Welcome to Litsy!

Faber's writing is delicious, and has me eager to seek out his other works. The story was captivating, with the integration of alien vocabulary and mannerisms made natural. Commentary on consumption, autonomy, power struggle, privilege and more - this was a surprisingly complex read that left me wanting more.

A cross-species science fiction story, set alongside the highways of northern rural Scotland where vulnerable humans are picked up by a strange woman and made to face a horrible fate. A moralistic tale without heavy-handed preaching, Faber calls into question our assumptions about “classes” of animals and “classes” of human and asks whether we all are really the same, “under the skin.”

I‘ll leave it to the more committed genre readers to comment on its chops as a sci-fi story, but I certainly found myself transported by it. Faber used a lot of the stock-standard sci-fi tropes to make an interesting – if obvious – philosophical point. The first half is creepy as all heck, the second half is like opening a front-facing camera on humanity. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/under-the-skin-michel-faber/

#AlphabetGame Letter U

Michel Faber is a favorite writer. He knows how to engage his readers in long books like The Crimson Petal and the White and the fabulous Book of Strange New Things but he‘s also a master in short story telling. This book and his other short story collection The Fahrenheit Twins, are in my list of all time favorites. So sinister and creepy, unforgettable!

"The night passed in seconds, surely no more than a few thousand of them."

"In the world outside, the sun‘s rays intensified abruptly as if some responsible agency had just noticed they were shining at half the recommended power."

#Movie2BookRecs #scarlettjohansson ScarJo is not my favorite, I find her very off putting, however, I‘ve heard this is some incredible work. @Klou

A story about a mysterious woman called Isserley who drives along the highways of Scotland and picks up 'suitable' male hitch-hiker's and those men are never seen again.

Very disturbing read and it doesn't reveal much, by saying that I think you'd only understand what I mean if you've read it.

I prefer the adaptation with Scarlett Johansson playing Isserley, which is actually so different to the book but the book is still a 4/5 rating. 💫

"Isserley always drove straight past a hitch-hiker when she first saw him, to give herself time to size him up."

Almost finished this book, one more chapter left - review will be up tomorrow. ?

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

Going to read this one for the first time, seen the movie years ago and absolutely loved it, it was so creepy and Scarlett Johansson done a magnificent job.

I like the fact it's set in Scotland and I'm familiar with the locations, I'm so excited to start this and also looking forward to returning to the adaptation again once I've finished the book! 💫💫

#QuotsyJan20 Day 26: #Under

Last book in my #LitsyAtoZ challenge letter 'U'.

Ok, I could say so much about this book but I can't because everything I want to say would spoil it. And I had it spoilt for me which was VERY annoying.
This book is not an easy read in so many ways but if you like creepy and thought provoking then this is the book for you.

SEVEN (days to go) and I‘m wondering about squeezing in a reread of Michel Faber‘s alien debut for #SciFiMonth. Although I‘m not sure I can put myself through the film again...

I can honestly say this is the oddest book I've read.
I had no idea what it was about and kind if wish I had. I wouldn't have chosen to read it...
I found it unsettling and unpleasant. But very clever and superbly written.

Oooh what a cover.
This is odd... I'm clueless as to the truth. There are some peculiar bits and each time I think I've sussed it, I'm wrong!

If you meet Isserley on a rainy, cold night by a road side in Scotland, you might be on a #HighwayToHell 🚗💨

#MayMovieMagic

A mysterious woman drives along the highways in Glasgow and lures ‘suitable‘ men into her car..and those men are never seen again..
It‘s a disturbing read, I‘ve only watched the trailer of the film starring Scarlett Johansson but heard that the film is very freaky, scary and erotic. 😨

#marchintothe70s #highwaytohell

Loved watching the changes in Isserley's feelings and views. Impossible to describe further without spoilers

#breakfastandabook #scribd #mycover

I loved this movie! So I know I'm gonna love book! I heard that are different in good ways and that this is a must read! Can't wait!

#horror
#aliens

#RRSciFiMonth Day 29: I didn‘t see that coming ...pretty much sums up Under the Skin from start to astonishing finish. Still my favourite Faber, and still enough to ensure I read everything he writes.

