Eating Buildings Review | Book Club

Eating Buildings Review By Deffinition

Eating Buildings is the debut novel by Thomas Russell. Taking place during an alien invasion it centres around Orwell Wells, a completely unlikable person who just so happens to be our planets last hope.

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Throughout my review, I will discuss the book’s intricacies in the aims of letting you know whether it’s worth picking up.

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With that out the way let’s dive into Eating Buildings.

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Going through Therapy

Opening from the perspective of our protagonist, Orwell Wells – Reluctant therapist, I was immediately hit by how abstract the book was. A mixing pot of pop culture references and introspective reflection, the introductory chapter clearly showcases Russell’s flair for writing.

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Displaying the trauma of someone who had their Action Men heads ripped off as a child (heaven forbid) the book is distinctly British and has its tongue placed firmly in its cheek. As Well’s grows as a character so does the complexity of the work and the plethora of language here gives the book a life of its own.

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Awash with intelligent phrases that have clearly been coined by the creator, I was hooked throughout and the author’s ability to string together long streams of consciousness demanded my attention from the opening page. Some readers may find sections difficult to follow due to the spiraling eccentricities, however, I found the work grabbed me due to the poetry of each page.

Battle Writer

Russell was of course at one point a Battle rapper, used to rhyming long winded couplets, it’s clear he has used this past experience to transition into this medium and most pages have vast and extensive metaphors that incorporate punchlines and a timbre that makes them a breeze to read.

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As the book’s plot transforms and the more supernatural events occur (an invasion from Mars), it evolves into a wealth of extravagance that is littered with social commentary. This makes the initial plot easy to relate to and it’s breathtaking to watch how the writer laced his initial distaste for the attention that the Royal Family received into being the cause of their eventual downfall at the hands of said Alien invasion.

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‘I’m not a Milkman’

As the plot progressed there were several points in which I burst out loud laughing and Russell should be applauded for his ability to incorporate the mundane into the surreal. It’s clear that there is an autobiographical quality to the work and I love pieces that allow you to get to know the writer just as much as you do the characters.

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The return of Orwell’s father after he became absent during the character’s childhood is a touching moment and one that allows you to imagine Russell’s own experiences and how they may have influenced the text.

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Some may find some of the scenarios difficult to fully deal with due to their breakneck twists and turns but there definitely is a lot to like here for fans of the fantastical. Anchoring each paranormal element with a touch of personal experiences, Russell does a standout job of allowing one to relate to the unrelatable and even at their most maddening each maniacal moment can be moving.

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The Verdict

This is a great first work by the author. Whilst not perfect due to some overindulgence in language, it’s very hard to fault the work overall. I don’t think this is a book for everyone but many will find a lot to love here and the work will certainly have you gripped throughout as it expands into alien territory and unfamiliar situations.

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Russell should be applauded for his creativity and ability to take what is a cliched concept into new directions. Vast and expansive in terms of the level of detail that it branches off into literature lovers will fall head over heels with this book and that’s why it gets a solid…

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