African Psycho

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Its title recalls Bret Easton Elliss infamous book, but while Elliss narrator was a blank slate, African Psychos protagonist is a quivering mass of lies, neuroses, and relentless internal chatter. Gregoire Nakobomayo, a petty criminal, has decided to kill his girlfriend Germaine. Hes planned the crime for some time, but still, the act of murder requires a bit of psychological and logistical preparation. Luckily, he has a mentor to call on, the far more accomplished serial killer Angoualima. The fact that Angoualima is dead doesnt prevent Gregoire from holding lengthy conversations with him. Little by little, Gregoire interweaves Angoualimas life and criminal exploits with his own. Continuing with the plan despite a string of botched attempts, Gregoires final shot at offing Germaine leads to an abrupt unraveling. Lauded in France for its fresh and witty style, African Psychos inventive use of language surprises and relieves the reader by injecting humor into this disturbing subject.

Author Bio

Alain Mabanckou is a novelist, journalist, poet, and academic. A French citizen born in Republic of the Congo, he currently lives in Los Angeles, where he teaches literature and creative writing at UCLA. His books include African Psycho, Letter to Jimmy, Black Bazaar, Tomorrow Ill Be Twenty, The Lights of Pointe-Noire, and Black Moses. Mabanckou has twice been a finalist for the Man Booker International Prize, in 2015 and 2017.