Blurb: How can one writer hurt another where it really counts - his reputation? This is the problem facing novelist Richard Tull, contemplating the success of his friend and rival Gwyn Barry...

This will be on its way to dolphin-au in Australia shortly.

On its way to dolphin-au by surface mail.
Hope you enjoy it when it eventually gets there!

The book arrived safely. On the same day I found another Martin Amis book in my mailbox, so I have to be careful not to read them one aftere the other ;-). I have had mixed experiences with previous Amis books, so am curious to see if I will like this one, but it will have to wait a little while to get on top of thelist of books to read (which I am happy to say looks more like a hill than a mountain these days).

I have a not very comfortable relationship with Martin Amis' books. Often his main characters are extremely unpleasant, but when you stick to them, they turn out to be all too human. The main character in The Information is so self-destructive that as a reader you continuously crinch for him (it's a bit like the Fawlty Towers character Basil, though not quite as droll). Some of the plot gets a bit repetitive, but overall I enjoyed the book the further I got into it, but as with just about every Amis book till now, I was tempted to toss it within the first 100 pages. It pays to persevere and in the end it is more pity than repulsion you feel for the characters, once you understand they are just as fallible as unlikable as everybody else, including yourself. Amis does not bring the best out but there is a certain truth in his depiction, however grim it might be.

Sent to cat207 as part of the OZ 1001 list. Enjoy!

Arrived in this morning's mail. Thanks dolphin-au.

Not really sure what to make of this one. It was a bit strange...

Taking this with me to Oxford for Bloedengel - from her wishlist.

Thank you ever so much for dragging this with you to Oxford for me, across the globe !
And 'en plus' I'm afraid we didn't even get to meet in person at the convention, what a shame !
Let's meet up in Athens, shall we ? ;))))

I had mixed experiences with Martin Amis' books as well, but as most of them are on the 1001-list I keep trying, because to my experience books that are on it are almost always worth reading one way or another !

Goeie reis !

Goede reis, boek! En laat je nog iets van je horen?
Veel leesplezier voor de gelukkige vinder.

Farewell, book! Find pastures new! And please tell me about your travels...

Adieu, cher livre! Bon voyage! N'oublie pas de me raconter où tu vas!

Machs gut, liebes Buch, und melde Dich mal wieder!