Amsterdam : A Novel
15 journalers for this copy...
Great book! To quote a _Boston Globe_ reviewer (as quoted on the book's back cover): "Beautifully spare prose, wicked observation, and dark comic brio." Both characters and plot are well-crafted.
I got this from my mom (I think) and I read it on our long trip back to Buffalo from California. This is the perfect book for plane travel. It draws you in and keeps you interested.
I got this from my mom (I think) and I read it on our long trip back to Buffalo from California. This is the perfect book for plane travel. It draws you in and keeps you interested.
Released to jtanny at a secret location on UB's North Campus. (k)
I got this one back from jtanny.
Its joined Jackson371's Virtual Fiction Book Box and is ready to ship whenever it is selected.
Its joined Jackson371's Virtual Fiction Book Box and is ready to ship whenever it is selected.
This book is off tomorrow on the long journey to redhouse. I hope she enjoys it!
Journal Entry 5 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Saturday, November 5, 2005
Arrived safely this morning.
Many thanks
Many thanks
This is a great read, I'm so glad I accepted it from the box and many thanks morsecode for mailing it to me. I liked it much better than Atonement which I enjoyed with reservations.
I've got a couple of bookboxes heading my way so it may go into one of those.
I've got a couple of bookboxes heading my way so it may go into one of those.
Missed the bookboxes, so I'm starting a bookring. This list is a work in progress and will be moved around to accommodate mailing preferences.1. stubee (UK)finished
2. KT-J (UK) finished
3. LindyLouMac ITALY (mail within EU) finished
4. pepita-di-Corfu Greece (international) finished
5. Ftarazu Portugal finished
6. DianeO UK (international) not responding
7. aunt-sophie CANADA finished
8. heartsong2 USA (prefer US ) finished
9. valerief USA (international) finished
10.acountkel USA (international)finished
11.Shortride USA (international) finished
12.icila FRANCE finished
13.brunton11UK <--it's here
14.livrecache AUS
Journal Entry 8 by stubee from Bury, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Arrived safe and sound today, so I'll get started on this shortly.
Thanks Redhouse :o)
Thanks Redhouse :o)
Enjoyable satire, fast and easy to read! The characters are strong and you instantly get an insight into their minds. This novel follows the story of three men who are affected by the sudden death of their former lover Molly, their actions and their consequences!
Thanks again Redhouse for passing starting the booking.
I’ve passed this on to my girlfriend KT-J who is next in the ring.
P.S. I think this is the first time ever in my life I've finished a book in 2 days
Thanks again Redhouse for passing starting the booking.
I’ve passed this on to my girlfriend KT-J who is next in the ring.
P.S. I think this is the first time ever in my life I've finished a book in 2 days
Stubee finished this in 2 days which is a miracle so I'll be starting it after I've finished my current book!
I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it was a really good read, fast paced and strong characters with a good storyline. The only thing I wasn't keen on was the ending. I though this was a bit far-fetched and I was disappointed that it didn't finish more satisfactorily. All in all though I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading more of McEwan's books.
Stubee has got an address from LindyLouMac so this will be on the way shortly.
Edit 23/10/06 - this was sent to LindyLouMac last Thursday.
Stubee has got an address from LindyLouMac so this will be on the way shortly.
Edit 23/10/06 - this was sent to LindyLouMac last Thursday.
This only arrived today! I know it was sent surface but with a postmark of 18/10/06 it has taken longer than average. surely the postal service is not slowing down for the busy Christmas period already! Last year it was terrible, with this in mind I think I will post a note on my profile soon and say it is not worth sending things out to me until the New Year!
Anyway will be reading this as soon as i finish my current title. Thanks redhouse, stubee and KT-J
Anyway will be reading this as soon as i finish my current title. Thanks redhouse, stubee and KT-J
Actually started reading yesterday and just completed, only 193 pages! I am not actually sure if I liked this rather morbid tale. It was on My Wishlist as I like to read Booker Prize Winners. Morals and ethics at the end of the 20C. I disliked all the male characters but then I do not suppose I was meant to like them!
