fashioned customer service. We love international orders. read more
"Excellent, dark sexual book about deep and darkest sexual fantasies and photographs. Really liked it. Gay sex descriptions were quite vivid and filth of Glasgow was under your hands. Quite tense and interesting.
I like Rilke and his goodness but I like all that broody, dirty, perverse, drunk, impotent and bit of a sick part of city under old furniture, junkies, blood, sweat, dirty sheets and people who still have soul underneath.
But who use drugs and use alcohol to feel something. Anything.
And who still feel disturbed and moral even if they lost their lust for life all together."
"A auctioneer is hired to dispose of the belongings of a recently deceased gentlemen. While clearing out the attic he discovers a stash of pornographic pictures. This leads him and the reader on a trip through the dark side of pornography. An interesting read although the book borders on homosexual erotica."
"I like crime fiction stories, but don't read many crime books. Often the best-selling writers disappoint me. Besides a suspenseful & intriguing plot, I expect to be entertained by the writing itself.
Except for a couple of rather minor stumbles, I am impressed by Laura Welsh's novel. There are a fair number of verbal clues, word puns, and frequent references to art history & literary works of the past to keep the reader's mind involved with the words on the page as well as in the murder mystery plot.
And yet, it is not a complicated narration; the prose moves along smoothly & with clarity; nowhere does it feel like the author is trying to write in a dense literary or hip style.
The protagonist, Rilke, is a somewhat unusual yet endearing character: A middle-aged auction house appraiser with a predilection for the seamier side of life, he comes into possession of certain items which could possibly be evidence of a ghastly crime.
Are the photos of the murdered girl authentic? Are the photos Fact or Fiction? Is it Art, Smut, or Snuff?
Rilke is drawn into the mystery almost at the same level as that of the reader: He's merely trying to understand what is or isn't going on, and also the 'why' of his fascination with the titillating details of the heinous act.
I liked the character of Rilke. Unlike professional police investigators or private detectives that are commonly featured in crime fiction, Rilke isn't on a heroic quest, out to set things straight, or to prove his mettle. It was easy to identify with him, even though he is an unconventional protagonist for this type of genre."
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