Book Report: Cockpit by Jerzy Kosinki
by: Eric
Cockpit is a great name for a novel, I really do think so. Do you remember the scene in the Royal Tenneaums when Eli Cash is being interviewed and begins to break down, whispering the name of his novel “Wildcat”?
*In my memory he says it multiple times but you get the drift.
I found myself mimicking that whenever someone else asked what I was reading. “Cockpit…Cockpit, cockpit.”
I am not sure what the significance of the title is beyond it sounding cool.
Cockpit is one of my favourite types of novels, that of the first person sociopath with a great sense of humour that they made up(normal folk would see it as violence). This is probably because I am pretty much the opposite of that, being a WIDELY sympathetic person with a great sense of normal humour.
In this novel the mysterious ex-superspy Tarden recalls anecdotes where he uses his superhuman powers of disguise, perception, intelligence and total lack of empathy to fuck with people. Like convincing a group of children that they murdered a man. Hilarious.
If you thought that The Painted Bird had some funny bits then you will think that Cockpit has even more funny bits. But really you shouldn’t read either book if you are looking for funny bits.
Overall I give Cockpit five stars out of five but you still probably shouldn’t read it. The narrator does some horrible shit and describes it dispassionately so it may just slip into your unconsciousness and make you a pyscho. Or it will give you nightmares.
Don’t worry though I have a degree in women’s study so I “got it”.
SHOULD ERIN READ IT: No. it would give her nightmares.
