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How to Make a Bomb
If he suddenly found what surrounded him unbearable, it was because it was artificial
Everything had been designed and manufactured, and he was trapped in it
Philip Notman, an acclaimed historian, attends a conference in Bergen, Norway. On his return to London, and to his wife and son, something unexpected and inexplicable happens to him, and he is unable to settle back into his normal life.
Seeking answers, he flies to Cadiz to see Inés, a Spanish academic with whom he shared a connection at the conference, but his journey doesn't end there. A chance encounter with a wealthy, elderly couple sends him to a house on the south coast of Crete. Is he thinking of leaving his wife, whom he claims he still loves, or is he trying to change a reality that has become impossible to bear? Is he on a quest for a simpler and more authentic
existence, or is he utterly self-deluded?
As he tries to make sense of both his personal circumstances and the world surrounding him, he finds himself embarking on a course of action that will push him to the very brink of disaster.
Everything had been designed and manufactured, and he was trapped in it
Philip Notman, an acclaimed historian, attends a conference in Bergen, Norway. On his return to London, and to his wife and son, something unexpected and inexplicable happens to him, and he is unable to settle back into his normal life.
Seeking answers, he flies to Cadiz to see Inés, a Spanish academic with whom he shared a connection at the conference, but his journey doesn't end there. A chance encounter with a wealthy, elderly couple sends him to a house on the south coast of Crete. Is he thinking of leaving his wife, whom he claims he still loves, or is he trying to change a reality that has become impossible to bear? Is he on a quest for a simpler and more authentic
existence, or is he utterly self-deluded?
As he tries to make sense of both his personal circumstances and the world surrounding him, he finds himself embarking on a course of action that will push him to the very brink of disaster.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2024
13 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Rupert Thomson
33 books311 followersRupert Thomson, (born November 5, 1955) is an English writer. He is the author of thirteen critically acclaimed novels and an award-winning memoir. He has lived in many cities around the world, including Athens, Berlin, New York, Sydney, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Rome. In 2010, after several years in Barcelona, he moved back to London. He has contributed to the Financial Times, the Guardian, the London Review of Books, Granta, and the Independent.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 26, 2024
There are aberrations, flaws in the system. The fact that this book only has 38 ratings is one of them. Maybe I'm glad for the possibility of such undiscovered gems escaping the all-seeing eyes of commercialism and consumerism, but the fact remains that lots of readers are missing something extremely valuable in their lit life.
Not often has a book become this magnetic that it kind of kept on approaching me till the very end. It overtook me. I read the last 35 pages -although I had an appointment somewhere- while smoking (I don't smoke) on the dark terrace of a bar and I just couldn't fathom how it seemed of the highest importance. Not as a book. But for me personally. Almost as if my life was at stake.
No need to mention this is my favourite novel read in 2024 so far.
Not often has a book become this magnetic that it kind of kept on approaching me till the very end. It overtook me. I read the last 35 pages -although I had an appointment somewhere- while smoking (I don't smoke) on the dark terrace of a bar and I just couldn't fathom how it seemed of the highest importance. Not as a book. But for me personally. Almost as if my life was at stake.
No need to mention this is my favourite novel read in 2024 so far.
April 6, 2024
This novel got to me. It isn’t only about a man having a crisis; it’s also about a search for meaning, a longing for connection, a criticism of modern life. I read this more or less in two sittings and was really immersed and impressed by it. Sometimes you read a book at just the right moment. This was that book for me.
Thank you Head of Zeus and Netgalley UK for the ARC.
Thank you Head of Zeus and Netgalley UK for the ARC.
April 12, 2024
I enjoyed this much more than expected and don't really understand the low number of reviews.
Ok, it's about a white, middle-aged man, going through a midlife crisis, and fair enough if people feel enough has been written about those. But that doesn't mean this isn't a good book!
