The Minus Man

by Lew McCreary

Book Overview

The Minus Man, adapted and directed by Hampton Fancher is being released as a film in fall 1999 starring Owen Wilson, Janeane Garofalo, Mercedes Ruehl, Dwight Yoakam, and Sheryl Crow. Lew McCreary's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802136745
• ISBN13: 9780802136749
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Disturbing & Unforgettable : A Disarming Exploration of Evil

People who were let down by this novel, I think, don't appreciate the keen psychological insights that make this novel truly disturbing. I think they'd rather read works in which the villains are over-the-top and, therefore, not plausible, to validate their own rigidly held beliefs about people and the nature of evil. Vann's character goes in the complete opposite direction. He is, in the truest sense, an "anti-hero," a nobody, and the nothingness he feels--and the odd intimate connections he gets from killing--has a lot to say about the disconnect felt by so many Americans, which they try to mask with drugs, mindless entertainment, and religion. Vann is a true existentialist ghost. He reminds me a lot of Meursault, in Camus's The Stranger.

I will miss the seven rivers the most.

Watch out for Vann Siegert. 'He isn't short and he isn't tall, he isn't anything at all.' But he is waiting. I hate to say it, the ending to the movie was better than the book, but for everything else, read the book. If you want to find out Vann's philosophy on life and death, read the book. Want to find out why 'The Minus Man', read the book, but, if you want Janeane, watch the movie.

Don't drink from a stranger's flask

The Minus Man is a harrowing journey into the mind of a mild mannered man who happens to be a psychopath. His method of killing is a quiet one, poison laced Southern Comfort. Lew McCreary's novel is spellbinding, using a finely tuned skill to make the reader care for, if not love a murderer. And a mass murderer at that. Van Siegert is one of the most fascinating characters I've come across in recent memory. His calm descriptions of killing are intended to convey a sense of normalcy in murder. The fact that he kills for no reason is scary enough, the idea that he can easily validate his murders is terrifying. If you are a fan of novels about psycho killers but want something that's not a slasherflick on the page, check out this book! The Minus Man was made into an excellent film starring Owen Wilson (in a sorely overlooked performance) as the quiet, yet lethal Van Siegert. Read the book, watch the movie, and don't drink from a stranger's flask.

when you read this book think of Owen Wilson

It's so simple and that is scary.With this story we get to see inside the mind of a simple man.A simple man that simply kills.His habit of killing is the equivalent to a nicotine addiction.He simply needs his fix and he doesn't have to go to great lengths to get it.A drop of some poison as easy as buying a pack of cigarettes. I loved this book but I have to admit that I had the ADVANTAGE of seeing the movie first.Owen Wilson is so damn lovable and cute and that made the story so damn terrifying.It is a completely believable work of fiction.I'm not sure what you should do first---rent the movie or read the book. Whichever order, make sure you do both.

Barely a 4 star read, but it made it.

I really had to think about giving this book a 4 star rating. While I found the book to be mostly enjoyable, it was obvious that Mr. McCreary is not an accomplished writer. I also did not like how one of the supporting characters in the book murders his wife. I found this to be a little to unbelievable. However, I must admit that the narrative of the serial killer is quite interesting. It was interesting to hear the mind of someone who barely feels. Someone who just moves throughout life with hardly any planning of the future being made. I will give this book 4 stars out of 5. Just barely though.