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Automatic Living
442 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 6, 2022
This was a weird book. I read it because Paul Outhwaite taught me English for 4 years and he was a good teacher. I enjoyed his lessons and I think that he helped me to develop a love for reading.
I wish that his book had been better. There are occasional funny moments, occasional interesting thoughts, but ultimately there is a fundamental problem. His main character is not very likeable. He hates capitalism and fascism, claims the system is unfair and designed to keep the working classes oppressed. But all he does is get high all weekend and have sex with one of his students. Maybe if he worked harder, he would have reaped the benefits of such a system... Except he wouldn't, because the portrayal of everything right-wing in this book is absolutely demonised and represented in it's worst possible manifestations.
If Paul Outhwaite had really wanted to put forth a good argument for Marxism as opposed to Capitalism, he should have represented Capitalism at its strongest, at its best. The only way to really see if your point of view holds is to challenge it. Instead, we have this meme of Capitalism that no one would support. All of the people in power are detestable and act out of self interest alone. I am not particularly right-wing. However, if this book was written as a wake up call to the evils of the right, it failed in its job because of the obvious bias.
The actual plot is hard to follow. I think this book should have been 150 pages shorter, and it was in need of a good editor. There are obvious influences on this book. Kurt Vonnegut, I would guess, was perhaps the biggest (in terms of plot, slightly less so in writing style). Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of the humour found in KV's novels.
I've rushed this review - it's more a collection of thoughts upon finishing the novel. I'm glad I read this book, because I have good memories of Paul Outhwaite as a teacher, but if you've never met him then I would say that there are better books out there to occupy your time.
I wish that his book had been better. There are occasional funny moments, occasional interesting thoughts, but ultimately there is a fundamental problem. His main character is not very likeable. He hates capitalism and fascism, claims the system is unfair and designed to keep the working classes oppressed. But all he does is get high all weekend and have sex with one of his students. Maybe if he worked harder, he would have reaped the benefits of such a system... Except he wouldn't, because the portrayal of everything right-wing in this book is absolutely demonised and represented in it's worst possible manifestations.
If Paul Outhwaite had really wanted to put forth a good argument for Marxism as opposed to Capitalism, he should have represented Capitalism at its strongest, at its best. The only way to really see if your point of view holds is to challenge it. Instead, we have this meme of Capitalism that no one would support. All of the people in power are detestable and act out of self interest alone. I am not particularly right-wing. However, if this book was written as a wake up call to the evils of the right, it failed in its job because of the obvious bias.
The actual plot is hard to follow. I think this book should have been 150 pages shorter, and it was in need of a good editor. There are obvious influences on this book. Kurt Vonnegut, I would guess, was perhaps the biggest (in terms of plot, slightly less so in writing style). Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of the humour found in KV's novels.
I've rushed this review - it's more a collection of thoughts upon finishing the novel. I'm glad I read this book, because I have good memories of Paul Outhwaite as a teacher, but if you've never met him then I would say that there are better books out there to occupy your time.
June 28, 2021
Mental, random, drug fuled, political, funny, chaotic, messy is what this is. And a warning.... of sorts.
There are quite a few people and brands that are Strikingly simular to the real world but you would not know for sure because their names are very ambiguous. There is, for example, this corrupt Ruperd guy who has a news monopoly which he uses for his own very right wing agenda. Then there is a fast food chain with dodgy burgers called mc Dollands, would you like a coki coki with that?
It starts quite chaotic, like a puzzel. Though this does make perfect sence as the narrator is clearly rather intoxicated. ( And I strongly suspect that Outhwaithe was too) Wether that is a good thing or bad? Not sure. It might have been easier if the main character was likable. The story is long winded, repetetive (Howmany drug fuled cardgames do we really need to witness to get the point?) somewhat tedious, but with an unexpected and fun twist in the middle. It is also quite funny in places. Problem is that many things only start making sence after this twist, it puts the previous pages in a whole different light. Risky tactic if you ask me. I wager many people have put this book down before even knowing what is really going on. Those who got bored and/or annoyed at some point before page 200 (me) and are quick to put a book down (allas, not me) will miss out.
They will also miss out on a rather uncomfertable relationship which seemed very misplaced in the 2nd half.
Was expecting something a lot more dystopian and/or sci fi, which is probaby, maybe, why i an being a bit to harsh on this book. I am very much in need of escapisn atm and this is just too reminiscent of the dire state of the real world. So much so i could not enjoy the jokes. I found it quite hard to keep reading at times. Too close for comfort.
There are quite a few people and brands that are Strikingly simular to the real world but you would not know for sure because their names are very ambiguous. There is, for example, this corrupt Ruperd guy who has a news monopoly which he uses for his own very right wing agenda. Then there is a fast food chain with dodgy burgers called mc Dollands, would you like a coki coki with that?
It starts quite chaotic, like a puzzel. Though this does make perfect sence as the narrator is clearly rather intoxicated. ( And I strongly suspect that Outhwaithe was too) Wether that is a good thing or bad? Not sure. It might have been easier if the main character was likable. The story is long winded, repetetive (Howmany drug fuled cardgames do we really need to witness to get the point?) somewhat tedious, but with an unexpected and fun twist in the middle. It is also quite funny in places. Problem is that many things only start making sence after this twist, it puts the previous pages in a whole different light. Risky tactic if you ask me. I wager many people have put this book down before even knowing what is really going on. Those who got bored and/or annoyed at some point before page 200 (me) and are quick to put a book down (allas, not me) will miss out.
They will also miss out on a rather uncomfertable relationship which seemed very misplaced in the 2nd half.
Was expecting something a lot more dystopian and/or sci fi, which is probaby, maybe, why i an being a bit to harsh on this book. I am very much in need of escapisn atm and this is just too reminiscent of the dire state of the real world. So much so i could not enjoy the jokes. I found it quite hard to keep reading at times. Too close for comfort.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews