prendrelemick
07-16-2010, 05:48 AM
Money:
John Self has made some money, and he is spending it. John's appetites are large, he knows no restraint, he consumes large amounts of booze, drugs, pornography and sex. He is disgusting, loud beligerant and disgusting. I really liked him.
In John Self, Martin Amis has given us an appalling character but an honest one. (The name is significant) He is worth listening to, there is no flannel or euphanism with John, he doesn't think before he speaks, he is experiencing money at first hand, and we are with him, he sees what it can do, he can recognise its presence, he has insights about it that are worth hearing.
The book is written in the first person, from John's point of view. The prose is fast and to the point, a little off, a little odd, its interesting. As you read you realize you are being beaten over the head with allegory, every name has significance. There is a strong sense that this is not the real world, the author is manipulating us all, characters and readers alike. At the end of the book John shouts at Martin Amis (Who appears as himself -a kind of cameo role) "I'm the joke. I'm it! It was you. It was you."
Oh and by the way, its a comedy of the highest order.
I loved this book! I shall give it an almost unprecedented 8 and a half out of ten.
John Self has made some money, and he is spending it. John's appetites are large, he knows no restraint, he consumes large amounts of booze, drugs, pornography and sex. He is disgusting, loud beligerant and disgusting. I really liked him.
In John Self, Martin Amis has given us an appalling character but an honest one. (The name is significant) He is worth listening to, there is no flannel or euphanism with John, he doesn't think before he speaks, he is experiencing money at first hand, and we are with him, he sees what it can do, he can recognise its presence, he has insights about it that are worth hearing.
The book is written in the first person, from John's point of view. The prose is fast and to the point, a little off, a little odd, its interesting. As you read you realize you are being beaten over the head with allegory, every name has significance. There is a strong sense that this is not the real world, the author is manipulating us all, characters and readers alike. At the end of the book John shouts at Martin Amis (Who appears as himself -a kind of cameo role) "I'm the joke. I'm it! It was you. It was you."
Oh and by the way, its a comedy of the highest order.
I loved this book! I shall give it an almost unprecedented 8 and a half out of ten.