Book 23 - Ian McEwan "Amsterdam"
Apr. 29th, 2022 10:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jazzy_daveIan McEwan "Amsterdam" (Vintage)
Beautiful, charming Molly has just died after what seemed like a short illness (perhaps Alzheimer's). Previous lovers are at her funeral along with her husband, George. Clive Linley is Britain's most successful and famous composer. His best friend, Vernon Halliday is the editor of a major newspaper. Julian Garmony is the Foreign Secretary and his politics are repulsive to both Clive and Vernon.
A while after the funeral, George summons Vernon and shows him some very revealing and embarrassing pictures of Julian Garmony. Vernon must make the decision to either publish these photos or not. Clive advises not to upset Vernon's feelings that the man needs to be brought down for the sake of the country. The tension between the two friends follows as both struggle with the issue. While on a hiking trip, Clive happens to come upon a man assaulting a woman but he turns and walks the other way. As time progresses, Vernon realizes that Clive has seen a serial rapist and did nothing.
Due to Molly's impairment, Clive had once asked Vernon to assist him in suicide if his life became such that he was not in control. Vernon at first was repulsed by the idea. Amsterdam has recently been in the news for having doctors that would help anyone wanting to kill themselves.
As time progresses and the friendship dies, both Vernon and Clive make plans to get revenge on the other in Amsterdam.
This isn't a long book but one that has an interesting plot and twist. All of the characters seem very self-absorbed and not particularly likeable, but still are interesting.
Beautiful, charming Molly has just died after what seemed like a short illness (perhaps Alzheimer's). Previous lovers are at her funeral along with her husband, George. Clive Linley is Britain's most successful and famous composer. His best friend, Vernon Halliday is the editor of a major newspaper. Julian Garmony is the Foreign Secretary and his politics are repulsive to both Clive and Vernon.
A while after the funeral, George summons Vernon and shows him some very revealing and embarrassing pictures of Julian Garmony. Vernon must make the decision to either publish these photos or not. Clive advises not to upset Vernon's feelings that the man needs to be brought down for the sake of the country. The tension between the two friends follows as both struggle with the issue. While on a hiking trip, Clive happens to come upon a man assaulting a woman but he turns and walks the other way. As time progresses, Vernon realizes that Clive has seen a serial rapist and did nothing.
Due to Molly's impairment, Clive had once asked Vernon to assist him in suicide if his life became such that he was not in control. Vernon at first was repulsed by the idea. Amsterdam has recently been in the news for having doctors that would help anyone wanting to kill themselves.
As time progresses and the friendship dies, both Vernon and Clive make plans to get revenge on the other in Amsterdam.
This isn't a long book but one that has an interesting plot and twist. All of the characters seem very self-absorbed and not particularly likeable, but still are interesting.
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Date: 2022-04-29 03:17 pm (UTC)