Philip Notman is a historian. Travelling back from a conference in Bergen, he has an overwhelming experience of heightened reality, which leads him to question consumerism and modern society. It gradually becomes clear to him that what he needs is a more simple life. He travels to Cadiz and then on to Crete, gradually stripping away unnecessary layers of life, until reaching the ultimate conclusion.
Ok, it's about a white, middle-aged man, going through a midlife crisis, and fair enough if people feel enough has been written about those. But that doesn't mean this isn't a good book!
Philip Notman is a historian. Travelling back from a conference in Bergen, he has an overwhelming experience of heightened reality, which leads him to question consumerism and modern society. It gradually becomes clear to him that what he needs is a more simple life. He travels to Cadiz and then on to Crete, gradually stripping away unnecessary layers of life, until reaching the ultimate conclusion.
August 10, 2024
Wat een rit, wat een boek. Jarenlang was Rupert Thomson niet meer dan een van die namen van schrijvers die je soms hoort of ziet, namen die je associeert met smaakvolle omslagen en behoorlijk goede recensies, maar niet met literaire prijzen of massale media-aandacht — en die je daardoor dus gemakkelijk links laat liggen.
Dit veranderde een week of wat geleden, toen Humo-recensent en Goodreads-vriend Joachim Stoop op dit podium lyrisch berichtte over Thomsons nieuwste roman How To Make A Bomb — het was het beste boek dat hij dit jaar had gelezen, 4,5 ster gaf hij het. Op een of andere manier geloof ik dat Joachims smaak raakvlakken vertoont met de mijne, dus in een impuls besloot ik het boek meteen aan te schaffen, voor in de vakantie.
Nou, ik ben heel blij dat ik dat heb gedaan… wat een schrijver, deze Thomson. Stilistisch van zeer hoog niveau, heel precies en elegant en muzikaal, met een heel eigen bladspiegel waarin veel zinnen op een aparte regel beginnen en daardoor meer nadruk krijgen, zonder dat dat voelt als effectbejag dat je met zogeheten Enter-proza zou kunnen associëren. Het ontbreken van punten zou je dan weer kunnen relateren aan poëzie, maar ook daarmee heeft het weinig van doen, ondanks de muzikaliteit en de elegantie van zijn taal. Nee, de aandacht wordt juist veelal afgeleid van de taal, door de dwingende wijze waarop Thomson je meeneemt op de subtiele, ambigue, maar voortdurend geloofwaardige en spannende trip door wat in eerste instantie lijkt op een midlifecrisis van hoofdpersoon Philip, maar dat zich gaandeweg ontwikkelt tot iets veelomvattenders.
Als er al schrijvers zijn aan wie Rupert Thomson me doen denken, dan aan Don DeLillo, met wie hij de talige elegantie, de liefde voor symboliek en betekenisvolheid deelt, en Paul Auster, die een ideeënroman ook hartverscheurend en thrillerachtig spannend kan laten zijn. Op een schaal van 1 tot 10 zou ik How To Make A Bomb een 9 hebben gegeven, nu beperk ik me tot 4 dikke sterren, want 5 sterren geef ik alleen aan zo goed als perfecte boeken en dat is dit toch net niet.
Maar wel een oproep aan met name de graag in het oorspronkelijk Engels lezende mensen — in Nederland gaf opvallend genoeg eerder Xander Uitgevers twee boeken van Thomson uit, een bewijs dat ze daar net iets meer doen dan alleen Lucinda Riley, maar kennelijk deden die vertalingen weinig, want How To Make A Bomb lijkt niet aangekocht te zijn door een Nederlandse uitgever — om zich te verdiepen in Thomsons werk. En niet dat internationale jury’s dit bericht zullen lezen, maar mag Rupert niet eens op zijn minst op een Booker Prize shortlist ofzo?
Veel dank, Joachim!
