Amsterdam: A Novel
3 journalers for this copy...
Amazon Editorial Review:
On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a London crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly's lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence: Clive is Britain's most successful modern composer, and Vernon is editor of the newspaper The Judge. Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister.
In the days that follow Molly's funeral, Clive and Vernon will make a pact with consequences that neither could have foreseen. Each will make a disastrous moral decision, their friendship will be tested to its limits, and Julian Garmony will be fighting for his political life. A sharp contemporary morality tale, cleverly disguised as a comic novel, Amsterdam is "as sheerly enjoyable a book as one is likely to pick up this year" (The Washington Post Book World).
On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a London crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly's lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence: Clive is Britain's most successful modern composer, and Vernon is editor of the newspaper The Judge. Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister.
In the days that follow Molly's funeral, Clive and Vernon will make a pact with consequences that neither could have foreseen. Each will make a disastrous moral decision, their friendship will be tested to its limits, and Julian Garmony will be fighting for his political life. A sharp contemporary morality tale, cleverly disguised as a comic novel, Amsterdam is "as sheerly enjoyable a book as one is likely to pick up this year" (The Washington Post Book World).
Placed this book in Trekwoman's Every One's a (Prize) Winner 2.0 bookbox.
I have read and enjoyed this book.
I have read and enjoyed this book.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Placed this book in Trekwoman's Every One's a (Prize) Winner 2.0 bookbox.
I have read and enjoyed this book.
Placed this book in Trekwoman's Every One's a (Prize) Winner 2.0 bookbox.
I have read and enjoyed this book.
Chosen from the prizewinners book box.
Quite a diversion. I read this in a day, finishing it at night, after which I had some odd dreams. I found it a little bit disturbing as well as funny.
Two former lovers of a woman, Molly, who died early from a degenerative disease, meet at her funeral. Clive is a well-known composer while Vernon is editor of a newspaper that is losing circulation fast.
Molly's husband later discovers compromising photographs she had taken of a current Foreign Secretary who will likely be making a bid for Prime Minister. He offers them to Vernon to publish, for a price. Vernon sees that publication could well destroy the Foreign Secretary's chances. His staff is opposed to their publication. When he discusses the situation with Clive, a long-time friend, he finds that Clive is not on his side either. Thus begins the separation.
We get to follow each man as he justifies his own actions in different situations, as each increasingly finds fault with the other (even as they try to set things right from time to time). Ultimately each chooses to consider a pact they made with each other as a way to end the rift forever.
The spare writing style has the effect of throwing us into a loaded scene before we're sure we're ready. At the same time, though, the wit and understanding of human failings makes the story funny and, at least in the larger sense, real.
Two former lovers of a woman, Molly, who died early from a degenerative disease, meet at her funeral. Clive is a well-known composer while Vernon is editor of a newspaper that is losing circulation fast.
Molly's husband later discovers compromising photographs she had taken of a current Foreign Secretary who will likely be making a bid for Prime Minister. He offers them to Vernon to publish, for a price. Vernon sees that publication could well destroy the Foreign Secretary's chances. His staff is opposed to their publication. When he discusses the situation with Clive, a long-time friend, he finds that Clive is not on his side either. Thus begins the separation.
We get to follow each man as he justifies his own actions in different situations, as each increasingly finds fault with the other (even as they try to set things right from time to time). Ultimately each chooses to consider a pact they made with each other as a way to end the rift forever.
The spare writing style has the effect of throwing us into a loaded scene before we're sure we're ready. At the same time, though, the wit and understanding of human failings makes the story funny and, at least in the larger sense, real.
Reserved for release.
Sent to a fellow bookcrosser as part of a Valentine's Day exchange set up by princess-peapod.
This sounds amazing, love your description. This is right up my alley. Thanks again!
