Fin

by James Delingpole

Save Our Sharks says the new kiddie-friendly cartoon propaganda poster in the atrium of my local swimming pool. And I'm "Fuck. Is nothing sacred?" I mean, whatever next? Save Our Cancerous Cells? Save Our Plague Bacilli?'So opens Joe's story. He's a man who looks like he's got it he's solvent, his career's going a dream and his girlfriend Sam is a total babe. But something nasty is stalking his karma. Black-eyed killer sharks are after him and the razor jaws of a great White (Charcharias Charcharadon) are closing in on him. And sharks are not the only things out to get him. Sam will probably leave him for someone altogether better adjusted. He'll probably never conquer level ten of Super Mario (and until he does how can he start on his novel?).Joe is in dire need of solace from the neuroses of modern life, not to mention the endless replays of his own death scene. And then across the room at a party one night, he sees a girl not quite like the others, a girl, moreover, with her own shark story to tell.... Will she salvage what's left of Joe from Charcharias Charcharadon or will he have to fight his own fearful battle in the cold depths of his psyche?'Save Our Sharks says the new kiddie-friendly cartoon propaganda poster in the atrium of my local swimming pool. And I'm "Fuck. Is nothing sacred?" I mean, whatever next? Save Our Cancerous Cells?' So opens Joe's story. He's a man who looks like he's got it he's solvent, his career's going a dream and his girlfriend's a total babe. But something nasty is stalking his karma and fear is fast becoming terror. Black-eyed killer sharks are after him and the razor jaws of a Great White (Charcharodon Carcharias) are closing in on him. 'Here's a rare thing, a contemporary novel that's genuinely funny, cleverly conceived and written with a great deal of skill and dexterity.. . . Fin is slick, pacy and easy to read. Above all, though, it's funny. Much to my annoyance, I laughed out loud several times - and in public too' John Preston, Sunday Telegraph

Genres: Fiction, Modern

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2001

About the author

James Delingpole is a British journalist and novelist.

Reviews

[John Samuel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book from my local library for 5p. A bargain I thought.

Starts well and as the title implies it is about sharks or our protagonist's fear of them.

Joe Davenport, wannabe hero of book, you are a cock. However much coke, booze or skunk you consume I am not going to like you. Even the sharks won't eat you. I will never have sympathy for you.

This watery excuse for a novel lacks any bite.

Sorry to condescend but it had to be done occasionally.

That said, I actually laughed out loud and nearly enjoyed reading FIN.

Can I have my 5p back please?

[Andrew Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very 90's laddish.  Lots of drug taking, shagging, opinions on music, fashion, who's made it into your w#nk bank etc.. (note spelling for Gilbert's moral sensibilities).  Lots of interesting facts on sharks and shark attacks.  A few odious characters, and generally quite funny.

[Angel Serrano · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un joven periodista está obsesionado por los tiburones. En el Londres de final del siglo XX, con drogas, clubes, el inevitable amigo homosexual, la infidelidad y la nueva pareja, se enfrentará a su peor miedo en la costa de Sudáfrica, para superar su fobia.

[Luna Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so hard to describe, but definitely worth it. An exciting and different read about a man that has to come to terms with a fear that control his life

(3,5) stars