Dit veranderde een week of wat geleden, toen Humo-recensent en Goodreads-vriend Joachim Stoop op dit podium lyrisch berichtte over Thomsons nieuwste roman How To Make A Bomb — het was het beste boek dat hij dit jaar had gelezen, 4,5 ster gaf hij het. Op een of andere manier geloof ik dat Joachims smaak raakvlakken vertoont met de mijne, dus in een impuls besloot ik het boek meteen aan te schaffen, voor in de vakantie.
Nou, ik ben heel blij dat ik dat heb gedaan… wat een schrijver, deze Thomson. Stilistisch van zeer hoog niveau, heel precies en elegant en muzikaal, met een heel eigen bladspiegel waarin veel zinnen op een aparte regel beginnen en daardoor meer nadruk krijgen, zonder dat dat voelt als effectbejag dat je met zogeheten Enter-proza zou kunnen associëren. Het ontbreken van punten zou je dan weer kunnen relateren aan poëzie, maar ook daarmee heeft het weinig van doen, ondanks de muzikaliteit en de elegantie van zijn taal. Nee, de aandacht wordt juist veelal afgeleid van de taal, door de dwingende wijze waarop Thomson je meeneemt op de subtiele, ambigue, maar voortdurend geloofwaardige en spannende trip door wat in eerste instantie lijkt op een midlifecrisis van hoofdpersoon Philip, maar dat zich gaandeweg ontwikkelt tot iets veelomvattenders.
Als er al schrijvers zijn aan wie Rupert Thomson me doen denken, dan aan Don DeLillo, met wie hij de talige elegantie, de liefde voor symboliek en betekenisvolheid deelt, en Paul Auster, die een ideeënroman ook hartverscheurend en thrillerachtig spannend kan laten zijn. Op een schaal van 1 tot 10 zou ik How To Make A Bomb een 9 hebben gegeven, nu beperk ik me tot 4 dikke sterren, want 5 sterren geef ik alleen aan zo goed als perfecte boeken en dat is dit toch net niet.
Maar wel een oproep aan met name de graag in het oorspronkelijk Engels lezende mensen — in Nederland gaf opvallend genoeg eerder Xander Uitgevers twee boeken van Thomson uit, een bewijs dat ze daar net iets meer doen dan alleen Lucinda Riley, maar kennelijk deden die vertalingen weinig, want How To Make A Bomb lijkt niet aangekocht te zijn door een Nederlandse uitgever — om zich te verdiepen in Thomsons werk. En niet dat internationale jury’s dit bericht zullen lezen, maar mag Rupert niet eens op zijn minst op een Booker Prize shortlist ofzo?
Veel dank, Joachim!
May 13, 2024
I’ve only read one other book by Rupert Thomson and that was back in 2016, a historical mystery called Secrecy. How To Make A Bomb is very different. Firstly it’s not set in 17th century Florence but in the present day. Stylistically it’s different too. Each sentence in the book starts on a new line, there are no quotation marks or full stops, but plenty of commas and the occasional question mark.
I liked the idea of a malaise created by the modern world with its proliferation of choices and where everything has been designed to the nth degree. For Philip Notman this ‘civilisation sickness’ manifests itself both physically, as he experiences bouts of intense nausea and dizziness, and psychologically, as he starts to question the artificiality of modern life. ‘Everything I see around me has been thought about. Everything has been made.’
Leaving his wife Anya behind because he fears she won’t understand what he’s experiencing – and who could blame her – he retreats to a house in a remote part of Crete in search of a simpler more unconnected lifestyle. ‘He had clicked on unsubscribe.’
It offers a temporary respite but he becomes unnerved when he learns about the violent history of both the house and the island. Various events make him conclude that positive action, as opposed to eloquent manifestos, is sometimes the only way to achieve change.
