Posted by icbookclub on Thu 2 Jul 09, 9:03 PM to icbookclub's blog.
As suggested by Max Bedroom.
| 3 Jul 09, 9:21 AM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
I think this is a really nice idea. I hope it works out...may have to be a bit of a slow burner though. As I suggested this book, and as I hadn't even heard of it a few weeks ago, I am making the assumption that most people on here won't have heard of it either... So I thought I would have a bash at stoking the interest of any would be IC Book Club members. This is not an easy task, as the book is 700 pages long, and covers a lot of ground. It is provocative, laugh out loud funny, and it is hard to believe that it is a debut novel, because it is so damned confident. It is not an easy read in the sense that it it is full of philosophy (not anything horribly dry) as one of the main protagonists, Martin Dean spends his entire life analysing the state of humanity, whilst being fully aware that he is a pretty poor example himself. He is a strange combination of misanthropy and philathropy - and it is difficult to know whether the reader is supposed to despise him or admire him. I think it is probably a bit of both. The story goes all over the place, taking in murder, travel, a bit of sex (although maybe not enough for the perves on here), ridiculous schemes and quite a bit of death on top of the murders. And a damned site more. I finished it just last night - and whilst I can usually polish off most books in around a week, this took me a lot longer, often because I had put it down and think about what I had just read. I have the feeling one day that I will go back to it with a magic marker to highlight all the provocative sections, so that I can ponder them properly. There are too many nuggets to take in all at once. I felt a bit cheated at the end of the book - not because the ending was unsatisfactory - but because the story could have continued, and I wanted to know more. Which must be a good thing. I am not sure if this pretty poor excuse for a book review is going to get anyone to invest their time. It is a bigger commitment than your average book. Or, maybe it was just too clever for me... | |
| 3 Jul 09, 12:51 PM SemiTrainedApe UK, 4 yrs  |
I read the first few pages on amazon last night and thought it was very readable and funny. I'm quite surprised to find it's 700 pages long now.
The experiment requires that you continue. | |
| 3 Jul 09, 1:07 PM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
I think you would really like it. I think we have some similarities in our outlook, and there is plenty in here to stop you make and think... There are some really profound thoughts about the nature of man and society...so many so, that I will have to go back and read it again at some stage. Better make that 1400 pages. | |
| 3 Jul 09, 3:53 PM SemiTrainedApe UK, 4 yrs |
Aye, we have similar tastes. I may order it. The experiment requires that you continue. | |
| 3 Jul 09, 5:08 PM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
Are we having a bromance?
| |
| 3 Jul 09, 7:53 PM SemiTrainedApe UK, 4 yrs |
I may have misunderstood what goes on in a book club. The experiment requires that you continue. | |
| 3 Jul 09, 8:03 PM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
Hey, a bromance is not a sexual thing. Although... | |
| 3 Jul 09, 8:05 PM SemiTrainedApe UK, 4 yrs |
Don't back track, Bedroom - if you wanna go gay on my hairy arse, you have to join the queue behind Jahc99.
The experiment requires that you continue. | |
| 3 Jul 09, 8:10 PM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
Oi. We have yet to solve the old insertee/insertor question. I bagsy insertor. | |
| 3 Jul 09, 8:11 PM Max_Bedroom 5 yrs |
Oh Christ. This was supposed to be all intellectual, not a descent into bum love. Innit. |
