Book info

• Title Ablutions
• Author Patrick deWitt
• Year 2009
• Genre Contemporary

A nameless barman tends a decaying bar in Hollywood and takes notes for a book about his clientele. Initially, he is morbidly amused by watching the regulars roll in and fall into their nightly oblivion, pitying them and their loneliness. In hopes of uncovering their secrets and motives, he establishes tentative friendships with them. He also knocks back pills indiscriminately and treats himself to gallons of Jameson's. But as his tenure at the bar continues, he begins to lose himself, trapped by addiction and indecision. When his wife leaves him, he embarks on a series of squalidly random sexual encounters and a downward spiral of self-damage and irrational violence. To cleanse himself and save his soul, he attempts to escape...

Thoughts

This was an odd one, set out in a unique way with no chapter breaks and written in the first person, present tense. The story follows a bartender who discusses the various patrons that attend the bar, as well as the breakdown of his marriage and his ways of trying to deal with that.

It was oddly compelling, despite the fact it never really felt like anything was happening, and when events did occur, they were usually very downhearted and depressing. With plenty of drink and drugs flying around, this book isn’t for the faint of heart… and in fact, I’m not really sure who it would be aimed at.

It was interesting, but not outstanding, worth a look but thankfully short enough to not be too much of an endeavour.

Rating: 3 / 5