I enjoyed the observational humour, such as Philip’s experience of navigating the Duty Free zone at the airport, the ‘glitzy, tyrannical no-man’s-land that lay between Security and the Departure Lounge’. I also enjoyed the insights into the early days of Philip and Anya’s relationship when he seemed like a genuinely funny and appealing person. And I liked the fact that often the wisest insights came from female characters. However, as the book progressed, for me, Philip’s story began to resemble more a mid-life crisis than an earth-shattering revelation about modern day life. And the ending left me a bit puzzled. Did he actually carry out his plan or did he just imagine doing it? Although maybe we’re being invited to think about what might cause someone to take such an action…
How To Make A Bomb was one of those books that made me wonder if I was quite clever enough to understand what the author was attempting to communicate. But it was fun trying.
I liked the idea of a malaise created by the modern world with its proliferation of choices and where everything has been designed to the nth degree. For Philip Notman this ‘civilisation sickness’ manifests itself both physically, as he experiences bouts of intense nausea and dizziness, and psychologically, as he starts to question the artificiality of modern life. ‘Everything I see around me has been thought about. Everything has been made.’
Leaving his wife Anya behind because he fears she won’t understand what he’s experiencing – and who could blame her – he retreats to a house in a remote part of Crete in search of a simpler more unconnected lifestyle. ‘He had clicked on unsubscribe.’
It offers a temporary respite but he becomes unnerved when he learns about the violent history of both the house and the island. Various events make him conclude that positive action, as opposed to eloquent manifestos, is sometimes the only way to achieve change.
I enjoyed the observational humour, such as Philip’s experience of navigating the Duty Free zone at the airport, the ‘glitzy, tyrannical no-man’s-land that lay between Security and the Departure Lounge’. I also enjoyed the insights into the early days of Philip and Anya’s relationship when he seemed like a genuinely funny and appealing person. And I liked the fact that often the wisest insights came from female characters. However, as the book progressed, for me, Philip’s story began to resemble more a mid-life crisis than an earth-shattering revelation about modern day life. And the ending left me a bit puzzled. Did he actually carry out his plan or did he just imagine doing it? Although maybe we’re being invited to think about what might cause someone to take such an action…
How To Make A Bomb was one of those books that made me wonder if I was quite clever enough to understand what the author was attempting to communicate. But it was fun trying.
April 21, 2025
I wouldn't normally bother with a book that was quite so obviously middle class, middle aged man, white academic has a bit of an existential crisis. But Rupert Thomson is very good and I'm attempting to eventually get through all his novels so gave this a whirl. And...I'm glad I did. It would be hyperbole to suggest that he has reinvented the middle aged academic midlife crisis novel but How to Make a Bomb never quite goes where you think it will, or if it does the route it takes is an unexpected one.
March 13, 2024
Philip Notman, an acclaimed historian, attends a conference in Bergen, Norway. On his return to London, and to his wife and son, something unexpected and inexplicable happens to him, and he is unable to settle back into his normal life.
I enjoyed this book so much, the descriptions are amazing. It did take a while to get going as the lack of punctuation made for a difficult read, initially. It actually seems to be written like a poem at times. Short lines and paragraphs make it easy to read. I found it so intriguing it was difficult to put down.
This book is many things; a man dealing with his midlife crisis; the struggles with his emotions; even, in part, a travelogue. But it’s beautifully written and a wonderful read.
I enjoyed this book so much, the descriptions are amazing. It did take a while to get going as the lack of punctuation made for a difficult read, initially. It actually seems to be written like a poem at times. Short lines and paragraphs make it easy to read. I found it so intriguing it was difficult to put down.
This book is many things; a man dealing with his midlife crisis; the struggles with his emotions; even, in part, a travelogue. But it’s beautifully written and a wonderful read.
April 19, 2024
Rupert Thomson may just be one of English literature’s best kept secrets. For over thirty years now he’s quietly built up a body of work that ranges far and wide. From historical murder-mysteries (Secrecy), Gordon Burn-style factual fiction (Death of a Murderer), allegorical fantasy (Divided Kingdom - which appeared to predict Scots nationalism, Brexit and the culture wars), and gothic psychodramas (The Book of Revelation). If there are some common threads it’s a preoccupation with the shadowy corners of the world and the male psyche, and a search to match his cool, minimal style for the content.
