Vernon God Little

VERNON GOD LITTLE

by D.B.C. Pierre 

Award: Booker Winner 2003

 

Date Read: December 2, 2020

 

I didn’t know much about this Booker Winner before picking it up and I was slayed by the irreverence of Vernon, the cluster fuck he finds himself in and the mass-murder as entertainment angle brought about by Lally. Vernon’s voice throughout is clearly that of a teen as he navigates surreal situations most adults aren’t equipped to handle. His mother, Doris, is absorbed by her own life and relinquished the role of parent long ago.

 

The appearance of Lally in the Little’s life is clearly a turning point for the worse and serves to heighten the culpability of Vernon in bringing about the demise of his classmates. Lally appears out of nowhere and positions himself as uniquely qualified to follow Vernon’s case and how it affects the people of Martirio as they seek justice. What everyone but Vernon doesn’t know is Lally is a TV repairman who is trying to break into broadcasting. Add in a lack of scruples and a recipe for disaster begins to brew.

 

Pierre uses this novel as a vehicle to examine sensationalism, cause and effect, consumerism, homophobia and the “knife” that all parents are able to wound their children with. Vernon makes numerous references to the “knife” which symbolizes the ability of parents to continually point out weaknesses and use those weaknesses against their kids. Of course, the “knife” is really the self-doubt and vulnerability we carry around inside ourselves; the worst thoughts that wander across our brains at any given time. 

 

All of these events that shape Vernon’s coming of age story begin by the horrible treatment inflicted on his classmate, Jesus. While cruelty and bullying by classmates is a fact for most adolescents, there is nothing to be gained by this behavior. Time and time again we have seen mass killings in schools in real life, often brought about by bullying and mistreatment of the perpetrator. Thankfully, modern society is aware of the effects of bullying and schools are attempting to eradicate that behavior. This was not the case when I was growing up.

 

Simultaneously hilarious and depressing, wise yet only surface deep, Pierre scored with this reader.

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