- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd (13 Nov 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0224044680
- ISBN-13: 978-0224044684
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 13.2 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,511,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Dead Long Enough
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Our religion is: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of a second chance. We spend our days in mere rehearsal for the time, the great day, when we will iron it all out and start to really live. The great, bright moment when all our daily evasions, compromises and dissatisfactions will all be rewarded and transfigured.In Dead Long Enough, James Hawes' third novel, he presents the "great day" as a myriad of bewildering choices, hearty arguments, humorous banter and the copious consumption of drugs. Every year, three people meet to celebrate the "false" birthday of their friend Harry McDonald, celebrity archaeologist. Armed only with their toothbrushes, credit cards and cash, they all travel to a destination known only to Harry--an attempt to recapture their youth. This year, however, Harry's life takes an unexpected, hair-raising turn at an IRA pub. Like his two previous novels, Hawes' writing is thoroughly infused with a passionate and sometimes hysterical fear of ageing, creating an atmosphere of aimless urgency. It would be wrong to specifically cast this book to a thirtysomething age group but that is where most empathy will lie. Even so, it will be an attractive and intriguing read for those who are curious about what (possibly) lies ahead, or for others, what they've left behind. --Danny Graydon --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Amazon.co.uk Review
"Our religion is: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of a second chance. We spend our days in mere rehearsal for the time, the great day, when we will iron it all out and start to really live. The great, bright moment when all our daily evasions, compromises and dissatisfactions will all be rewarded and transfigured."
In Dead Long Enough, James Hawes' third novel, he presents the "great day" as a myriad of bewildering choices, hearty arguments, humorous banter and the copious consumption of drugs. Every year, three people meet to celebrate the "false" birthday of their friend Harry McDonald, celebrity archaeologist. Armed only with their toothbrushes, credit cards and cash, they all travel to a destination known only to Harry--an attempt to recapture their youth. This year, however, Harry's life takes an unexpected, hair-raising turn at an IRA pub. Like his two previous novels, Hawe's writing is thoroughly infused with a passionate and sometimes hysterical fear of ageing, creating an atmosphere of aimless urgency. It would be wrong to specifically cast this book to a thirtysomething age group but that is where most empathy will lie. Even so, it will be an attractive and intriguing read for those who are curious about what (possibly) lies ahead, or for others, what they've left behind. --Danny Graydon
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With two hugely successful cult novels behind him, James Hawes spectacularly fails to deliver in this plodding third volume which seldom gets out of first gear. The disagreeable and hackneyed two-dimensional characterisation failed to invoke either sympathy or empathy with this reviewer, and the languid plot progression served to frustrate and made the entire reading process an onerous chore as cod mortality blarney was heaped on the unfortunate reader. It is difficult to understand why Hawes has gone wrong - having overcome the troublesome second novel syndrome, his career path of churning cult novels was established. Instead, he opted for craft and guile - dramatically achieved in similar circumstances by Iain Banks' scholarly masterpiece "A Song of Stone", but regrettably missed by Hawes on this occasion. One can only hope his next endeavour shows a return to form, and more importantly, a return to familiar ground.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sadly, the pacy nature of Hawes' other books have been replaced by tons of thirtysomething agonising here, which just appears to go around in circles without ever being resolved. The characters are two-dimensional and the plot feels far-fetched. Avoid.
Format:Paperback
I'll start off with the statement that "A White Merc With Fins" and "Rancid Aluminium" are so so much better than anything James Hawes has written since that I'm genuinely starting to wonder if the first two were his at all!
This one is slow and pointless - and that's being kind! Give it a miss and buy the latest Christopher Brookmyre instead!
This one is slow and pointless - and that's being kind! Give it a miss and buy the latest Christopher Brookmyre instead!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Even when you're not hysterical...
..about turning 40, this is still a great read. I haven't read his other books, so I'm not sure in what ways this may differ from the two others, though I understand they do. Read more
Published on 14 July 2001
Unsettling late 30's philosophy for the Millennium!
WOW! What can I say, this is the best fiction I've read for a good while. I loved James Hawes' previous two novels - this one was different but still brilliant. Read more
Published on 19 April 2000 by fiona@astinf.freeserve.co.uk
I implore you to read this.
I am eighteen, thus I have no frame of reference when it comes to dealing with being almost forty. Until now. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2000 by waytoof@aol.com
The Hawes boy does it again!
I've read all this guys books as soon as they come out, he's great, you can actually feel Mr Hawes getting older as you turn the pages. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2000 by ywp07@dial.pipex.com
Funny and compelling (THE IRISH TIMES)
First three major reviews:
"Funny and compelling... Compulsory reading for anyone learning to say good-bye to their hair with dignity" (Allanah Gallagher, THE IRISH... Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2000
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