Glenn’s review of The Information > Likes and Comments
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It is a rather horrifying novel, isn't it? Every time I think people have been insufficiently appreciative of my latest effort, I wonder if I'm turning into Richard and don't know it...
Manny wrote: "It is a rather horrifying novel, isn't it? Every time I think people have been insufficiently appreciative of my latest effort, I wonder if I'm turning into Richard and don't know it..."
Very horrifying since all writers really do want appreciative readers - it is only a matter of degree. Let's face it - Richard takes things to the extreme. But not enough to change his deadly approach to novel writing. There's that memorable scene where he is outside on the sidewalk looking at a bookstore window - and has to admit, what he has to say in his fiction will never appear in such a window, what he has to say will never speak to reader or move readers.
Unless, like Richard, if you begin to haunt your local bookstore to see if anybody is thumbing through your book on the shelf or if you call the bookstore and nag the clerk about the number of your books sold in the last 24 hours, I think you are safe.
Yes, I love the way he's so happy when a copy gets sold, and then he keeps dropping in to see if any more will go! Thankfully, you can now check these things online to avoid the humiliation of doing it in person...
Manny wrote: "Yes, I love the way he's so happy when a copy gets sold, and then he keeps dropping in to see if any more will go! Thankfully, you can now check these things online to avoid the humiliation of doin..."
Very true! If a writer checks on-line every day or so, as probably the majority of writers do, that's fine. But if an author checks on-line sales every five minutes, that's another matter.
That's right - Richard is elated when one book is sold but it doesn't last that long. The older gentleman, if you recall, walks up to Richard at his signing and smacks his copy of Untitled on the desk and walks out. Richard can see the bookmark from the Lazy Susan Bookstore. Enough to make even a caustic British author cry.
I do wonder, if you go the way of Richard, where it stops. Will it actually be enough for him to see some people with his book? If he becomes the most popular author in the world will THAT be enough? I have a friend with a local best-seller who has gone to great efforts to try to make that more and it made me think back to the days I hung out with a lot of gamblers. No win was ever big enough. There was always the regret that it could have been more. It made even the biggest wins sort of sad.
I think every author is Richard, except a few who metamorphose into the insufferably pompous and self-satisfied Gwyn. It's not a very attractive choice on offer, now that I think about it...
Manny wrote: "I think every author is Richard, except a few who metamorphose into the insufferably pompous and self-satisfied Gwyn. It's not a very attractive choice on offer, now that I think about it..."
I disagree. There are many writers who just want to write. Perhaps by definition they are more likely not to be published. It really isn't fair that writers have to work at getting that done.
Well, one hopes that's true. But Amis's book works very well as a satire...
notgettingenough wrote: "I do wonder, if you go the way of Richard, where it stops. Will it actually be enough for him to see some people with his book? If he becomes the most popular author in the world will THAT be enoug..."
That's exactly right. As Buddha and many other teachers have pointed out, the first step in achieving any degree of enlightenment is recognizing as humans we are in the "desire realm."
Epicurus captured this truth when he said: “He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing .”
As you cite, being a famous author or a gambler who just won a million dollars, the craving for more is forever present. How we deal with it will speak to our degree of wisdom.
Glenn wrote: "the craving for more is forever present"
I first read that as "the craving for more is forever president". I need to take a break from looking at the news.
Manny wrote: "Glenn wrote: "the craving for more is forever present"
I first read that as "the craving for more is forever president". I need to take a break from looking at the news."
Ha! Actually, if you ever take a break, even for a few days, from watching the news, you might be surprised how your mood will improve and maybe even your overall health. At least that has been my experience and a number of people told me likewise.
I can see that might work, but I'm not sure I have the necessary willpower. I'll start by resolving only to check my online sales figures once a day.
Manny wrote: "I can see that might work, but I'm not sure I have the necessary willpower. I'll start by resolving only to check my online sales figures once a day."
Good first step, Manny! Perhaps you could visualize more than one checking of online sales per day amounts to being lured into a bad countermove in a chess game that will lead to your being checkmated.
I will do my best to channel my obsessions into more productive paths.
DonaldPres wrote: "And yet some writers do not seem to obsess. For example, when "Jude the Obscure," Hardy's fifth novel, was received poorly he basically said; "Phhhtt. Then that's the last one I'll do." "
But is that not obsessing too? At least it may be. Mightn't the non-obsessive way be not even to know if it is poorly received and write another because you'd like to.
