Blitzed on uppers, downers, blue movies and bellinis, the bacchanalia bent bon-vivants ... more
ensconced at Appleseed Rectory for the weekend are reeling in an hallucinatory haze of sex and seduction. But as Friday melts into Saturday and Saturday spirals into Sunday and sobriety sets in, the orgiastic romp descends to disastrous depths.
...me that I'm wrong, then I shall retract all. I won't be holding my breath!
By the way, the title is a dismissive term used by one of the characters. In the spirit of the book I'd have to say it is indeed Dead Babies. ... more
What a shame that the first Martin Amis book I chose to read (and consequently the last) should have been such a festering armpit of occasionally derivative, frequently dull and mildly disgusting characterisation, plot and narrative.
The plot, such that it is, centres around a group of self-obsessed bores in various states of physical and mental degeneration drinking, taking drugs and having sex, or failing to, in the countryside (anyone who's seen the John Duigan film "Loaded" should find this description familiar). I've always been a fan of the oddballs of literature (my username should give away a healthy obsession with John Irving) but sadly this lot fall short of the mark. The bunch of no-hopers include the impotent, aggressive Andy, the apparently physically grotesque (certainly mentally) Keith and the only mildly yawn-deterring characters, a trio of Americans who are best described as vari-sexuals. Their antics get more and more bizarre, yet somehow less and less shocking as one is almost killed by chemical ingestion, and comedy aspect of the novel revolves around trying to revive him through more chemical ingestion.
Now for my disclaimers: I read this book a year ago and haven't looked at it since. Because of this, I was not originally going to write an opinion on it. However, it all came rushing back to me in such startling technicolour that I felt the time was right to vent my spleen. So, there's my good point (sort of) for the book. It's memorable. Unfortunately.
Just one person told me he loved this book, so I therefore initiate a challenge. If anyone can tell me how I fabulously missed the point or failed utterly to get the joke in such a way as to convince me that I'm wrong, then I shall retract all. I won't be holding my breath!
By the way, the title is a dismissive term used by one of the characters. In the spirit of the book I'd have to say it is indeed Dead Babies.
Advantages: highly entertaining Disadvantages: goes too far sometimes in the effort to be satirical
Amis focuses on the erosion and final demise of a group of sex and drug indulgent young persons. He tells a sordid tale which aims to satirise the youth culture as it morphs from the freedom and peace-loving hippies of the 1960s, and plunges into the anarchy-driven punk 1970s.
The above review does not appear to understand this, seeing only the surface vulgarity and not realising the irony beneath; in that in creating something so delightfully repulsive ... ...realise the extent of their errors.
As a result the effect Amis wanted to achieve is lost through time to us, it being so specifically contemporary that it is difficult for our youth to relate to it.
Personally I found the over the top occasional homorous sadism and drug bingeing hilarious, but it is an acquired taste. To get bored in this novel is like getting bored while walking through hell. ...
t__cox 22.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Dead Babies - Martin Amis
It's Friday at the Appleseed Rectory, and hosted by Quentin Villers and Celiea, a weekend house-party is in full swing. Who's popping what? Who's screwing Lucy? Can they take the pace? Friday melts into Saturday, Saturday spirals into Sunday. About the AuthorMartin Amis is the author of nine novels, two collections of stories and five collections of non-fiction. His memoir, Experience, was published by Vintage in 2001.--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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