I remember a few years ago picking up a book, which I think was by Tony Parsons, and on the front cover as a major selling point it stated "I laughed out loud five times and cried twice." My initial thoughts were who the hell actually counts this will reading, closely followed by is laughing five times a unique selling point in a book that is over 200 pages long?!? Despite this I still read the book, hoping to find these glimmers of hilarity... I was sorely misled.
Which brings me to Lucky Jim, and a promise of an "hilarious send-up" and straight away my worries began, although I had been promised by another friend that this was the funniest book he had ever read... which worries me a lot (sorry Rob).
Yes I can identify myself in part with Jim, I too am a lazy sod when it comes to actually organising my school life - which will inevitably lead me to spending the next three weeks in school catching up during my really short summer holiday. But I don't see it as an "hilarious send-up" as in my mind to be a send-up it would have to be something much more mocking than what is in actual fact just true!!
Don't get me wrong, some of the descriptions within the story are simply astounding, and the way in which Amis explains Jim's life is definitely worth a read, but I am left with a rather saddened feeling. Overall the story just seems a bit clunking at times.
It almost certainly isn't the funniest book I've ever read (that honour would go to anything by Tom Sharpe, John Mortimer or, more likely, Wodehouse).
ReplyDeleteStill, I enjoyed it immensely.
Apologies! I did think it was a bit strange that you would have made that claim!
ReplyDeletehave you read any Brookmyre?