DonaldPres wrote: " Now I'm wondering if some people might just be ambivalent about writing. "
Yes, I think that's it. Presumably Hardy wasn't an obsessive writer, but obsessively collected good reviews.
DonaldPres wrote: "This book, review, and thread are interesting as all hell to me. It's difficult to explain as I have some familiarity with the concepts, but not where they are taken here.
And yet some writers do..."
And thanks in turn for letting us know you enjoyed my review and the comments posted here, Donald. Also contributing your own comments. Much appreciated.
Great review, Glenn. I've got very fond memories of this novel.
Violet wrote: "Great review, Glenn. I've got very fond memories of this novel."
Thanks so much, Violet. In many respects The Information was my Waterloo. From this point forward, my novel reading and reviewing is all downhill. :)
I can appreciate how you have fond memories of the novel. There are so many memorable scenes. Like the one where Gwyn and Richard are flying in that small plane that almost crashes because of excess weight. After they finally force land, Gwyn gives Richard hell for what caused the problem that might have resulted in their deaths - that satchel filled with a dozen copies of his crap doorstop, Untitled!
Magnificent review, Glenn. You've given us all a great gift with this review, which is the ability to see, hear, and smell this novel from afar. "Blokes, buggers, dudes, and dolts" so perfectly captures the Amis milieu.
My only encounter with Martin Amis thus far has been through London Fields, another explosively brilliant book, and I recognize much of that novel in your description of The Information: the seething resentments and commentaries on writing, the outlandish plot, and the sense that writing and living are so inextricably intertwined that it's impossible to tell the difference. You also capture something else that I experienced when putting down London Fields, which is the sheer emotional exhaustion at the end. For weeks I had the hardest time reading fiction when that book was over. Finally I tried another Martin Amis book--Money--just to see if I could read that, and I couldn't muster more than a few pages. Martin Amis is like an incredibly rich meal that takes ages to digest and leaves you feeling full for days, and yet you can't help having fond recollections of it, even as those recollections are tinged with the sadness that you're not likely to eat so well for some time to come.
Michael wrote: "Magnificent review, Glenn. You've given us all a great gift with this review, which is the ability to see, hear, and smell this novel from afar. "Blokes, buggers, dudes, and dolts" so perfectly cap..."
Thanks, Michael! Great way you have to express what a reader will undergo when reading a Martin Amis novel beginning to end. What an author! I'm glad you felt I was able to convey something of the atmosphere and quality of his fine writing.
Wes wrote: ""Its a double whammy – both the narrator and the main character spit their vitriol out on every single page. More acrimoniousness toward other people and the world you will not encounter. But, stil..."i
Thanks so much, Wes! So glad you not only thought my review is helpful to let potential readers know what emotional challenges they are in for when reading, but also that I expressed myself in a way that has a measure of entertainment-value and color. That's what I'm after with my writing nowadays.
By the way, I reviewed London Fields in case you want to check out at some point.
Hey Glenn....referencing wsb! ok i l will read it...
the gift wrote: "Hey Glenn....referencing wsb! ok i l will read it..."
Ha! Oh, yes, the shadow of Il hombre invisible aka Benzedrine Bill lurks in the shadows of Amis-ish London. My own experience in reading this novel was as if I was crawling back and forth on all fours from Big Ben to Shepherd's Bush over the course of two weeks. But soooo insightful. Have fun!
David wrote: "I know, I'm always bringing up Stanislaw Lem, Glenn, but the metafictional Untitled immediately brought to mind Lem's Gigamesh, the ultimate play on Joyce's Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake. It exists t..."
Ha! Great Lem reference, David. One thing is for sure, no matter how dense that book Lem is reviewing (and it sounds pretty damn dense), it certainly is more readable than Richard Tull's Untitled, a novel that registered only one sale that the author knew of. But, alas, the buyer, an older British gentleman, returned to the bookstore, tossed Untitled on the counter and demanded his money back, saying reading the first few pages made him so sick he almost died.
Thanks so much for sharing your comment. Much appreciated!
Donna wrote: "Thanks for the memory of reading this book. I still remember the less fortunate writer’s book having paper so raw there were wood chips capable of inflicting painful splinters."
My pleasure, Donna. Yes, yes - Richard Tull and his unreadable novel, so unreadable even the pages inflict pain! And congrats on reading this novel, Donna. I think every cover-to-cover reader should receive a personalized letter of thanks from Martin!
TBV wrote: "Excellent review, Glenn."
Thanks so much! This was one of the most challenging novels I've read. Wanted to give it my best shot.
