Amsterdam
by Ian McEwan
Winner of Booker Prize 1998
Published Year: 1997
Page Count: 178 pages
Medium Used: Paperback
Genre: Drama, Domestic Fiction, Euthanasia, Booker Prize, 2024-read.
Rating: 3/5
Some Spoilers ahead!!
I don't know what it is - either the prose or the story itself - I found my mind wandering into a thousand different places, into a thousand different concepts while reading this book. I had to backtrack and re-read some sections. I can't comment on whether this book deserves a booker or not - it is different from the other books I read which have won the Booker. This book seems more moral based and nuanced. Two men - who both dated the same woman that is now dead from a mental deprivation - who also make a mutual pact to euthanize the other should a mental deprivation set in within themselves - actually go through it at the end!!
I think they both harbored mutual hatred towards the end and killed each other in cold blood. They justified to each other that they were helping a friend while nursing their own wounded egocentric state.
Clive, a music composer, and Vernon, a newspaper editor, are two men who have dated Molly Lane, the wife of George Lane. Molly also had a third former lover - Garmony, the British Foreign Secretary who is aiming to become the next Prime Minister. George finds some incriminating photographs of Garmony in Molly's collection and hands them to Vernon to publish and damage his bidding chances for Prime Minister. Clive opposes to the act of publishing such evidence on moral grounds that they were taken in private, intimate circumstances. Vernon doesn't pay much heed to these remonstrances but doesn't go ahead with his plan either - because he will be forced to resign. Vernon also reports to the police of a certain incident which Clive mentions to him in private. Being dragged into questioning, Clive opines, spoilt his symphony and prevented from it reaching its majestic state. They get overly angry at the other for ruining their chances in getting ahead in their career.
Both characters - Clive and Vernon - jump to assumptions that the other is set against them. Even though each is only trying to follow their personal, moral code and doing the right thing in regards to the other's action. Its just that they are not perfect. They want to be condoned for their immoral and imperfect actions but can't let the other slip by.
I think this is a small book and the story is simple enough. But it also has a lot of interferences to be drawn from the text and context. Do check this out! I found Ian's writing easy enough to follow and trace through even when he is heavily talking about some concepts I didn't quickly understand - like what goes into the making of music.
I've just finished this book and after looking on Reddit for other people's thoughts—something I do often—I found yours! The first search result for "Amsterdam McEwan". I think your review is pretty good—I'm no expert but I would suggest opting to talk more about McEwan's style rather than just summary, and also elaborating more on the deeply flawed characters: Clive and Vernon. Also, I'm assuming you're not a native English speaker—and if you're not then great work!—so make sure to use a spell check software of some sorts, see examples of dashes to use them properly, and avoid using "fancy" language for the sake of looking sophisticated. Finally, don't take this as a critique, you're doing a great job! I'll stay tuned for future posts.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for the comment. Yes, I am not a native English speaker. I think ur suggestion is very constructive and will make some changes accordingly. Again, thanks for following up my posts :)
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