Isserley is a real #maneater. She drives around looking for the most healthy and good looking hitchiker, and once she find‘s him, she brings him home, where she will do whatever she likes with him. And I can‘t say anymore without spoiling the book 😉

#OctoberXFiles

Bookoutlet.com is dangerous!!! #oops #notreally #noregrets #tbr

#1001 #scaredykit #lastofjune #hotsummerday

#HeyJune It‘s #aharddaysnight you know, driving around the Scottish countryside every night, picking up ‘suitable‘ male hitchhikers, drugging them and delivering to her ‘home‘.
I won‘t say anymore, in case of spoilers, but if you‘re intrigued, read the book. 😉

Under the Skin is a book with many layers, and passages to delight many interests. I won't claim it's a fluffy read -- it isn't -- but it does deliver a good story beautifully and graphically. Isserley is a vital and tragic protagonist; one that the reader can't help but ache for, despite the things she has done. Full review here: https://alternativemrmen.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/under-skin-by-michel-faber.html?... #scifi #horror

1. Spitting in public, or people who whisper during recitals/meetings/speeches/basically any situation where you seriously just need to BUTTON IT for like, 20 minutes. Cripes.
2. Both. With ice cream. And coffee.
3. Sorry, that‘s my security question on every website ever. 😂
4. Romance
5. ❤️ Mica Levi ❤️ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gvhybhc6-I8

#FriYayIntro

This one is on the border of pick and so-so for me. I really enjoyed parts of it, especially during the first third or so, but other parts dragged a bit. I accidentally had something spoiled while reading reviews for this book, so that may have effected my experience too. If you want to read this, I‘d suggest going in knowing as little as possible.

One of the fabulous things about Litsy is all these amazing #giveaways. Happy Happy Birthday @erzascarletbookgasm !! #BdayMonthGiveaway - my choice is Set B.
Thus far, my fave read of 2018 is This Is Not A Border: Reportage and Reflection from the Palestine Festival of Literature.

@erzascarletbookgasm is hosting an amazing #bdaymonthgiveaway! Head over to her page for details! I'd love to win pair B, 1. Because Under The Skin was such a strange film and I'm not familiar with the book and 2. Because I understand that The Bear is narrated by a little girl and I'm so interested in child narrators that I'm writing my end-of-degree thesis on them!
I think my fvorite read so far of 2018 has been Sula by Toni Morrison.
💜💜

This book shows it isn‘t only #nightsinthecity you have to be afraid of. Nights in the country, by deserted highways are just ad dangerous! 😳

#FierceFeb

"Isserley always drove straight past a hitch-hiker when she first saw him, to give herself time to size him up. She was looking for big muscles: a hunk on legs. Puny, scrawny specimens were no use to her."

#firstlines #alltheyoungdudes #septembowie

I don't know how to review this book. Or what I think about it. I were ready for surprises and twists, but I guessed most of them quite early on. I kept waiting for something big to happen, but it never did. Then I realized, that I had read a review of the book before, and had been spoiled without knowing it. So whatever you do, avoid spoilers! Go into this book knowing nothing. Be Jon Snow!

I were entertained throughout, just not that surprised.

So far, this book is weird, disturbing and awesome! I have an inkling of what is going on, but I think, I'm in for some big surprises. 🚗

#currentlyreading

Just got this on Overdrive by way of @aeeklund . Thanks for the rec! It sounds like a very interesting read!

I'm not quite sure what it says about me that this was the first book I thought of for #Drive. 😳 The perils of picking up a hitchhiker...for the hitchhiker, that is...

#anditsaugust

I long for a day were I can just lay in bed all day and read all the #quickreads. But with school, a presentation to prepare and a paper to write, I don't see that happening soon. But when it does, these will be some of the books I choose from 👌📚

#AnditsAugust

This book was really great! The satire is awesome & just really well written. I found a used copy at a bookstore & remembered Jen Campbell talking about it on her channel & I am glad I picked it up. Even though Jen says it is very different I can't wait to see the movie as well.

This book is amazing. This quote made me smile, as it so accurately reflects how topsy-turvey this story is.

In this novel, the protagonist drives along the lonely Scottish highways, picking up muscular male hitchhikers, and tricked them, before knocking them out with a drug and taking them back to an isolated farm. This was an interesting read, introduced me to Michel Faber.
#drive #90sinjuly @Cinfhen @Robothugs

Original, engrossing and gross, this book certainly fits #AliensExist #90sinjuly @Cinfhen @Robothugs

This book was so unsettling and amazing. I adored the film and I'm actually really glad I watched it before reading. Unique and fascinating.

hi my name's amarlie and I love books!!! Not this 1.

Weird, a slow build, what just happened? 👽🤔

I would advise knowing as little as possible about this before reading, if you have seen the film (which i greatly admired) the book is entirely different. Faber is a master of achingly lyrical passages about natural beauty. This book is transcendent. It is grotesque & a thoughtful inquiry into identity & ethics. I was bowled over by it. A masterpiece.

I like Bjork & love Portishead, but this made me laugh.

This is my first Faber. I'm in love...