Donna wrote: "The series Trollope wrote that begins with the Warden, I’m on the last one and can’t bear to finish it. Because then it would be over. If you ever get a chance to read The Way We Live Now by Trollo..."
Oh, wow! Double wow, Donna! You read the Trollope novels - quite the accomplishment! I feel honored you've read my review!
I'll have to check out The Way We Live Now at some point. Sounds like the 19th century counterpart of The Information.
TheBookWarren wrote: "Bravo 👏🏻"
Thanks, BW!!! For me, this surely was one of the most emotionally draining novels ever. But a great work by an outstanding Brit author.
If you like this one, you will love "Money", another one of Amis's humorous novels. Also set in London, and even darker and funnier.
Matt wrote: "If you like this one, you will love "Money", another one of Amis's humorous novels. Also set in London, and even darker and funnier."
Thanks for the rec, Matt. Will have to check it out, for sure.
What a thoughtful and inspiring review and by "inspiring," I mean that I'm now going to put this Amis novel on my wish list. I'm a fan of his work already. Thanks for lifting up this particular novel.
David wrote: "What a thoughtful and inspiring review and by "inspiring," I mean that I'm now going to put this Amis novel on my wish list. I'm a fan of his work already. Thanks for lifting up this particular novel."
Hey, David. You just made my day! In my modest judgement, this Martin Amis is one of the finest novels of the late twentieth century. I so much enjoyed doing the write-up. So many insights; such superb writing. I'm confident you'll enjoy reading deep into the night.
I wonder if Amis is the master of the unlikable protagonist? Or is it anti-hero?
I had thought I had a fair sampling of his books, but this one sounds like it is of an entirely different class. Thanks for the heads up.
This is an old review. Had you updated it or edited it recently?
Yes, I go back and edit reviews I posted in past years, one at a time. But, as I understand, if you edit, the review goes on all your friend's daily feed.
My pleasure to share re this Amis novel, which really worked for me. The only other Amis novel I've read is London Fields, which I also enjoyed. Both are top-notch. London Fields features some VERY unlikable characters.
I just looked up is reading list, it is far longer than I cared to know.
Of his books I have read, All of them had un likeable protagonists
Lucky JimLucky Jim is supposed to be among the best comedic novels ever, I do not remember laughing
One Fat Englishman May have been funny, but for me it was about could you care enoygh to finish, I did. It is said his wife read it and divorced him
and
Girl, 20 takes this kind of character into the musical scene
There were also 2 James Bond books. Amis was one of the first asked to take up the series after Flemming's death, but the novel is weak. These may not interest you.
Hey, P. Of course you know that those novels - Lucky Jim, One FE, Girl 20 - were written by Martin's dad - Kingsley Amis. BTW - I wrote reviews for 6 of Kingsley's novels, included the 3 you note.
"...its naively pompous semicolons..." This made me laugh so hard. I went through a semicolon period.
Inspired review Glenn
Glenn wrote: "Hey, P. Of course you know that those novels - Lucky Jim, One FE, Girl 20 - were written by Martin's dad - Kingsley Amis. BTW - I wrote reviews for 6 of Kingsley's novels, included the 3 you note."
I am going to plead Tuesdays medicals procedure.
I had missed that you were reviewing the son.
It was v nice of you to pretend otherwise
What is worse, I was sure I had already posted this 6 hours ago
All the best with your medical stuff, P. Always enjoy our exchanges.
Joe wrote: ""...its naively pompous semicolons..." This made me laugh so hard. I went through a semicolon period.
Inspired review Glenn"
Many thanks, Joe. I myself befriended the colon and semicolon a number of years ago. Always found they came in so handy. Try not to be too pompous with them :).
I have held off on reading this for far too long.
Thanks for the push, Glenn
Glad my review was helpful, Richard. This Amis novel makes for an incredible read, especially since we can look back on the early 1990s at the peak (Will Self has written extensively on this topic) of literary novels having a public impact. I recall John Grisham saying back during those years he would walk down the street and many people would actually recognize him. Quite unlike the past several years when he walks out in public and nobody recognizes. him.
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It is a rather horrifying novel, isn't it? Every time I think people have been insufficiently appreciative of my latest effort, I wonder if I'm turning into Richard and don't know it...
