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Review
'Line for line, it's one of the funniest novels I have ever read' John Sutherland, London Review of Books 'McInerney has proven himself not only a brilliant stylist but a master of characterisation, with a keen eye for the incongruities of urban life' New York Times Book Review 'Story of My Life is quite as brilliant as Bright Lights, Big City' Sunday Times 'McInerney's novels, filled with the depiction of glamorous imbecilities and hilarious excesses, are acute about a certain kind of Manhattan amorality. They offer a swift, intelligent guide to the latest racket' Observer
Product Description
It is party time in eighties Manhattan. Smart, sassy and cynical, Alison lives for the moment. Her life is a carnival of gossip and midnight sessions of Truth or Dare, and her cocaine-bashing friends and flirting flatmates all crave satiation. Young and beautiful, hip and indulgent, sex-crazed and alcohol-fuelled, Alison can neither pay her fees for drama school nor track down her indifferent father. She juggles rent money with abortion fees, lingering lovers with current conquests and is the despair of her gynaecologist. She's fallen deeply in lust with Dean, although that nasty present Skip Pendleton left her with hasn't yet cleared up. Story of her life right? But in a world of no consequences, Alison is heading for a meltdown.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is another offering from one of the Gen X gang - someone I drifted into after I had run out of Douglas Coupland - and it ticks the same boxes - disillusioned twenty-somethings with pretty relaxed attitudes towards drugs and sex being the main one.
This is done nicely, however, using the first person to carry the narrative at a nice pace. Personally, I'm never sure about males writing through female narrators, but here it works flawlessly, and the character is so real it is easy to be drawn in and read the story as an autobiography - a feat in itself. There are also plenty of occasions where the reader can see the pothole before the narrator falls into it, which again draws you in.
In short, this isn't rocket science, but it's a really good read, with strong characters and a real energy to it - I finished it in 3 or 4 days without noticing. If you like the genre, this is a good example
This is done nicely, however, using the first person to carry the narrative at a nice pace. Personally, I'm never sure about males writing through female narrators, but here it works flawlessly, and the character is so real it is easy to be drawn in and read the story as an autobiography - a feat in itself. There are also plenty of occasions where the reader can see the pothole before the narrator falls into it, which again draws you in.
In short, this isn't rocket science, but it's a really good read, with strong characters and a real energy to it - I finished it in 3 or 4 days without noticing. If you like the genre, this is a good example
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a huge fan of Jay McInerney - I read this when it first came out and have just read it again for the second time and it is still as good as the first time I read it - very clever and funny/witty I love his observations on life/relationships -
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have to say this book is brilliant. Written from Alison's, the main characters' point of view. Its smart, cynical and profoundly sad in parts. Its just so amazing that its written by a man who by the way is the most convincing woman! Alison is spoilt insecure, manipulative, vain and unfortunately damaged in a way rich kids can only be. Not a book to read whilst on public transport unless you get your kicks from laughing uncontrollably in front of total strangers who know that getting on a bus is a surefire way to meet the weirdest of the weird. Buy & Enjoy, I did
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Simply a great book
After reading, Bright lights big city, I felt I had to read more Jay McInerney. This is simpily because of his honesty in his characterisation and prose. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Scott Main-reade
I Remember This One...
I bought this book when it first came out, and remember it to be the first book that made me laugh out loud so ridicously bad (especially when in public places like trains etc. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Swisscub
Changed my opinion on this style of writing.
Once upon a time this kind of book would have hacked me off to extent that I'd want to call the author and scream murder at him. Read more
Published on 6 May 2006 by Mr. A. Wake
Ace
Did any of you notice that in American Psycho, Patrick Bateman meets Alison and attacks her? These two writers (McInerney and Bret Easton Ellis) cross reference each other all... Read more
Published on 10 April 2001 by Slartibartfast
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