Yay! It’s Cosmopolis book club time again! And guess what? I am not totally confused today! WOOT!
Are you a newbie to the book club? See how it works here!
Just finished with the first chappy? Go discuss here!
Chapter two have you super confused? Try to understand it here!
All caught up and ready to move on to chapter 3? Well then hit that jump and let’s roll! Warning! Spoilers ahead. Don’t go for it unless you want ‘em.
Why hello! Let’s just jump right into the sexy times, eh? And with the bodyguard. Oh, scandalous. And the image of Rob sitting cross-legged on a bed eating peanuts? Priceless. The first time I’ve really been able to picture Rob. And the scotch? Uh, damn.
And of course, after that, he feels so inspired and clear headed that he goes and starts investing more in the yen, knowing his actions are bring everything down. Then he notices his wife out on the street, who he still refers to by full name in his head. I guess that just continues to show they have absolutely no relationship other then cordial acquaintances.
Proceed with awkward conversation. I love how the wife always shows up and they eat together. And she always senses the sex. And then Eric tries to talk her in to having sex. Then they attempt small talk, when clearly neither of them have that ability.
But then they actually seem to kind of bond. Eric tries to explain this change he is making. To understand people more and know what is important. She is wondering what changed, and he explains that he is losing is money and that someone is threatening to kill him. But clearly, the wife doesn’t want to be poor. She offers to help, but then says as a couple, they are done. Which is odd, because were they ever really a couple?
Then he promptly goes outside, hacks into her accounts, and proceeds to lose all of her money so he won’t be tempted to accept her help. He talks about the two of them seeing each other “clean” which I assume means poor.
So what do you do when after you intentionally continuing working to make sure both you and your wife are poor? Go to a rave, of course. Duh.
Eric and one of his bodyguards, Danko, went inside to see. They stood about the dance floor and had some really philosophical thoughts on the drugged out kids below. Eric felt like, even though he hadn’t took the drug, that it was seeping in to him. Their mindlessness was contagious. And we lose Danko, who opts to stay at the rave.
Eric goes back to the limo, and they continue their trek until they run up upon a rapper’s funeral. Of course Eric knows him. And his assumption is a death kind of sounded very similar to that of Tupac, which I found kind of funny. But no, the guy just had a heart attack. But it’s not just any funeral. It’s like a parade.
And they play this song, that sounds strangely familiar when compared to Eric’s life so far. Eric thinks of his own death, his funeral, hear’s the song and then cries. Cries so hard the agent of the rapper holds him. That should be fun to see on the screen.
It all passes and Eric is back in the limo. Of course. But now he is hungry. He’s sees an Ethiopian restaurant he wants to eat out and gets out. And then he is attacked. Of course Torval handles the man quickly, but Eric feels something odd on his face. He uses the handkerchief and talks about all the weird, um, fluids on if from earlier excursions. I’m not sure that is important, but it completely grossed me out.
But the strange feeling, a pit. He got hit by a pastry assassin. Oh please. I cannot wait to see Rob get pied. That will be epic, for sure. Then he kicks the guy in the nuts (awesome) and then beats up this barrage of photographers dude brought with him (awesomer). And now Eric feels a resurge. To be exact, he feels “brass-balled” again.
He starts to get in the limo when he hears some kids playing basketball. Eric and Torval climb these fences and such to go watch. Torval is still worried about the threat, but Eric says Torval is armed and should just be ready to shot. He asks to see the gun, they talk about the coding on the gun, and then Eric shoots Torval. Shoots him. Uh, I was actually shocked. I actually had to reread it to be sure that’s what happened.
And he didn’t really care. Seemed like Eric felt empowered to get Torval out of the way. He found him to be a threat, so he got rid of him. It was just a bit unnerving to me, still.
And just when I was really getting into the story, for once, we switch over to Benno. Which isn’t all that bad. Even thought dude is legit crazy, I find his motives a bit easier to understand and follow. Weird, right?
His string of thought is so interesting. I maintain my original thought of disgruntled employee. It sounds like he lost everything, his previous job, his family, all with the intentions of making millions to work with Eric. And it never really went like he thought. Benno was probably always a little crazy, so I’m sure that didn’t help him keep the position, but would explain why his previous position in education would have worked out. We’ve all had that one professer that was a bit wacka-do.
Overall, this chapter was probably the most coherent for me so far. I get what Eric is doing now, which is aiming to lose everything. I kind of understand that it’s him just trying to “feel” something, for lack of better term. And, for once, I am actually ready to see what happeneds next.
What did you think? Did you feel any more interest in this chapter of the book? And are you as ready as me just to be done with it already?
January 31st, 2011 at 5:36 am
Eric is a control-freak and he even wants his self-destruction to be perfect. That’s why he removes all obstacles; his and his wife’s money and his security guard, Torval.