Manny wrote: "It is a rather horrifying novel, isn't it? Every time I think people have been insufficiently appreciative of my latest effort, I wonder if I'm turning into Richard and don't know it..."Very horrifying since all writers really do want appreciative readers - it is only a matter of degree. Let's face it - Richard takes things to the extreme. But not enough to change his deadly approach to novel writing. There's that memorable scene where he is outside on the sidewalk looking at a bookstore window - and has to admit, what he has to say in his fiction will never appear in such a window, what he has to say will never speak to reader or move readers.
Unless, like Richard, if you begin to haunt your local bookstore to see if anybody is thumbing through your book on the shelf or if you call the bookstore and nag the clerk about the number of your books sold in the last 24 hours, I think you are safe.
Yes, I love the way he's so happy when a copy gets sold, and then he keeps dropping in to see if any more will go! Thankfully, you can now check these things online to avoid the humiliation of doing it in person...
Manny wrote: "Yes, I love the way he's so happy when a copy gets sold, and then he keeps dropping in to see if any more will go! Thankfully, you can now check these things online to avoid the humiliation of doin..."Very true! If a writer checks on-line every day or so, as probably the majority of writers do, that's fine. But if an author checks on-line sales every five minutes, that's another matter.
That's right - Richard is elated when one book is sold but it doesn't last that long. The older gentleman, if you recall, walks up to Richard at his signing and smacks his copy of Untitled on the desk and walks out. Richard can see the bookmark from the Lazy Susan Bookstore. Enough to make even a caustic British author cry.
I do wonder, if you go the way of Richard, where it stops. Will it actually be enough for him to see some people with his book? If he becomes the most popular author in the world will THAT be enough? I have a friend with a local best-seller who has gone to great efforts to try to make that more and it made me think back to the days I hung out with a lot of gamblers. No win was ever big enough. There was always the regret that it could have been more. It made even the biggest wins sort of sad.
I think every author is Richard, except a few who metamorphose into the insufferably pompous and self-satisfied Gwyn. It's not a very attractive choice on offer, now that I think about it...
Manny wrote: "I think every author is Richard, except a few who metamorphose into the insufferably pompous and self-satisfied Gwyn. It's not a very attractive choice on offer, now that I think about it..."I disagree. There are many writers who just want to write. Perhaps by definition they are more likely not to be published. It really isn't fair that writers have to work at getting that done.
Well, one hopes that's true. But Amis's book works very well as a satire...
notgettingenough wrote: "I do wonder, if you go the way of Richard, where it stops. Will it actually be enough for him to see some people with his book? If he becomes the most popular author in the world will THAT be enoug..."That's exactly right. As Buddha and many other teachers have pointed out, the first step in achieving any degree of enlightenment is recognizing as humans we are in the "desire realm."
Epicurus captured this truth when he said: “He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing .”
As you cite, being a famous author or a gambler who just won a million dollars, the craving for more is forever present. How we deal with it will speak to our degree of wisdom.
Glenn wrote: "the craving for more is forever present"I first read that as "the craving for more is forever president". I need to take a break from looking at the news.
Manny wrote: "Glenn wrote: "the craving for more is forever present"I first read that as "the craving for more is forever president". I need to take a break from looking at the news."
Ha! Actually, if you ever take a break, even for a few days, from watching the news, you might be surprised how your mood will improve and maybe even your overall health. At least that has been my experience and a number of people told me likewise.
I can see that might work, but I'm not sure I have the necessary willpower. I'll start by resolving only to check my online sales figures once a day.
Manny wrote: "I can see that might work, but I'm not sure I have the necessary willpower. I'll start by resolving only to check my online sales figures once a day."Good first step, Manny! Perhaps you could visualize more than one checking of online sales per day amounts to being lured into a bad countermove in a chess game that will lead to your being checkmated.
I will do my best to channel my obsessions into more productive paths.
DonaldPres wrote: "And yet some writers do not seem to obsess. For example, when "Jude the Obscure," Hardy's fifth novel, was received poorly he basically said; "Phhhtt. Then that's the last one I'll do." "But is that not obsessing too? At least it may be. Mightn't the non-obsessive way be not even to know if it is poorly received and write another because you'd like to.
DonaldPres wrote: " Now I'm wondering if some people might just be ambivalent about writing. "Yes, I think that's it. Presumably Hardy wasn't an obsessive writer, but obsessively collected good reviews.
DonaldPres wrote: "This book, review, and thread are interesting as all hell to me. It's difficult to explain as I have some familiarity with the concepts, but not where they are taken here. And yet some writers do..."
And thanks in turn for letting us know you enjoyed my review and the comments posted here, Donald. Also contributing your own comments. Much appreciated.
