- Paperback: 279 pages
- Publisher: Fourth Estate; Reprint edition (31 Aug 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007163673
- ISBN-13: 978-0007163670
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,185,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Politics
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Product Description
The Scotsman, August 16, 2003
'It is the gentlest, most beguiling book I have read so far this year...'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Time Out London, August 20, 2003
'..allusive, barbed, cocky, flamboyant, reckless, obscene and very funny..'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
as Moshe tried, gently, to tighten the pink fluffy handcuffs surrounding his girlfriend's wrists, he noticed a tiny frown. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
as Moshe tried, gently, to tighten the pink fluffy handcuffs surrounding his girlfriend's wrists, he noticed a tiny frown. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was interested to read Politics from when I heard that Adam Thirlwell was a fan of Milan Kundera and his Art of the Novel. I had also heard him accused of trying to emulate Kundera's style and failing, and I had heard that Politics was not a particularly good book.
It is all too easy, however, to make comparisons with Kundera. Like him, Thirlwell divides his chapters into short, numbered sections, and he also adopts a definite authorial voice. However, it should be clear that he has not followed The Art of the Novel word for word, as his style is definitely his own.
Perhaps the authorial voice is one place where he is accused of failing to imitate Kundera. I disagree with such accusations: Thirlwell's voice is less subtle than Kundera's, and worse off for it, but he doesn't appear to be trying to sound like anyone else. This voice however is at times annoying and patronising. "I think you are going to like Moshe." he says, introducing a character on the first page. "His girlfriend's name was Nana. I think you will like her too."
It would be wrong to forbid an author from liking his own characters, no matter what they do in the book, but in trying to force his opinion on his readers, Thirlwell somewhat defeats the object of creative writing. It is interesting to have authorial insight at times, such as when he directly explains why he has made a character do a certain thing, but it does make it difficult to form a personal interpretation, and this could come across as very off-putting.
Thirlwell's use of characters is also similar to Kundera's, with both authors taking a theme, using it as the title of a novel, and describing how it affects the characters. However, Thirlwell's principals are more closely linked than most of Kundera's, through the ménage à trois which is the subject of Politics.
Somewhat confusingly, the appalling blurb claims that "Politics is not about politics." prompting me to wonder why, in that case, Thirlwell decided it was a fitting title for his book. To my mind, the novel is about social and sexual politics, and as such may have benefited from having a wider array of characters to act out the various scenarios.
However, it works well as it is, and it is an exploration of the possibly unasked question "How do you end a ménage à trois?" The anecdotal style may not appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed it, and despite the off-putting beginning I did come to like the characters, whose humanity was visible through their often thoughtless façades.
Politics is not an average novel, and as such may seem disconcerting, and is probably not to everyone's taste, but it is worth reading, and for all its uncomfortable foibles, I found it strangely compelling. Adam Thirlwell is not a low-fat version of Milan Kundera, but he never purports to be, and I admired his book for his own style. Politics is a very good first novel, and Thirlwell shows the potential to one day write one which, while being wholly distinct from, may be as great as The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It was ok although a bit disappointing compared to all the reviews and seemed to rely a bit to much on graphic and shocking sex. There was a lot of focus on one character's insecurities which, despite the author's early assurances that we would like him, he really just came across as annoyingly self involved.
However, good points are that the author had an original writing style that involved the reader, as it was quite conversational. It was also quite easy to read and had the ability to keep the reader turning the page, although some of the sexual descriptions were at times a little too graphic (the discovery of thrush....) but I suppose that does add realism. It's a strange one, definitely worth the read if only to make up your own mind...
However, good points are that the author had an original writing style that involved the reader, as it was quite conversational. It was also quite easy to read and had the ability to keep the reader turning the page, although some of the sexual descriptions were at times a little too graphic (the discovery of thrush....) but I suppose that does add realism. It's a strange one, definitely worth the read if only to make up your own mind...
Format:Paperback
I gave this three stars, because maybe I'm confused and there's something going on that I don't "get". I have read half this book and I've decided not to keep going. It's boring. Even the sex scenes are boring. And I don't think I'm ever "going to like Moshe" or any of the other characters. Oh, and why are they all talking like drunks and slurring their words? Isshat how wezoound when wuh tawk? Not me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
You didn't fool me!
One reads about the near impossiblity of finding a literary agent and publisher and wonder how books like this get through. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2007 by Letitia Carew
Excellent book - top marks for originality.
I don't consider myself well-read. So perhaps the fact that this book is one of the most original books I have ever read says little at all. But no. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2007 by Henry Wardleburger
Love it or hate it? Read it!
As the range of opinions below suggest, this is a book you will love or hate and there's only one way to find out which! Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2004 by J. Sprackland
Pity about the lack of plot
This book develops the characters of three people embarking (not necessarily by design) on a menage a tois (can't think how to spell it). Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2004
Kundera light
It is a book I will remember. I read it all in a day and had great fun throughout. If you like Kundera, you are off to holiday and fancy something light and refereshing this is... Read more
Published on 7 July 2004
Adam Thirlwell, read "Collected Stories" by Saul Bellow!!!!
The only redeeming page of this juvenile, shallow, self important nonsense of a book is the mentioning of "Collected Stories" by Saul Bellow. Read more
Published on 14 May 2004
Political Deadlock
This book deserves rescuing from the ignominy of a 2.5 star average, which derives from a couple of negative reviews below which I think fundmentally misunderstood the book. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2004 by John Self
Ambitious,intriguing and novel
This book could be easily criticised. It owes a lot to Kundera's 'Art of the Novel' (e.g. short chapters, weaving in mini-essays on historical/political themes, and exploring a... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2004 by david wilson
Nominated for 'most irritating young author 2003'
This book has a giant flashing neon sign on the cover saying 'hey, like, look at me, I'm like, well postmodern, me.' Oh purleease. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2003 by H. L. Barrell
Kundera-Lite
Although Politics recieved mainly lukewarm revuews from some of the critics, this can be explaned by the OTT hype produced by Thirwell having been included ion the list of Grant's... Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2003 by "hiua12"
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