Amazon.co.uk Review:
When good-time, fortysomething Molly Lane dies of an unspecified degenerative illness, her many friends and numerous lovers are led to think about their own mortality. Vernon Halliday, editor of the up-market newspaper The Judge, persuades his old friend Clive Linley, a self-indulgent composer of some reputation, to enter into a euthanasia pact with him. Should either of them succumb to such an illness, the other will effect his death. From this point onwards we are in little doubt as to the novel's outcome--it's only a matter of who will kill whom. In the meantime, compromising photographs of Molly's most distinguished lover, foreign secretary Julian Garmony, have found their way into the hands of the press, and as rumours circulate he teeters on the edge of disgrace. However, this is McEwan, so it is no surprise to find that the rather unsavoury Garmony comes out on top. McEwan is master of the writer's craft, and while this is the sort of novel that wins prizes, his characters remain curiously soulless amidst the twists and turns of plot.
I have already been in touch with Pepita-Di-Corfu and book will be en route by the end of the week.
Amazon.co.uk Review:
When good-time, fortysomething Molly Lane dies of an unspecified degenerative illness, her many friends and numerous lovers are led to think about their own mortality. Vernon Halliday, editor of the up-market newspaper The Judge, persuades his old friend Clive Linley, a self-indulgent composer of some reputation, to enter into a euthanasia pact with him. Should either of them succumb to such an illness, the other will effect his death. From this point onwards we are in little doubt as to the novel's outcome--it's only a matter of who will kill whom. In the meantime, compromising photographs of Molly's most distinguished lover, foreign secretary Julian Garmony, have found their way into the hands of the press, and as rumours circulate he teeters on the edge of disgrace. However, this is McEwan, so it is no surprise to find that the rather unsavoury Garmony comes out on top. McEwan is master of the writer's craft, and while this is the sort of novel that wins prizes, his characters remain curiously soulless amidst the twists and turns of plot.
I have already been in touch with Pepita-Di-Corfu and book will be en route by the end of the week.
Journal Entry 14 by LindyLouMac at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/1/2006 UTC) at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
En route to Greece.
En route to Greece.
Journal Entry 15 by pepita-di-Corfu from Thessaloniki - Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki Greece on Wednesday, December 6, 2006
the book was waiting for me when i returned back home today and i'm getting down to it straight away. The book's cover reminded me of my last summer in Amsterdam (actually this is the only reason i wanted to be part of this bookring :p) so i'm uploading a photo i took there. How i wish i could go there again. Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general is one of the most wonderful places i've ever been! I hope i'll enjoy the book as well!
Journal Entry 16 by pepita-di-Corfu at Bookring in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, January 14, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (1/15/2007 UTC) at Bookring in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES: i started reading the book as soon as i received it but i found out i couldn't concentrate on it so i stopped. Then i decided to give it another try but that didn't work either. Now i'm finally giving up on it, so tomorrow morning it will be travelling to Portugal to meet the next participant..
Arrived! I have some other books waiting but will try to be fast!
At first it was rather hard for me to get into the book but as I went on I started to get involved and was quite disappointed with the ending, I think it was a bit too much and morbid. But all in all I enjoyed the book a lot.
Thanks redhouse for sharing!
Im waiting for an address!
Thanks redhouse for sharing!
Im waiting for an address!
As DianeO is not answering my PMs, I asked for aunt-sophie's address and Im sending it today to her.
This was in my mailbox today! Thanks! I'd like to finish the book I am currently reading before I get down to it, though.
I began reading a few pages between chapters of the other book I am reading, and got caught - and finished it in only a couple of days. It's my favourite McEwan book so far, I must say. Maybe the fact that it was shorter is a factor. What I love about this author is how he describes the daily life of his characters, and how it influences their interaction with the rest of the world, and how his stories are built around a small moment and/or error of judgement that has disastrous consquences on the life of the characters. "Amsterdam" is a perfect example of all these qualities. Thank you redhouse for including me in this ring!
I am going to send a message to the next person right away and try to send on the book next week.
I am going to send a message to the next person right away and try to send on the book next week.
Arrived today! Should be able to get started with it soon! Thank you!
Boy, this Molly must've been quite a woman to affect 4 men so strongly! This is by far my most favorite McEwan book. I've read several that were on the reading list I'm working on, and honestly couldn't see what the hype was all about. I did enjoy this one though.
Sometimes I think it is psychologically fascinating to consider drama/thrillers etc. that are written by men about men, and the lengths they will go to avoid having to say they were wrong, or sorry, ask for forgiveness, or reevaluate a plan. Whereas I think most women would take the negotiator path and say you know, maybe this isn't such a good idea... gets these men into some dramatic pickles sometimes. Makes for interesting reading!