The content this time is the male psyche of Philip Notman, a middle-aged historian who has an epiphany on the way home from a conference in Bergen. Touching his travelcard at the airport he has a vision of every time he checked in, every travelcard touching every passgate during every journey. The hidden workings of the universe opens up under his feet.
From this moment Philip’s life unravels in what is a parodic midlife crisis. What has sparked all this? Another parodic catalyst - the mysterious and flirtatious conference colleague, a dark-haired Spanish academic called Ines. Notman leaves his wife, son and family behind and embarks on a quest to discover - well what exactly he is looking for is not clear to him. Notman’s quest takes in first Ines’s life in Cadiz, a remote village in Crete, and finally an off-grid caravan in south London. Along the way his encounters include an almost-affair, an opportunity for heroism, and even a quasi-religious experience. Underpinning all of this is of course the subject of every middle-aged quest: why am I here? What means anything? Thomson has a huge amount of fun frustrating his everyman Notman (nominative determinism alert) in this search for the meaning of life.
Events in the last quarter of the novel take a darker turn, as Thomson shifts from showing how easily a life can empty out to the half-moored and radical ideas that could all-too-easily fill this void. Thomson here goes over some of the ground Hari Kunzru covered in Red Pill a few years ago, but far more adroitly and wittily.
Thomson has carried the banner for experimentation and form, and so it continues here. There’s little in the way of punctuation or quotation marks, and his technique of starting every new thought or sentence with a new line works brilliantly here - foregrounding Notman’s thoughts at every turn as he wrestles with his first world problems. Thomson fans rejoice in another compelling read, for those new to his singular style this is a great place to start.
Honest review provided in return for an ARC by Netgalley
The content this time is the male psyche of Philip Notman, a middle-aged historian who has an epiphany on the way home from a conference in Bergen. Touching his travelcard at the airport he has a vision of every time he checked in, every travelcard touching every passgate during every journey. The hidden workings of the universe opens up under his feet.
From this moment Philip’s life unravels in what is a parodic midlife crisis. What has sparked all this? Another parodic catalyst - the mysterious and flirtatious conference colleague, a dark-haired Spanish academic called Ines. Notman leaves his wife, son and family behind and embarks on a quest to discover - well what exactly he is looking for is not clear to him. Notman’s quest takes in first Ines’s life in Cadiz, a remote village in Crete, and finally an off-grid caravan in south London. Along the way his encounters include an almost-affair, an opportunity for heroism, and even a quasi-religious experience. Underpinning all of this is of course the subject of every middle-aged quest: why am I here? What means anything? Thomson has a huge amount of fun frustrating his everyman Notman (nominative determinism alert) in this search for the meaning of life.
Events in the last quarter of the novel take a darker turn, as Thomson shifts from showing how easily a life can empty out to the half-moored and radical ideas that could all-too-easily fill this void. Thomson here goes over some of the ground Hari Kunzru covered in Red Pill a few years ago, but far more adroitly and wittily.
Thomson has carried the banner for experimentation and form, and so it continues here. There’s little in the way of punctuation or quotation marks, and his technique of starting every new thought or sentence with a new line works brilliantly here - foregrounding Notman’s thoughts at every turn as he wrestles with his first world problems. Thomson fans rejoice in another compelling read, for those new to his singular style this is a great place to start.
Honest review provided in return for an ARC by Netgalley
December 16, 2023
First published in the US under the title Dartmouth Park, it has been given a much more provocative title here in the UK. Rupert Thomson has been working for a long time now - this is his 14th novel - and though he has been on my radar for some time, this is my first taste of his work.