Great review, Glenn. I've got very fond memories of this novel.
Violet wrote: "Great review, Glenn. I've got very fond memories of this novel."Thanks so much, Violet. In many respects The Information was my Waterloo. From this point forward, my novel reading and reviewing is all downhill. :)
I can appreciate how you have fond memories of the novel. There are so many memorable scenes. Like the one where Gwyn and Richard are flying in that small plane that almost crashes because of excess weight. After they finally force land, Gwyn gives Richard hell for what caused the problem that might have resulted in their deaths - that satchel filled with a dozen copies of his crap doorstop, Untitled!
Magnificent review, Glenn. You've given us all a great gift with this review, which is the ability to see, hear, and smell this novel from afar. "Blokes, buggers, dudes, and dolts" so perfectly captures the Amis milieu.My only encounter with Martin Amis thus far has been through London Fields, another explosively brilliant book, and I recognize much of that novel in your description of The Information: the seething resentments and commentaries on writing, the outlandish plot, and the sense that writing and living are so inextricably intertwined that it's impossible to tell the difference. You also capture something else that I experienced when putting down London Fields, which is the sheer emotional exhaustion at the end. For weeks I had the hardest time reading fiction when that book was over. Finally I tried another Martin Amis book--Money--just to see if I could read that, and I couldn't muster more than a few pages. Martin Amis is like an incredibly rich meal that takes ages to digest and leaves you feeling full for days, and yet you can't help having fond recollections of it, even as those recollections are tinged with the sadness that you're not likely to eat so well for some time to come.
Michael wrote: "Magnificent review, Glenn. You've given us all a great gift with this review, which is the ability to see, hear, and smell this novel from afar. "Blokes, buggers, dudes, and dolts" so perfectly cap..."Thanks, Michael! Great way you have to express what a reader will undergo when reading a Martin Amis novel beginning to end. What an author! I'm glad you felt I was able to convey something of the atmosphere and quality of his fine writing.
Wes wrote: ""Its a double whammy – both the narrator and the main character spit their vitriol out on every single page. More acrimoniousness toward other people and the world you will not encounter. But, stil..."iThanks so much, Wes! So glad you not only thought my review is helpful to let potential readers know what emotional challenges they are in for when reading, but also that I expressed myself in a way that has a measure of entertainment-value and color. That's what I'm after with my writing nowadays.
By the way, I reviewed London Fields in case you want to check out at some point.
Hey Glenn....referencing wsb! ok i l will read it...
the gift wrote: "Hey Glenn....referencing wsb! ok i l will read it..."Ha! Oh, yes, the shadow of Il hombre invisible aka Benzedrine Bill lurks in the shadows of Amis-ish London. My own experience in reading this novel was as if I was crawling back and forth on all fours from Big Ben to Shepherd's Bush over the course of two weeks. But soooo insightful. Have fun!
I know, I'm always bringing up Stanislaw Lem, Glenn, but the metafictional Untitled immediately brought to mind Lem's Gigamesh, the ultimate play on Joyce's Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake. It exists through a fictional book review in his A Perfect Vacuum. Gigamesh covers a mere 36 minutes while the hero Maesch is transported to his military hanging. The author's plan is to exponentially up Joyce's density by cramming the greatest possible allusions into each word, nay into each letter with the aid of information theory and computers hooked up the the Library of Congress! He has also created his own reference materials at twice the book's size!! What a literary roast...
David wrote: "I know, I'm always bringing up Stanislaw Lem, Glenn, but the metafictional Untitled immediately brought to mind Lem's Gigamesh, the ultimate play on Joyce's Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake. It exists t..."Ha! Great Lem reference, David. One thing is for sure, no matter how dense that book Lem is reviewing (and it sounds pretty damn dense), it certainly is more readable than Richard Tull's Untitled, a novel that registered only one sale that the author knew of. But, alas, the buyer, an older British gentleman, returned to the bookstore, tossed Untitled on the counter and demanded his money back, saying reading the first few pages made him so sick he almost died.
Thanks so much for sharing your comment. Much appreciated!
Donna wrote: "Thanks for the memory of reading this book. I still remember the less fortunate writer’s book having paper so raw there were wood chips capable of inflicting painful splinters."My pleasure, Donna. Yes, yes - Richard Tull and his unreadable novel, so unreadable even the pages inflict pain! And congrats on reading this novel, Donna. I think every cover-to-cover reader should receive a personalized letter of thanks from Martin!
