Being dead

If Jim Crace were to be a painter, he would certainly specialize in still life.
His writing is raw, specific and accurate. He relates things in such a way as to keep the reader at a distance and in the mean time, he never conceals anything from him. There is nothing emotional, it is only a scientist's reporting of the facts. You are spared any sense of pathos. His characters, Joseph and Celice seem to lack human feelings, or rather hide them – Celice feels guilt mainly, but represses it. In fact, when they finally give way to their feelings, drama occurs. You may call it fate or fish or a mere unhappy coïncidence.