Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
paperback 193 pages
published in 1998 by Nan A. Talese
ISBN13: 9780385494243
Type: {Impress Your Friends Read: notable; prize-winner or all around intelligent crowd conversation piece}
Rating: {Eh: Not my favorite, but fine enough to finish the book}
Why You’re Reading It:
- You enjoy Ian McEwan’s work
- You are a fan of music
- Dark, strange books are inspiring to you
- You read The Booker Prize winners
What I Thought:
At the beginning of Ian McEwan’s short work, Amsterdam, I was daydreaming about what it would be like to be part of the artistic, political, smokey-coffee-bar circle from 1960′s/1970′s western Europe. And then I got past the first few chapters.
This strange, dark book is about two old friends (Clive, a musician, and Vernon, a journalist), who were lovers of the same woman who died while being another man’s wife. They end up disagreeing with each other about large and impactful decisions that each one makes in their own lives in the year that Molly dies. Because of these decisions, their friendship falls apart and comes to a dramatic conclusion, which in my opinion was quite farfetched. Throughout the novel, I kept wondering why I was still reading. The answer is that the book is actually quite well written and seamlessly put together. McEwan’s descriptions are well drawn, and I could see the characters and settings quite vividly,
Molly used to say that what she loved most about Clive’s house was that he had lived in it so long…for the house was a history of an adult life, of changing tastes, fading passions, and growing wealth. (49-50)
However, it is heavy on the musical references with passages that are much too long for people who either just don’t care or are not trained in music. Also, I was somewhat curious to find out the point of the novel. Turns out the ending is kind of a let down, though I imagine some will think it is fitting and beautiful. Luckily, it’s short, so if you are the curious type, it won’t take long to finish.
Wallace, I’ve only read Atonement by McEwan and I didn’t like that one, so I doubt I’ll be picking up this one. I just feel as if he’s the type of author, whose writing is great, so you keep on reading, but ultimately you are left wondering why you even bothered. Its more of an emotional reaction than perhaps an intellectual one, but nonetheless, he’s just not my cup of tea. Oh well.
This is the only one of his books I’ve read but I’ve seen the movie Atonement, and I really liked it. I don’t know what the book is like though. The movie might have been successful because of the screenwriting?
“Ditto” Nadia’s post. Everything she said applies to me (yay, a kindred spirit!). I’ve only read Atonement, which was written well but ended with me feeling like I’d wasted my time. I feel like he is so well liked that I should give him another chance, but I’m still a little bitter about Atonement.
(As a side note, I liked the movie more. It seemed more about the story and less about the suthor.)
I remember Ti saying she wasn’t a big fan of Atonement until she read it in her lit class. We’ll have to get her over here to explain what changed her mind. It’s always interesting to me when a movie is better than the book because it doesn’t happen very often.
Melody, I know what you mean. Everyone is usually raving about McEwan’s works that I do wonder if I am missing out – what is it that I don’t get. But then I think about Atonement and realize that its not me – its his work I feel underwhelmed by. I will check out the film version though, since you mention that its more about the story and less about the author
So glad, I wasn’t the only one who felt this way about his work – thanks, Melody!
I LOVED Atonement and I also enjoyed The Innocent although it was completely bizarre at times. I’ve not read this one though.
I enjoy McEwan’s ability to embellish the story with details. Many will say that the details are not necessary and I think this is the main reason why he loses readership, but there are so many beautiful things about the details he chooses to include, but you have to really pick them apart to appreciate them.
I think that is why I thought Atonement was just okay when I first read, and then thought it was fantastic when I picked it up again for Lit class. We read it over 4 weeks and picked it to pieces. It was so well put together but when you pick it apart, you can really see why.
It’s this reason that I wonder if a music connoisseur would understand this story (or like this story) better. There are pages and pages of musical details and I’m sure that since those were lost on me, parts of the story were as well. His descriptions are fantastic and his writing is beautiful, but I think if I read him again, I’d want to do it with others.
Thanks for chiming in, Ti!
I never really understood why this, of all his books, won the Pulitzer! It’s probably my least favorite of the ones I’ve read by him.