TBV wrote: "Excellent review, Glenn."Thanks so much! This was one of the most challenging novels I've read. Wanted to give it my best shot.
Donna wrote: "The series Trollope wrote that begins with the Warden, I’m on the last one and can’t bear to finish it. Because then it would be over. If you ever get a chance to read The Way We Live Now by Trollo..."Oh, wow! Double wow, Donna! You read the Trollope novels - quite the accomplishment! I feel honored you've read my review!
I'll have to check out The Way We Live Now at some point. Sounds like the 19th century counterpart of The Information.
TheBookWarren wrote: "Bravo 👏🏻"Thanks, BW!!! For me, this surely was one of the most emotionally draining novels ever. But a great work by an outstanding Brit author.
If you like this one, you will love "Money", another one of Amis's humorous novels. Also set in London, and even darker and funnier.
Matt wrote: "If you like this one, you will love "Money", another one of Amis's humorous novels. Also set in London, and even darker and funnier."Thanks for the rec, Matt. Will have to check it out, for sure.
What a thoughtful and inspiring review and by "inspiring," I mean that I'm now going to put this Amis novel on my wish list. I'm a fan of his work already. Thanks for lifting up this particular novel.
David wrote: "What a thoughtful and inspiring review and by "inspiring," I mean that I'm now going to put this Amis novel on my wish list. I'm a fan of his work already. Thanks for lifting up this particular novel."Hey, David. You just made my day! In my modest judgement, this Martin Amis is one of the finest novels of the late twentieth century. I so much enjoyed doing the write-up. So many insights; such superb writing. I'm confident you'll enjoy reading deep into the night.
I wonder if Amis is the master of the unlikable protagonist? Or is it anti-hero?I had thought I had a fair sampling of his books, but this one sounds like it is of an entirely different class. Thanks for the heads up.
This is an old review. Had you updated it or edited it recently?
Yes, I go back and edit reviews I posted in past years, one at a time. But, as I understand, if you edit, the review goes on all your friend's daily feed.My pleasure to share re this Amis novel, which really worked for me. The only other Amis novel I've read is London Fields, which I also enjoyed. Both are top-notch. London Fields features some VERY unlikable characters.
I just looked up is reading list, it is far longer than I cared to know.Of his books I have read, All of them had un likeable protagonists
Lucky JimLucky Jim is supposed to be among the best comedic novels ever, I do not remember laughing
One Fat Englishman May have been funny, but for me it was about could you care enoygh to finish, I did. It is said his wife read it and divorced him
and
Girl, 20 takes this kind of character into the musical scene
There were also 2 James Bond books. Amis was one of the first asked to take up the series after Flemming's death, but the novel is weak. These may not interest you.
Hey, P. Of course you know that those novels - Lucky Jim, One FE, Girl 20 - were written by Martin's dad - Kingsley Amis. BTW - I wrote reviews for 6 of Kingsley's novels, included the 3 you note.
"...its naively pompous semicolons..." This made me laugh so hard. I went through a semicolon period.Inspired review Glenn
Glenn wrote: "Hey, P. Of course you know that those novels - Lucky Jim, One FE, Girl 20 - were written by Martin's dad - Kingsley Amis. BTW - I wrote reviews for 6 of Kingsley's novels, included the 3 you note."I am going to plead Tuesdays medicals procedure.
I had missed that you were reviewing the son.
It was v nice of you to pretend otherwise
What is worse, I was sure I had already posted this 6 hours ago
All the best with your medical stuff, P. Always enjoy our exchanges.
Joe wrote: ""...its naively pompous semicolons..." This made me laugh so hard. I went through a semicolon period.Inspired review Glenn"
Many thanks, Joe. I myself befriended the colon and semicolon a number of years ago. Always found they came in so handy. Try not to be too pompous with them :).
I have held off on reading this for far too long.Thanks for the push, Glenn
Glad my review was helpful, Richard. This Amis novel makes for an incredible read, especially since we can look back on the early 1990s at the peak (Will Self has written extensively on this topic) of literary novels having a public impact. I recall John Grisham saying back during those years he would walk down the street and many people would actually recognize him. Quite unlike the past several years when he walks out in public and nobody recognizes. him.
Its great to get an info..."
Thanks ever so much, Elyse! Quite the novel Martin wrote here - just might qualify as the toughest novel I've ever read. From here on my novel-reading will be all down hill. :)
Reading those many hours, I fortified myself with either espresso or herbal tea. Fortunately, for my good health, I stayed clear of Richard's usual fare.