Written in the style of an epic poem - with shades of Nobel Laureate of 2023 Jon Fosse's style in his Septology (I read that work a month before this so the echoes may be more pronounced in my mind). It is a distinct style that you have to accept and settle in with if you're to get along with this book. This is not a criticism, and shouldn't be taken as off-putting, because it isn't, it's just a little more unique.
I read the novel over two sittings, and found it very immersive, fascinating and brilliant at times. It is the story of a mid-life crisis of an academic - Philip Notman - and the things that happen to him, distract him and send him off into the world. The story then isn't unique, we've read this a dozen or more times before - but it is in the presentation, and Thomson's style here is what makes the novel bring dividends.
It is also a novel which has made me keen to try more of his back catalogue, so I would call this a success.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Written in the style of an epic poem - with shades of Nobel Laureate of 2023 Jon Fosse's style in his Septology (I read that work a month before this so the echoes may be more pronounced in my mind). It is a distinct style that you have to accept and settle in with if you're to get along with this book. This is not a criticism, and shouldn't be taken as off-putting, because it isn't, it's just a little more unique.
I read the novel over two sittings, and found it very immersive, fascinating and brilliant at times. It is the story of a mid-life crisis of an academic - Philip Notman - and the things that happen to him, distract him and send him off into the world. The story then isn't unique, we've read this a dozen or more times before - but it is in the presentation, and Thomson's style here is what makes the novel bring dividends.
It is also a novel which has made me keen to try more of his back catalogue, so I would call this a success.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
May 12, 2024
I found this to be compulsive reading. On the surface it seems to be the simple story of the mental breakdown of Philip Notman: he is a historian, living in London, who has some sort of internal crisis on his return journey from a conference in Bergen, beginning a strange odyssey to Spain and Crete, But the spare writing (line breaks, careful punctuation but no full stops?) takes the reader inside Philip's head in a way which creates slowly building tension which makes the book very gripping.
As he travels and struggles with decisions about his future, Philip imagines future scenarios resulting from such decisions and these mesh weirdly with the real life but dreamlike encounters with strangers which determine his progress. The geographies of Spain, Crete and south London provide a vivid backdrop.
His faux philosophical ramblings perhaps signal an intensification of his mental distress and the climax of the book is faintly ridiculous and requires some suspension of disbelief but perhaps it is all an imagined scenario? This reader was left wondering. The ending suggests some possibility that he may recover and fit back into his previous life.
An intriguing read. thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
As he travels and struggles with decisions about his future, Philip imagines future scenarios resulting from such decisions and these mesh weirdly with the real life but dreamlike encounters with strangers which determine his progress. The geographies of Spain, Crete and south London provide a vivid backdrop.
His faux philosophical ramblings perhaps signal an intensification of his mental distress and the climax of the book is faintly ridiculous and requires some suspension of disbelief but perhaps it is all an imagined scenario? This reader was left wondering. The ending suggests some possibility that he may recover and fit back into his previous life.
An intriguing read. thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
May 2, 2024
This book started of with a surprise. Instead of full stops, there are line breaks. Sentences are often short - staccato even. This seems to suit the book so well. Philip Notman is an acclaimed historian who's been to a conference in Bergen. He's happily married to Anya, though his 19 year old son is severely depressed, and has attempted suicide. From nowhere, apparently, he start to question life itself - it's 'artificial', 'unbearable'. His solution is to go away for a while - to Cádiz, where a woman - Inés - whom he met at the conference lives, and for whom he has formed an attraction. No adultery takes place, and soon he is off to Crete, because some chance acquaintances have lent him their holiday home there. He dabbles with integrating himself into local male society, with religion, before moving back to London, but not to his wife. He still loves her, still needs time. His rather self-indulgent and self-aggrandising quest to solve the ills of society via his Notmanifesto (see what he did there?) is rather a mish-mash of received ideas. His grandiose ideas amount to very little and we leave him on the last page no further forward than he was when he embarked on his unlikely quest. Unconventionally written, with its absence of punctuation, this is an immensely readable book whose subject is a Privileged White Male living out a cliche.
