Anonymous author creates an open stage for himself
The anonymous author tells his story from his point of view, allowing his narcassistic patterns to reveal themselves.
August 31, 2021
“I liked hurting girls.”
Such a short, yet interesting first sentence of a novel.
“Diary of an Oxygen Thief’s” anonymous author’s narrative may at first shock readers, but not for long. He goes into great detail of his manipulations: how he strives to kill women. Not physically, he notes, but in terms of their souls.
From a skim of the first page, a defining characteristic of the narration jumps out: narcissism. The novel follows Anonymous’ history of emotionally abusing his past lovers. He sets himself out with the mission to hurt women the way that he has been hurt by them.
The ex-alcoholic meets sobriety when faced with moving from London across the Atlantic to Minnesota for a promising job opportunity within his field of marketing and advertising. Venturing to New York, he meets Aisling, a fellow Ireland native and aspiring photographer. Even considering the auspicious relationship looming for him, he uses his calculating tactics from the past, studying everything about her.
“The Diary of an Oxygen Thief” is an account of not only the acts of heartbreak, but the karma that follows.
If you were to look online, this novel has two main reviews: one star or five stars.
It is apparent that some readers do not find his smug narration very captivating, but more so misogynistic.
From my experience as an avid reader, there are not many books where you find the roles of protagonist and antagonist wrapped up all in one character.
At some points, the unnamed narrator addresses the reader, as if they are sitting face to face with him as he tells this autobiography and he looks to the reader to make sure they are still listening. Will our narrator and author stay on a steady climb of his personal redemption arc or not? That’s for you to find out.
Having an interest in psychology makes reading this piece of writing that much more interesting and wondersome.
Progressing through the novel, it’s easy to examine how the narrator changes from a vile person to someone who may not be half bad. However, in the heat of the moment, he returns to his cunning ways, resurfacing thoughts throughout his five years single and sober. This makes the reader question the narrator’s motives throughout the entire novel.
Now, this book urges me to question anyone and everyone’s intentions in a relationship, because looks can be deceiving.
If there’s any major takeaway that I, and Anonymous himself, would want readers to take away from reading this work, it’s that hurt people hurt people.
The author’s recurrent phrases along the lines of “if this ever gets published,” shows even his uncertainty for the eyes of others to read his autobiography.
But it is up to you, the reader, to find out if it was worthy.
“The Diary of an Oxygen Thief” can be found at Barnes & Noble and other established booksellers.
LIA EBERLEIN
