Try

Try is the story of Ziggy, the adopted son of two sexually abusive fathers. He runs from both of these men to his uncle, who sells porographic videos on the black market, and to his best friend, a junkie whose own vulnerability inspires in Ziggy a fierce and awkward devotion.

Ziggy is the adopted teenaged son of two sexually abusive fathers, from whose obsessive attentions he flees into the weird world of his uncle, an amoral man who makes violent pornography. As scenes of fierce sex and sadistic oppression take place around him, Ziggy falls improbably in love -- with his best friend, a junkie. Dennis Cooper, author of the gay horror classic Frisk, returns in this novel to his characteristic themes of alienated youth, voyeurism and twisted Todenlust, except this time the horrors are as grounded in emotions as they are in the body.

This is the third book of Cooper's that I have read (just finished actually...), and I am so moved I wanted to write a quick review. Cooper has this amazing ability to write about the most gruesome and chilling subject matter - things to horrific for most to even ponder- ,yet his characters are incredibly endearing and surprisingly easy to relate to. TRY is ultimately a love story, a tale of friendship and heartbreak, gorgeously written from the perspective of the varied main characters. A fascinating and touching read that I had a hard time putting down and would recommend to anyone.

I do not think that I am one normally to be shocked by what I read, but I did find Dennis Cooper's Try coming into that category. The story, about Ziggy, a boy adopted by two abusive gay men, is an idea perhaps with great potential. However I found it thoroughly distasteful; distasteful as regards the literal filth in which they seemed to revel, and distasteful in that it lacked any redeeming features, above all it lacked heart. I found it to be a thoroughly depressing read.

Cooper is the American Jean Genet and some aspects of his subject-matter may scare people off, but he writes amazingly beautiful prose, has an incredible ear for dialogue, and is quite funny even at his most dark. "Try" is actually a very appealing, offbeat love-story. Give Dennis Cooper a, well, try.

This was my first Dennis Cooper book. I had a very hard time getting through it. I actually put the book down several times, swearing I would not finish reading it. But I did want to know more about the main character, Ziggy. The subject matter is very dark and disturbing. I think what probably disturbed me most was the fact that someone had known enough about such deviant behaviors to write about them. The most difficult for me was reading about "Uncle Ken", a disgusting, overweight, child molester/pornographer. He truly made me feel sick to my stomach. But in the end, I did finish the book, which is why I gave it three stars. It's somewhat interesting if your can stomach it.

This is the first of Cooper's novels that I have read, and it will probably be the last. Although well-written, it seems like an exercise in writing about sexual abuse, violence and drugs with the sole purpose of being as nihilistic and shocking as possible. I found no theme or message from the work, nor did I experience any feelings for any of the characters. Cooper should bring his talent to bear on more worthwhile efforts.