His idol (rapper) died of a common heart disease and is mourned by so many people that obviously loved him. Eric realizes his funeral won’t be like this and he wants to die a better death.
Can you blame his wife for wanting to end her marriage? Eric lies to her, sleeps with other woman and Elise may not have actual prove, but she knows….Elise is not normal either, because she’s always running away from him and hiding. I believe they are both responsible for destroying all the possibilities they had for their marriage to succeed.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:44 pm
I agree– such an odd scenario! It makes you feel sorry for their marriage. At first, you feel like he’s the one to blame for their predicament but actually, they are both equal like in any other marriage.
January 31st, 2011 at 11:21 am
um, i haven’t read the book. i’m just reading the RMW cliffs notes. hope you don’t mind;)
i just have to say that i can’t wait to see Rob doing A LOT of the things you have described. so much great material to work with!
January 31st, 2011 at 12:44 pm
I *do* enjoy my RMW Cliffs Notes, as well!
Amber, you should totally copyright that LOL “reading it all so you don’t have to” ROFLMAO
January 31st, 2011 at 11:22 am
ps~ who do you think they should cast for Benno? or Rob’s wife? I hear Keira is in talks.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:47 pm
I think Paul Giamatti is rumored to be in the film– not sure if it’s for Torval or Benno. Keira Knightley is rumored as well. Since Marion won’t be in it and Keira is rumored, if she can’t, I would love Natalie Portman. But since she is pregnant right now & I’m not sure how soon they will start filming (fail! LOL), not so sure there. Besides those two, I can’t think of anyone else right now…
January 31st, 2011 at 2:24 pm
paul plays benno. thats all i know and what a perfect role for him.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:04 pm
[...] Continue reading the article HERE and our affiliate, Rob My World, has been tackling Cosmopolis as well. You can check out their discussion group: 1 | 2 | 3 [...]
January 31st, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Amber, the fact that you used the word “wacka-do” made me LMAO hahaha…
I don’t really have much to say about this chapter except the whole Eric Packer – Torval – Benno situation is so weird.
Sounds like, what it boils down to, is that once Packer gets the feeling that he can no longer control the situation, the person or the environment, he wants out of it… whatever it is to make it go away because that’s just how it is/how it should be. Same thing for the controlling personality he has is the same with the daily check-ups and the on-the-spot data that he requires everyone to feed him.
But still, with all the control, he feels very out of control. Did anyone else feel this as well?
January 31st, 2011 at 2:31 pm
i am sorry, but i won’t be finishing the book anytime soon and i really hate that. i had 2 deaths in the family which caused me to get really behind. i’m gonna wait for the audio book and starting from the beginning with a read along. i will continue to read everything you guys have to say about it because i will understand it better if i know how it ends. i like the spoilers.
January 31st, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Shay, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Def understand how the book would go to the back burner.
Thoughts & prayers — Susie
January 31st, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Shay,
Thoughts and prayers are with you, so sorry for your loss.
M
January 31st, 2011 at 10:48 pm
thank you both so much.
January 31st, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Sounds like a lot of self indulgent crazy going on…Eric is self distructive…looks like the character is going to have hit rock bottom before any real character change takes place…let’s hope for a developing character…Eric… and more insight into why the marriage isn’t working…passive aggressive revenge, why!
January 31st, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Like Amber, I was SO shocked when Eric shot Torval! O_O
I re-read, as well.
Eric is a crazy character, but this could give Rob a chance to really show his acting chops.
January 31st, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Just sayin that I’m trying to skip thru a bunch of the “inner musings” of Eric to get to the meat of it. Not yet done with chapter 3 yet.
Shay—this book on tape would drive me crazy with all of the inner dialogue. It would be way too much. I’m sure that the movie won’t have near that much as it would KILL the movie.
Paul as Benno would be great. Kiera would be good in it. Maybe as the art dealer OR Ann Hathoway. His blond wife maybe Claire Danes or someone more swedish looking? The financial woman jogger as single mom? Maybe Amy Adams,Julia Stiles/Wynona Ryder? ?
January 31st, 2011 at 10:54 pm
katie, on the contrary. i heard a snid bit of the audio. when i mention it, someone said that they tried to order it but the order was cancled.
February 1st, 2011 at 12:27 am
Off subject,I just want to say, although I didn’t enjoy the book and (you’ll soon see why)! I think Rob has made a good chose. Cronenberg is a very sought out director who only makes the right choses. Rob only wants to get out of the twispectra madness and substantiate his acting abilities. Although I don’t think the movie will be a boxoffice hit it will make doubters perk up their heads in his direction.
February 7th, 2011 at 12:16 am
[...] Need to read the book still? Start at the beginning! Just finished the 1st chapter? Check out the discussion here! Does your mind feel blown by chapter 2? See what everyone else says here! Finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with chapter 3? Read more here! [...]