Amsterdam

by Ian McEwan | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0099272776 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Winterson of Peacehaven , East Sussex United Kingdom on 2/11/2005
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Winterson from Peacehaven , East Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, February 11, 2005
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. --Lisa Jardine
Synopsis
A contemporary morality tale that is as profound as it is witty. Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday are former lovers of the recently-deceased Molly Lane. They make a pact following her funeral, which both tests their friendship to the limits and has consequences neither has foreseen.

I just don't get him. Really.. I cannot read a McEwan book and come away feeling I've achieved something. So, I'm giving up on McEwan now and am going to stop worrying that I'm missing out on something just because he is a prizewinner. Some books just aren't for me.

This is going out as part of the Modern Classics bookbox, because, whether I like his work or not, this did win the Booker prize, and is a modern classic.

Hope whoever picks it out gets on with him better than I can - I'd love to see some journals here showing that others have enjoyed it :)

Journal Entry 2 by tiggsybabes from Pontefract, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 26, 2005
Not read any of his books, so will give this a go :)

Journal Entry 3 by tiggsybabes from Pontefract, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, September 9, 2005
My first ever McEwan book & I really enjoyed it. The ending was great & I loved the build-up.

Released 18 yrs ago (9/9/2005 UTC) at Sheffield Meet @ The Showroom in Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom

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Taking to the meet tomorrow, Showroom cafe / bar from 11am onwards. All welcome. Please come along, take some books, journal them, read them & pass them on :)

Journal Entry 5 by kittiwake on Saturday, September 10, 2005
Picked up at the Showroom.

Journal Entry 6 by kittiwake on Sunday, September 25, 2005
I have just lent two Ian McEwan books from my bookshelf to my mother. They are "Atonement" and "Amsterdam". I will read "Amsterdam" myself when she has finished with it.

Journal Entry 7 by kittiwake on Saturday, October 29, 2005
My mother has finished reading this book and given it back to me, so it's going back on my TBR shelf.

Journal Entry 8 by kittiwake on Monday, December 12, 2005
This extremely far-fetched story begins at the funeral of 46-year-old Molly Lane, and the main characters are three of her ex-lovers and her husband. It becomes clear that free-spirited and vivacious Molly had atrocious taste in men, as all four are thoroughly despicable in different ways. I read all 178 pages in one insomniac session in the early hours of this morning, and although it didn't send me back to sleep, I can't say that I ever really got into it.

Journal Entry 9 by kittiwake at on Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Released 18 yrs ago (12/14/2005 UTC) at

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To be released at the Nottingham Book Crossing meet downstairs in Costa Coffee, on Saturday from 12 noon onwards.

Journal Entry 10 by wingReetPetitewing from Beeston, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Saturday, December 17, 2005
Picked up at the Nottm meet-up.
Thanks

Journal Entry 11 by wingReetPetitewing from Beeston, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 16, 2007
I've had this for a while but I don't think I'll get round to reading it.

I'll release it or offer it to someone who has it on their wishlist.

Being posted to dsc

Journal Entry 12 by dsc from Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 20, 2007
Just arrived this morning, thanks to a RABCK from ReetPetite. Thank you.
Some mixed reviews above, I enjoyed Enduring Love so I'll see how I get on with this one.

Journal Entry 13 by dsc from Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 20, 2008
I am not really getting into this book, there's not much happening and the characters are not engaging me, so I'm afraid I'm going to abandon it.

I will be listing it on bookmooch.com

Released 16 yrs ago (3/22/2008 UTC) at BookMooch Member in Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases

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On its way to a bookmooch.com member in Birmingham

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