I think it is safe to say that I never would have read Music for Torching if it hadn’t been assigned to me in a college course. Not only is it not in my preferred genre, but it is downright depraved. That said, it is also richly engaging.

            Music for Torching follows a seemingly typical suburban family through the last few weeks of their summer. It is immediately evident, however, that this family is anything but typical. Within the first few chapters the parents, Paul and Elaine, burn down their own house because they can’t stand their lives any longer. The burning of the house, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. Through the entire story, scandal, affairs left and right, drug use, insurance fraud and incompetent parenting are but a few of the issues this family goes through on a daily basis. The culmination of all these reckless lifestyle choices results in a rather shocking ending that is both sad and poignant.

            Reading this book is much like watching a car crash: despite how grotesque and disturbing it is, you can’t stop looking. I literally felt disgusted, repulsed and generally depressed every time I read this book, and yet I kept coming back for more until it was finished. Perhaps it is something about the suburban life that makes it hit closer to home, or perhaps it’s the characters, but something about the book is riveting.

            The writing style itself is told in the first person, and is more of a rapid fire approach. Ideas are thrown at you quickly with little regard for whether or not you’re keeping up. It works well for the subject matter and never becomes too difficult or descriptive to finish.

            While the book is engaging, it certainly isn’t for the feint of heart. Countless graphic descriptions of sex punctuate this book throughout and it doesn’t shy away from gore either. I do not recommend this book as a light afternoon read. Many deep issues are raised and its proper place seems to be in a book club or classroom. It is one of those books that just begs to be discussed.

            Music for Torching is very much a love/hate relationship. You will hate it with all of your being and because of it, you will love it. If you don’t enjoy blunt, often brutal, books, then avoid this one. But if you are open minded enough to look deeper and see the story for what it really is, you will find a deep and thought provoking novel.