A Cool Million is a 1934 novel by Nathanael West. It has modern parallels since the depression is similar to the hardships many face today. The main character, Lemuel Pitkin, loses limbs during the novel. It would look like a horror movie if it was live action instead of the satire it is. West skillfully skewers eternal optimism.
It would make a great Tim Burton animated movie. It would be gruesome but the gore would not be the point and would not obscure the humor.
Sad! 