pmcray: (Default)
pmcray ([personal profile] pmcray) wrote2008-08-13 09:04 pm

Twists in the Tale: Spoiler Request for Scarlett Thomas's "Bright Young Things"

I was recently reading an interview with Scarlett Thomas in which she discussed "Bright Young Things", her first "proper" novel (as opposed to the three now deprecated detective novels). The novel involves a group of twenty-something media trendies who mysteriously find themselves isolated on an island, possibly as part of some kind of reality show. I know from reading the reviews on Amazon that there is some kind of twist (or twists) at the end. I have my own theory of what this twist (or family of twists) could be, but I don't want to read the book to find out (my views on Thomas's "PopCo" are well-known). If anyone could let me know what the revelation is, I would be eternally grateful (I know it's cheating, but I am not a patient man).

[identity profile] jackfirecat.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I was going to guess classic twists to joke with you (they were all dead really, etc.) but Amazon com's top seems to answer the question: it is not resolved.

Did you see that (and were asking about the sequel), or were you looking on co.uk?

[identity profile] pmcray.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I hadn't seen that review, only the .co.uk ones. I was aware that there was someone in the attic. The question of whether or not they are dead and in hell/purgatory/heaven does seem to be left open. I'd be curious to know how much Thomas hints that they might be dead (even if they are not).

[identity profile] jackfirecat.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I was joking! But I guess it's possible. See Lost. Which they say is not, especially after everyone guessed it.

[identity profile] celestialweasel.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
And Jack's the Face of Boe.

[identity profile] jackfirecat.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
o noe!

[identity profile] undyingking.livejournal.com 2008-08-14 08:02 am (UTC)(link)
I love te last line of that review: "If you want to read an excellent novel about sinister things happening to people who apply to job advertisements..."

That really is quite a narrow genre, but I can see how it might have its adherents.

Rosebud was the sled

[identity profile] celestialweasel.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
It turns out that his sister couldn't have been kidnapped because she was dead, but he paid a company to send texts etc. to him as though she were still alive.

Or am I thinking of a different ludicrous twist?

Re: Rosebud was the sled

[identity profile] jackfirecat.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
That sounds more like your brother's estate. (Apologies if it actually was!)

Re: Rosebud was the sled

[identity profile] celestialweasel.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
No, that is the plot twist of a highly regarded SF techno-thriller of the past 12 months.
Amusingly, my nephew has got hold of a step-ladder and says he is going to look in Pandora's loft (TM). I dread to think what he will find, though I suspect most of it will be paper shredded by rats (shudder).

Re: Rosebud was the sled

[identity profile] jackfirecat.livejournal.com 2008-08-13 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Degrees of Phew.

[identity profile] lorimerxafy.livejournal.com 2012-02-19 10:19 am (UTC)(link)
Спасибо, полезный материал. Добавил ваш блог в закладки.Image (http://zimnyayaobuv.ru/)Image (http://zimnyaya-obuv.ru/)