Thanks for sharing. Will send along shortly!
Sometimes I think it is psychologically fascinating to consider drama/thrillers etc. that are written by men about men, and the lengths they will go to avoid having to say they were wrong, or sorry, ask for forgiveness, or reevaluate a plan. Whereas I think most women would take the negotiator path and say you know, maybe this isn't such a good idea... gets these men into some dramatic pickles sometimes. Makes for interesting reading!
Thanks for sharing. Will send along shortly!
Just catching up with my stack of unopened mail. Work should be less burdensome so I should finish this by the end of June.
Thanks for sending!
Thanks for sending!
This one seemed to fly by, and I enjoyed it much more than "Atonement". Molly really got around in her day, but I guess maybe the free-loves 60's and 70's had something to do with it ;). The reaction of both main characters to the other's decision was very interesting. They both seemed to lack empathy for each other, and both made the determination that they were "beyond help". This book makes me willing to read more of McEwan's work. In fact, I have Saturday on my TBR right now.
This (and Running with Scissors) are off to acountkel. Enjoy!
This (and Running with Scissors) are off to acountkel. Enjoy!
It appears that Amsterdam has gone missing! We''re not sure how or why, but it never made it to acountkel in the package with Running with Scissors. Hoping to get another copy to keep the ring going.
:(
:(
I have received another copy of this book.
I will read and send on to Shortride when I am finished to keep the ring going.
I will read and send on to Shortride when I am finished to keep the ring going.
This is the first McEwan book I have read and I guess I didn't know what to expect. It definately is not my type of book. I am still trying to figure out what the plot was. Is jealousy the main theme or friendship gone array? I found the writing to be a bit too wordy. I also found the ideas to be choppy and scattered. I am glad I read it though. Now I know not to read another.
Thank you for including me in the ring. I have PM'd the next person and I will send on as soon as I receive the address.
Thank you for including me in the ring. I have PM'd the next person and I will send on as soon as I receive the address.
Book received. I'll get to it soon.
I enjoyed the book, but I thought the ending was a little contrived.
I meant to send it out earlier, but I got sick for a while. I'll send it as soon as I can.
11/14: Sent out. Sorry for the delay.
I meant to send it out earlier, but I got sick for a while. I'll send it as soon as I can.
11/14: Sent out. Sorry for the delay.
The book is safe at home. Thanks.
Oh sorry! I'm very late. Can you give me another week ?
I got caught on the reading. Good thing for a rainy sunday when I was late with this ring. A bit dissapointed with the ending.
Being french, I'm well aware of the sentence " In a language as idiomatically stressed as English, opportunities for misreadings are bound to arise".
PMing brunton11
27/02/2008 : In the mail
Being french, I'm well aware of the sentence " In a language as idiomatically stressed as English, opportunities for misreadings are bound to arise".
PMing brunton11
27/02/2008 : In the mail
Received today - Thanks all for sharing
This was the perfect book for a return train journey to London! I liked the style and found it quick and easy to read. I liked the idea of the ending but agree that it felt a bit rushed.
Livrecache has asked to be skipped. Waiting for an address from lellie so that this book can go home for a well deserved rest.
Livrecache has asked to be skipped. Waiting for an address from lellie so that this book can go home for a well deserved rest.
Posted back to lellie today :)
A completed ring!
Many thanks to acountkel who got it going again when the original was lost. This book will now be put with my availables and also on my BookMooch inventory.
Many thanks to acountkel who got it going again when the original was lost. This book will now be put with my availables and also on my BookMooch inventory.
Journal Entry 39 by lellie at Bookmooch in Trimley, Suffolk United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (4/15/2008 UTC) at Bookmooch in Trimley, Suffolk United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
This has been mooched and is now on its way back to America. I hope the moocher journals it.
Loved McEwan's "Saturday". I loved this one 3/4ths of the way through.
Thought the ending convuluted. Still, the conversation about contemporary
ethics embedded in the plot and the high comic moments makes this an often
delicious read.
I give'll it to my daughter and then put it on Book Mooch.
Thought the ending convuluted. Still, the conversation about contemporary
ethics embedded in the plot and the high comic moments makes this an often
delicious read.
I give'll it to my daughter and then put it on Book Mooch.
