The Zero is the second post-911 novel set in NYC I've read recently, the other being the blackly humorous A Disorder Peculiar to the Country. Both books highlight the paranoia and absurdity of the immediate post-catastrophe period in NYC. The strange narrative style of The Zero cleverly mirrors this surreal cultural climate by means of a telling the story of the protagonist, Edger Remy, through a series of disconnected vignette-like episodes mirroring his own strange psychology. Remy seems to have some sort of disassociative disorder that results in blackouts from which he recovers in spurts - these recovered moments propel the narrative, but in an unpredictable and disorienting way. It's a very interesting style and a compelling novel.
For a review of the book from the NY Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/11/books/11masl.html?_r=0
For a review of the book from the NY Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/11/books/11masl.html?_r=0
