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Review: J.G. Ballard - Crash (1973)
I’d say this was a short experimental novel. I feel like the purpose of the novel was to experiment with writing a story in this way. This novel was more of an experience rather than a story, and it definitely is not for everyone because of its extremely graphic sexual content.
Spoilers.
Story
There was hardly any story. The book began with the death of Vaughan, and then returned back in time to recount the story of James until Vaughan’s death. James had purposely gotten into a car accident and killed the husband of Dr. Helen Remington. She was in the car as well, but she survived. Later on, James met Vaughan, who was also a man who enjoyed car crashes. They would sometimes go to a film set together to watch the stunts. Towards the end of the novel, Vaughan seemed a little out of control, as he had tried to swerve into James. But Vaughan eventually did get into a car crash with Elizabeth Taylor, though she did not die, and only Vaughan did. I know I missed the minor details, like the characters of the stunt actors and such, but that was the gist. At the end of the novel, Catherine and James were coming to terms with Vaughan’s death, and James felt that they were already following in Vaughan’s footsteps, planning their own perfect car crashes.
I felt that the narrative was confusing, because most of the characters in the novel were driven by sexual desire. Why did Helen begin to have a sexual relationship with James, when he killed her husband? Because of sexual attraction. Why did Vaughan and James hang out? Because they understood and enabled each other’s sexual fetishes for cars and car crashes. Why did James and Catherine’s marriage work? Because their extramarital sexual affairs fueled the sex between them.
I know that this novel probably works for some people, and I can see why it would. But I wouldn’t say that it compelled me. I can’t say that I liked any of the characters. But I do respect Ballard’s commitment to emphasizing the fetish and how it permeates the book. But I can also see why some people would be horrified by the novel; it’s structured a bit like a porn video where the plot is loosely connecting the sexual encounters. I definitely felt like I was just reading a porn novel at times.
Writing
This novel was very much about style. All of Ballard’s descriptions were very vivid, reminding us that James’ attraction was to the concept of cars and driving and crashes. It’s hard to explain because I myself don’t have this fetish, and yet I understood why James and Vaughan were so turned on by certain instances in the book.
Characters
James was our main character. I think he had an inkling that he got off on car crashes already, given that he had purposely crashed into Mr. Remington. He and his wife Catherine had a very open relationship where they each pursued their own sexual adventures and perhaps that was what made them so solid even to the end.
I believe it was through James’ relationship with Vaughan that he fully awakened his attraction to cars and car crashes. Vaughan showed him all the photos, they met at the stunt set, etc. Vaughan was far on the extreme end of knowing and being conscious of his fetish. He daydreamed about the car crashes of celebrities, akin to a sexual fantasy for him. He was planning his death, in a car crash with Elizabeth Taylor. When he tried to swerve into James, could we have considered that an act of love or friendship? Hard to say because James never talked to Vaughan after that event. Vaughan had also taken James’ car; what does that mean for their relationship. James and Vaughan did have sex and that was also fully realized through their mutual attraction to car crashes. Perhaps Vaughan died as close to his ideal death as possible, in a car crash with Elizabeth Taylor, though only he died and not she and he would never have known that. At the end of the novel, James wondered if Vaughan was a figment of his imagination, who wanted him to follow in his footsteps and fulfill the perfect car crash.
Catherine was James’ wife. They had an open relationship and she often had sex with others. James noted that Catherine was attracted to her secretary and would sometimes corner her in situations so that she would have to touch Catherine. Catherine kind of got to know Vaughan through James. I was kind of surprised that Catherine and James’ relationship was quite solid. Despite their extramarital affairs, she always came back to James and never fell in love with another, and perhaps it showed a true separation of love and sex for her. James noted that sometimes Catherine’s other sexual encounters fueled sex and made it more fulfilling when they were having sex. Again in comparison with the car crashes, it's hard to explain why it turns her on, but Ballard made it make sense.
Dr. Helen Remington was an odd character. After the car accident, James sought her out. If I were her, I would have been quite wary, but she let him follow her around. They eventually had sex but it was rather short lived. Even when they had sex it was rather mechanical and they later didn’t meet much. At the end of the novel, James noted that she had another lover that she seemed happy with, a woman.
Themes
I guess the major theme here is paraphilia. James always had an interest in paraphilia but it was through Vaughan that he did a deep dive into car crashes. Catherine also had a paraphilia for extramarital affairs. I guess the novel was kind of an exploration of how people might act in such a situation where they let their paraphilias guide major parts of their lives.
