Amsterdam

Amsterdam is Ian McEwan's Booker Prize winner from 1998. It primarily deals with two friends who meet at the funeral of Molly Lane and a pact that they make between themselves shortly after. Vernon is an editor trying to reverse the fortunes of an eminent newspaper in decline and Clive is one of Britain's greatest composer's alive. Among the several former lovers also happens to be Julian, an eminent politician with aspirations for the country's highest public office. As the story unfolds, a personal indiscretion is revealed which possess in it the power to derail Julian's political career. The pact made between two friends has consequences neither one of them has foreseen that will make them question the foundations of their friendship.Like some of other McEwan's works, the character's can be classed as working in white-collar jobs. Publishers, editors, journalists, music composers and politicians; characters whose personal and professional lives the working-class only get a fleeting glimpse of from the mass media. The orchestration and the manipulation of the media by the people at their helm is one of the very disturbing facets in this novel and sure to make the reader question everything that we are fed in these modern times. McEwan is master of analyzing and describing human emotions and thought processes so minutely and accurately that the characters become instantly identifiable and easy to relate to despite them being so far removed from our everyday lives. There are some other weighty issues to be tackled her like euthanasia, the flexible morality of the modern world, the exercise of power for the fulfillment of a personal vendetta, the ease with which public servants are forgiven their transgressions, shifting loyalties, the collective moral compass of a nation, the nature of friendships, self-absorption, conceit, deceit, expediency, treachery and alliances in the workplace, etc. These are all universal themes and issues which serves to bring the reader closer to the motivation of the characters actions.McEwan's works are extremely divisive with readers either considering him a misunderstood master on one end of the spectrum and others who believe his works to be overrated and pretentious garbage at the other end. This book is under 200 pages and very quick read. It's neat little gem. Not sure it was wholly deserving of the Booker Prize, but like the Oscars they are sometimes handed out as an acknowledgement for an author's body of work.

Stupendous and everything that's essential to good storytelling! As brilliant a work as any, a rare gem! McEwan is a wiz!

Book received in good shape and good packaging

Amsterdam is a work of genuine craft. Everything from character sketching, story development, vivid descriptions of music creation, its subtleties to situational humor, works splendidly. Also the author truly catches onto the personal relationship between the two friends (the main protagonists), their differences, thought processing superbly which is the heart of the novel. The side characters are also given their due time and with 180 pages it is compact, sleek and very deftly written work. My only complain would be the ending, may be it was too dramatic, too fast for the premise of Amsterdam. Whatever, I would recommend the book strongly who is looking for good stories about friendships. It has great artistic appeal also. Without spoiling, some parts written about lake district of England, its hiking and description of various other nearby mountains is wonderful. Also, descriptions of Amsterdam city, London February, some other places etc were really good. I would be looking forward to check other McEwan's work.

Good

Not Ian's best but good enough

good

Used book doesn't mean that it's torn. Mention it properly. Not 'used-new', but as 'very old - 1999 edition', so that I don't mind a tear.

Beautifully written. Sorry when it ended

Llego en tiempo

The personal problems of a classical composer and a top journalist could have a point in the past century, in a world that still preserved some of the welfare state. Nowadays, in the midst of our thousand daily fights against populism, when the media are just an appendix to power, judicial independence is in jeopardy, and there is simply no money for the arts, this novel's plot and characters seem from another planet.

The book draws you in and carries you along throughout. It was topical in that "dignified professional suicide" was beginning to get mainstream attention, and of course raised all sorts of moral questions in its wake. The main characters, as quirky as they are, are believable - even Molly. The ending was a little contrived, but worked well in closing off an excellent novel.

ラストが面白いです。でもこの作者の一番ではないかな。読んでみる価値はあると思います。薄いのですぐ読めるし。