About this title: Molly, the wife of a publisher, sinks swiftly and unexpectedly into madness and death. Two of her ex-lovers meet at her funeral. One is a famous composer working on his chef d'oeuvre, the other is an editor who has just realized he'll do anything to increase circulation at his newspaper. The two of them, horrified by what has happened, swear that ...
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Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780224051705ISBN:0224051709
Description: Good. This is an EX LIBRARY copy with all the usual stamps, marks etc. The inside flysheet has been tidily removed. This book is in GOOD overall condition. It shows signs of having been read and has general light wear to the cover, spine and pages. read more
Description: Acceptable. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780099272779ISBN:0099272776
Description: Very Good. * BOOKS DISPATCHED WITHIN 24 HOURS * SATISFACTION GUARANTEED * ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED PROMPTLY * SHIPPED FROM UK * USA DELIVERY IN 3-5 DAYS * SHIPPED FROM UK: USA & EUROPE SPECIALISTS DELIVERY IN 3-5 DAYS. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780224051705ISBN:0224051709
Description: Good. Our aim is to create value for our customers through the provision of low cost, affordable products and an overall satisfying buying experience. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780224051705ISBN:0224051709
Description: Hardcover, ex-library, with usual stamps and markings, in fair all round condition suitable as a reading copy. pp., 550grams, ISBN: 0224051709. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780099272779ISBN:0099272776
Description: Good. This book is in good all round condition which means that it will show signs of wear and having been read. Any questions please e-mail, only too happy to help. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied. We aim to ship within one working day. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780224051705ISBN:0224051709
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780099272779ISBN:0099272776
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780099272779ISBN:0099272776
Description: Good. This book is in GOOD overall condition. It shows signs of having been read and has general light wear to the cover, spine and pages. read more
"Although on the Booker prize shortlist in 1998 this is not a book I would recommend to any of my friends.Was it the clever,complicated plot ,the fact that there were three main subjects with their various problems and very different spheres of activity or that there were only a few parts I could visualize?
Maybe the plot was just too clever and contrived.
However, the chapter where the composer goes to the Lake District for total isolation with no distractions was very graphic and the scene with the champagne glasses was also very descriptive .
The clever and unexpected end was a good twist in the tail.That said, four weeks after reading the book I couldn't remember the plot and had to skim the book to be able to write this review."
"This is a quick read; a cleverly written tale about friendship and how quickly it can dissolve when egos abound.
The novel comes full circle but begins with the funeral of a woman both friends took on as their mistress at different times in her life. She brought them together whereby they formed a friendship which appears normal at times but quickly dissolves due to paranoia brought on by the seductiveness of and lust for infamy and celebrity. The addition of a high-powered political figure being outed in the press for indiscretions make for a contemporary theme that has been played out in reality far too often and adds a fun and darkly comical element to this tale.
I enjoyed reading about the inner sanctums of both a newspaper editor and a famous composer. The story has some twists and turns and some surprises along the way with an ending that does not disappoint. This is the second book by this author I've read (Atonement) and again felt I got my money's worth. He's a wonderful storyteller and I won't hesitate to pick up another of his works."
"Another impeccably written social satire from mcewan. I still enjoyed enduring love more.
Favorite passage - note - "he" is the composer
He had arrived, as he had intended, in the stalls above and behind the orchestra, behind the percussionists, in fact. The musicians could not see him, but he was right in view of the conductor. Giulio Bo's eyes, however, were closed. He was standing on tiptoe, craning forward, his left arm extended toward the orchestra, and with splayed, trembling fingers was gently lifting into being the muted trombone that now delivered, sweetly, wisely, conspiratorially, the first full statement of the melody, the "Nessun dorma" of the century's end, the melody Clive had hummed to the detectives yesterday and for which he had been prepared to scarifice to an anonymous rambler. And rightly. As the notes swelled, as the whole string sections positioned their bows to breathe the first sutaining whispers of their sinuous sliding harmonies, Clive slipped quietly into a seat and felt himself tumbling into a kind of swoon. **Now the textures were multiplying as more instruments were drawn into the trombone's conspiracy, and the dissonance was spreading like a contagion, and little hard splinters, the variations that would lead nowhere, were tossed up like sparks, which sometimes collided to produce the earliest intimations of the racing wall of sound, the tsunami, that now began to rise up and soon would obliterate everything in its path before destroying itself on the bedrock of the tonic key.**"
"I liked this book, very much. This is the 3rd book I have read by this author, and each one I have liked for different reasons.
Amsterdam, was very funny at times, but also very dark and sinister throughout. It starts off with the death/ and funeral of Molly Lane--and her relationships with her husband George, her friends and ex-lover's , composer Clive Linley and newspaper editor Vernon Halliday. Ian McEwan delves into the importance of marriage & friendships. How narrow minded, people can be. How forgiving others can be, in extrordinary circumstances, how full of themselves some people can be, how some can lose their way and all of their morales. We see how quickly tables can turn. This book has everything from infedeltiy, dirty pictures, to politicians. I found the ending somewhat shocking, but at the same time it became clear why the title was Amsterdam. The ending was brilliant."
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