March 13, 2024
Philip Notman, an acclaimed historian, attends a conference in Bergen, Norway. On his return to London, and to his wife and son, something unexpected and inexplicable happens to him, and he is unable to settle back into his normal life.
I enjoyed this book so much, the descriptions are amazing. It did take a while to get going as the lack of punctuation made for a difficult read, initially. It actually seems to be written like a poem at times. Short lines and paragraphs make it easy to read. I found it so intriguing it was difficult to put down.
This book is many things; a man dealing with his midlife crisis; the struggles with his emotions; even, in part, a travelogue. But it’s beautifully written and a wonderful read.
I enjoyed this book so much, the descriptions are amazing. It did take a while to get going as the lack of punctuation made for a difficult read, initially. It actually seems to be written like a poem at times. Short lines and paragraphs make it easy to read. I found it so intriguing it was difficult to put down.
This book is many things; a man dealing with his midlife crisis; the struggles with his emotions; even, in part, a travelogue. But it’s beautifully written and a wonderful read.
March 29, 2024
I hadnt read any of Mr Thomson's books before this and have to admit was sucked in by the title and premise.
I was immediately drawn to the style and the layout, it felt quite tense and that something significant was going to happen at any minute. Then I bored of it and the protagonist slightly and thought it was a bit pretentious and false, then the ending was very disappointing so was still ambivalent.
However, it is now a few days since I finished reading the book and I'm still thinking about parts of it and the ideas discussed pertaining to reality, so I will definitely be looking to read some of the author's previous work
Thank you to netgalley and Head of zeus for an advance copy of this book
I was immediately drawn to the style and the layout, it felt quite tense and that something significant was going to happen at any minute. Then I bored of it and the protagonist slightly and thought it was a bit pretentious and false, then the ending was very disappointing so was still ambivalent.
However, it is now a few days since I finished reading the book and I'm still thinking about parts of it and the ideas discussed pertaining to reality, so I will definitely be looking to read some of the author's previous work
Thank you to netgalley and Head of zeus for an advance copy of this book
July 16, 2024
I enjoyed the first half of the book
Phillip before his midlife crisis was charming . the story of how he and Anya met , and their early lives together paints a picture of a perfect marriage
Falling for the glamorous younger academic at the conference in Norway knocks him completely off kilter.
He starts to question everything about his life and tge modern world around him
he abandons his wife and troubled teenage son to go off and find himself , first in Spain then in Crete and finally in a damp caravan on waste ground in London .
The last few chapters I found far fetched and disappointing
Phillip before his midlife crisis was charming . the story of how he and Anya met , and their early lives together paints a picture of a perfect marriage
Falling for the glamorous younger academic at the conference in Norway knocks him completely off kilter.
He starts to question everything about his life and tge modern world around him
he abandons his wife and troubled teenage son to go off and find himself , first in Spain then in Crete and finally in a damp caravan on waste ground in London .
The last few chapters I found far fetched and disappointing
February 28, 2024
This is my first encounter with the author and I find it very interesting. Is such a immersive and intense read for me, the style is written it make it a bit difficult for me to read it but it was a good way of make me focus in the book and enjoy the “poem” I find the middle age crisis a so relatable and I really liked the characters. I am going to read more of this author because this book was a big yes and good read for me
April 21, 2024
This novel tells the story of one man’s midlife crisis , he suddenly becomes overwhelmed and sees the need to run away from his day-to-day life . The story covers one summer of this man’s life as he runs away from his wife and the life that he is leading apparently unexceptionally before the start of the novel and find himself meeting up with a women who he’s only met briefly in the past And then taking up the offer of some strangers who offer him the use of their remote European holiday cottage. The Story follows him and see me and around from Place to Place and we meet a collection of interesting quirky side characters
The author has a distinctive writing style made up with short sentences. This is a short book filled with Sparsely poetic language making it very memorable
I found the European settings in this novel felt very real and was central to the story really meant made me feel. I’d like to go on holiday myself.