Overall
It was an interesting experience, but it’s really hard to recommend this to people. It’s really a book that you have to make a conscious decision to read.
Spoilers.
Story
There was hardly any story. The book began with the death of Vaughan, and then returned back in time to recount the story of James until Vaughan’s death. James had purposely gotten into a car accident and killed the husband of Dr. Helen Remington. She was in the car as well, but she survived. Later on, James met Vaughan, who was also a man who enjoyed car crashes. They would sometimes go to a film set together to watch the stunts. Towards the end of the novel, Vaughan seemed a little out of control, as he had tried to swerve into James. But Vaughan eventually did get into a car crash with Elizabeth Taylor, though she did not die, and only Vaughan did. I know I missed the minor details, like the characters of the stunt actors and such, but that was the gist. At the end of the novel, Catherine and James were coming to terms with Vaughan’s death, and James felt that they were already following in Vaughan’s footsteps, planning their own perfect car crashes.
I felt that the narrative was confusing, because most of the characters in the novel were driven by sexual desire. Why did Helen begin to have a sexual relationship with James, when he killed her husband? Because of sexual attraction. Why did Vaughan and James hang out? Because they understood and enabled each other’s sexual fetishes for cars and car crashes. Why did James and Catherine’s marriage work? Because their extramarital sexual affairs fueled the sex between them.
I know that this novel probably works for some people, and I can see why it would. But I wouldn’t say that it compelled me. I can’t say that I liked any of the characters. But I do respect Ballard’s commitment to emphasizing the fetish and how it permeates the book. But I can also see why some people would be horrified by the novel; it’s structured a bit like a porn video where the plot is loosely connecting the sexual encounters. I definitely felt like I was just reading a porn novel at times.
Writing
This novel was very much about style. All of Ballard’s descriptions were very vivid, reminding us that James’ attraction was to the concept of cars and driving and crashes. It’s hard to explain because I myself don’t have this fetish, and yet I understood why James and Vaughan were so turned on by certain instances in the book.
Characters
James was our main character. I think he had an inkling that he got off on car crashes already, given that he had purposely crashed into Mr. Remington. He and his wife Catherine had a very open relationship where they each pursued their own sexual adventures and perhaps that was what made them so solid even to the end.
I believe it was through James’ relationship with Vaughan that he fully awakened his attraction to cars and car crashes. Vaughan showed him all the photos, they met at the stunt set, etc. Vaughan was far on the extreme end of knowing and being conscious of his fetish. He daydreamed about the car crashes of celebrities, akin to a sexual fantasy for him. He was planning his death, in a car crash with Elizabeth Taylor. When he tried to swerve into James, could we have considered that an act of love or friendship? Hard to say because James never talked to Vaughan after that event. Vaughan had also taken James’ car; what does that mean for their relationship. James and Vaughan did have sex and that was also fully realized through their mutual attraction to car crashes. Perhaps Vaughan died as close to his ideal death as possible, in a car crash with Elizabeth Taylor, though only he died and not she and he would never have known that. At the end of the novel, James wondered if Vaughan was a figment of his imagination, who wanted him to follow in his footsteps and fulfill the perfect car crash.
Catherine was James’ wife. They had an open relationship and she often had sex with others. James noted that Catherine was attracted to her secretary and would sometimes corner her in situations so that she would have to touch Catherine. Catherine kind of got to know Vaughan through James. I was kind of surprised that Catherine and James’ relationship was quite solid. Despite their extramarital affairs, she always came back to James and never fell in love with another, and perhaps it showed a true separation of love and sex for her. James noted that sometimes Catherine’s other sexual encounters fueled sex and made it more fulfilling when they were having sex. Again in comparison with the car crashes, it's hard to explain why it turns her on, but Ballard made it make sense.
Dr. Helen Remington was an odd character. After the car accident, James sought her out. If I were her, I would have been quite wary, but she let him follow her around. They eventually had sex but it was rather short lived. Even when they had sex it was rather mechanical and they later didn’t meet much. At the end of the novel, James noted that she had another lover that she seemed happy with, a woman.
Themes
I guess the major theme here is paraphilia. James always had an interest in paraphilia but it was through Vaughan that he did a deep dive into car crashes. Catherine also had a paraphilia for extramarital affairs. I guess the novel was kind of an exploration of how people might act in such a situation where they let their paraphilias guide major parts of their lives.
Overall
It was an interesting experience, but it’s really hard to recommend this to people. It’s really a book that you have to make a conscious decision to read.