-
" I really liked this book. Many reviewers focused on the sexual aspect of the character development, but I think it is so much more than that - it is about relationships and about incidental encounters that inform them, and sometimes help determine the course of our lives. in a way, it is a sadder, more sinister "Ensemble, c'est tout" (aka Hunting and Gathering). No happy endings here, and The Pregnant Widow goes even farther than other books of its genre - it has the fortitude to look forward into the future (or back into the past) and make sense of a life mostly lived through. This retrospective/introspective analysis takes courage and also mastery of prose that makes Martin Amis' style shine. No drama here, just life if you can take it. Looking forward to reading more of his books! "
- Margarita, 2/10/2014
-
" More than wonderful. I'm a big fan of his, but Amis hasn't been this effortless, clever, or generous in years; an absolute pleasure to read. Endlessly gratifying and equally impressive. "
- Martha, 1/20/2014
-
" I was torn between 3 and 4 stars. Amis is a writer's writer or a serious reader's writer, but this is not a serious book. It's very sex obsessed as most 20 year old men and women are which is the age group of the main charachters. If this had been a library book I may have abondoned it at about page 100 but I am glad I saw it through. He is a brilliant writer, I now want to read more of his books, but I doubt this is his best. The joy of this book is the comedy and the writing. There is nothing particulary profound in the main body of the story. There is however profound sentances here and there. I was moved by Violet's story but I felt this wasn't fully explained. This book is very much from a male of Amis's era's perspective and I can understand why some female readers may find him offensive. However I think that if read as a perspective, not a truth then it's amusing and interesting. "
- Samantha, 1/20/2014
-
" Very disappointed. I have enjoyed all the Amis books I have read. Until this. He is a great stylist, an author you want to read aloud to others, but the in a novel about sex, I found Amis's characters frigid....as if they were standing at a remove playing with themselves! Not the return to form that was promised...distant and seemingly full of in-jokes I wasn't clever enough to understand. "
- Justin, 1/12/2014
-
" forgotten how much I dislike Martin Amis's books..... "
- Marian, 1/11/2014
-
" The writing is great, the characters and storyline unlikable and misogynistic. Avoid. "
- Steve, 1/4/2014
-
" It wasn't bad, but it isn't a storyt hat particularly stood out this year. The characters are a little self indulgent, allthough the story itself is good. "
- Shelly, 11/28/2013
-
" I was happy when I finished it... it was looooooooong, loooooong. Did not enjoy it much. "
- Madeleine, 11/10/2013
-
" Incredibly disappointing. Billed as a "smart, meaty novel", I found it repetitive and was totally unable to sympathize with any character. If this is a portrait of the sexual revolution of the 70's, I'm glad I missed it. "
- Carolyn, 9/20/2013
-
" The ending somewhat tarnished the novel for me. I enjoyed the encapsulation of that one summer Keith Nearing spent in the countryside. The vignettes of life moments following did nothing to the story. "
- Mike, 1/11/2013
-
" Medium intensity Amis, checking the mirror for further dissent. It shouldn't change anyone's life, but it was enjoyable. "
- Jonfaith, 10/21/2012
-
" Really enjoyed the book up until Keith's Italian vacation ends and then the last 100 pages is just dross. A real shame as the book demonstrated the usual Amis flair to that point. "
- Tom, 10/15/2012
-
" This is obviously an older Martin Amis, so the brutality of description is still there, it still can be coldly nasty and the sneer is still in place. There is more warmth this time though. "
- Michael, 7/16/2012
-
" Excellent when dealing with the central events, set in Italy; the rest is skippable and the way the novel ends doesn't work: it feels rushed and ill thought out. "
- Craig, 4/2/2012
-
" Hmm, got through it but hated the characters and the pretense "
- Lauren, 12/27/2011
-
" I normally like Martin Amis but this was WEIRD "
- Jane, 11/5/2011
-
" Epic in scale, flawed, but worth the effort. "
- Lynne, 6/21/2011
-
" Anyone who was able to get past the first chapter impresses the hell outta me. I know this guy's famous, I know he's prolific, I've heard people love to hate him and hate to love him, bla bla bla. To me this was the writing of a novice. I couldn't and didn't want to "get it."
"
- Lynda, 5/20/2011
-
" I don't know why this book has been so panned by critics and readers alike. I find it quite enjoyable and hope it holds up that way. Highly entertaining so far.
"
- Pip, 5/19/2011
-
" Excellent when dealing with the central events, set in Italy; the rest is skippable and the way the novel ends doesn't work: it feels rushed and ill thought out.
"
- Craig, 5/18/2011
-
" The ending somewhat tarnished the novel for me. I enjoyed the encapsulation of that one summer Keith Nearing spent in the countryside. The vignettes of life moments following did nothing to the story.
"
- Mike, 5/4/2011
-
" Martin Amis is a genius. That is all.
"
- Christa, 4/6/2011
-
" Martin Amis either invented a new genre, or perfected an old one- "Erotic Historical Fiction for English Majors."
"
- Valley, 4/5/2011
-
" Some people are Dog People.
Some people are Cat People.
Some ariters illuminate the world.
Some writers are opinionated pricks.
I'm a Dog Person.
"
- Steve, 3/16/2011
-
" I normally like Martin Amis but this was WEIRD
"
- Jane, 2/1/2011
-
" Not my favorite Amis book. Meh.
"
- Ted, 1/24/2011
-
" pretty dull, compared to his early work
"
- Michael, 1/12/2011
> Hide All