The decision to make the bomb comes quite suddenly and unexpectedly. I suppose you know it’s going to happen because the title of the book but probably not quite so literally. I personally found this element is a novel less believable and that the bomb going off in his own personal life is enough without the literal bomb itself
I’ve not read any of this authors previous novels but I shall definitely be searching for them after I’ve read this novel.
I read a copy of another on NetGalley UK. The book is published on the 11th of April 2024 by Head of Zeus Apollo.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com
It will also appear on Amazon UK.
The author has a distinctive writing style made up with short sentences. This is a short book filled with Sparsely poetic language making it very memorable
I found the European settings in this novel felt very real and was central to the story really meant made me feel. I’d like to go on holiday myself.
The decision to make the bomb comes quite suddenly and unexpectedly. I suppose you know it’s going to happen because the title of the book but probably not quite so literally. I personally found this element is a novel less believable and that the bomb going off in his own personal life is enough without the literal bomb itself
I’ve not read any of this authors previous novels but I shall definitely be searching for them after I’ve read this novel.
I read a copy of another on NetGalley UK. The book is published on the 11th of April 2024 by Head of Zeus Apollo.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com
It will also appear on Amazon UK.
July 29, 2024
Moeilijk neer te schrijven wat dit boek zo’n meevaller maakt. Feit is dat je door de onconventionele schrijfstijl - het boek bestaat uit korte zinnen met hoofdletter en zonder punt - heel dicht bij de gedachtengang en de observaties van het hoofdpersonage komt en zo zijn twijfels en zoektocht kan meeleven, net als zijn verwarring.
August 14, 2024
Hard to know whether it is a masterful depiction of an existential breakdown or a self indulgent expose of a (male) middle life crisis. It’s still a good novel but the cliches (young attractive potential Spanish lover, acts of bravery and compassion notwithstanding the overall nihilism …) make it difficult to really believe in the main character and see him for anything other than a cliche
May 6, 2025
i genuinely don’t know what to say.
this book was actually unreadable at points with the lack of punctuation.
at no point did i know what his motivations were nor did i care about Philip in the slightest.
this book was actually unreadable at points with the lack of punctuation.
at no point did i know what his motivations were nor did i care about Philip in the slightest.
February 15, 2024
When you got mid-life crisis, just do anything. ANYTHING except involving yourself in weird conspiracy theory, read into things too much and eventually go bananas. Please.
November 17, 2024
A great existential read on one feeling lost in artificial modern society.
September 13, 2025
I would score this a 3.5.
Compelling and evocative - the kind of book I could visualise. Interesting format too.
Compelling and evocative - the kind of book I could visualise. Interesting format too.
January 26, 2025
“Society resembles Cronus, king of the Titans, famous for devouring his own children.”
Very entertaining journey along Philip, the main character. I’m not sure about somethings that happen along the book but the premise and ending are very provoking.
I like the style of the book. It is very well written.
I also notice that Phillip lives most of the time in his mind.
Very entertaining journey along Philip, the main character. I’m not sure about somethings that happen along the book but the premise and ending are very provoking.
I like the style of the book. It is very well written.
I also notice that Phillip lives most of the time in his mind.
September 12, 2024
Fantastische roman.
Ik was direct helemaal mee, bijna gehypnotiseerd en diep betrokken.
Echt ni normaal goed.
Voelt enorm persoonlijk en is niet weg te leggen.
Bangelijk
5sterren
Ik was direct helemaal mee, bijna gehypnotiseerd en diep betrokken.
Echt ni normaal goed.
Voelt enorm persoonlijk en is niet weg te leggen.
Bangelijk
5sterren
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews