I love reading anything by or about Martin Amis and when it makes me laugh - in much the same way that Martin Amis always did - it's a double pleasure. I would banish swiftly from my own life anyone who did not care for his prose (his story-telling, on the other hand... well, it never struck me as his own great area of interest. That's why I prefer his non-fiction). I'll stop now because otherwise I'll go on forever, almost like a literature nerd or something. Just wanted to say that was another good start to the day.
Thank you! I agree about the storytelling part. Amis reminds me of Waugh in this sense; they are pretty different, but they both are much more about language than story. I don’t see that as a negative, though. It takes all kinds to make a fiction world, and he’s gotten under my skin as much as other writers who were better at telling a tale. Interestingly, I’ve listened to podcasts where writers talk about how he affected them, and there are many different perspectives. People liked him for very different reasons. But there are three very different podcasts where people dissect his work— three that I know of— and that in itself is fascinating.
I also prefer his non-fiction, but I do enjoy his fiction. I just read today the story suggested by tom in this thread, and it is unlike anything I’ve ever read from anyone. Bitterly, brutally funny, satire so great that it embarrasses me further to see so much lousy junk being passed off as satire elsewhere.
You are quite right - Amis is quite like Waugh in that respect. Saul Bellow compared Amis to James Joyce in so far as for both of them the language always came first. Perhaps that was pushing it a bit far, but for sure both of them wrote sentences that, as you say, no one else could have written. Sometimes when I put an Amis book down I just feel stunned that a human being could keep coming up with that stuff. He's one of those writers who make me feel like quitting and you can't say fairer than that. You know which novel of his I haven't read? The Rachel Papers. Want to know why? Because he wrote it when he was about 24 or something and he's got no right to be so mean to the rest of us.
I'd be interested to hear the podcasts you mention. In fact, I need a new podcast to listen to. Otherwise there's the danger that I'll do some work at some point and no one wants that.
I’m reading inside story— that’s where I got the writing tips. I’ve been cheating and fast forwarding to the writing tips but I read some bits about Hitchens and it was funny and sad. I’m a Hitchens fan so Amis on Hitchens is hard to beat.
The podcasts— one is a solo guy talking about the books. Another is a host interviewing one guest at a time about a book they’ve chosen. That’s my favorite although the solo one is very good. My least favorite is the American one, although it has its moments.
The martin chronicles— American show with three writers/editors.
The Amis papers— lone Amis fanatic talks endlessly.
My martin Amis— this one is my favorite. It’s a different guest each time and a different focus. Two women pop up defending him with great enthusiasm, interestingly— including a feminist scholar/activist who has zero patience for the charges of misogyny that many people throw against Amis.
I know what you mean about him making you feel like quitting. He’s just too good.
This piece came out of my research for a podcast interview I’m planning with excellent writer and thinker Mazin Saleem. He’s on a break from substack but his essays are terrific; he wrote two about Amis that I’ve read over and over.
Thank you, Karl! I’ll try to avoid the lone Amis fanatic talking endlessly, perhaps. It sounds like voluntarily choosing the seat next to the crazy in the bus. I bet the others will be good. I hope you’re enjoying Inside Story. I had the same feeling reading that as I did with his autobiography, Experience. It was like hanging out with a friend who is on great form & top-notch company (much like your own Substack, of course) didn’t want either book to end. Sadly none of the writing tips made me write like Martin Amis but they certainly didn’t do any harm. I spend a lot of time now combing my prose looking for ‘stubbed toes & barked shins’. Naturally they only seem to appear after I’ve published.
Must look into Mazin Saleem. There just aren’t enough hours in the day…
I think I have my Percival Everett quotes picked out— will try to wrap that up today. For anyone reading this— C. and I are collaborating on a piece about the book “erasure” and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what she’ll be saying about this excellent book. I need to read more of her work and you do too.
Don’t banish me for this - I’ve never read Amis, I’m too busy reading Caribbean literature right now. But I do so love this: “ we must only write sentences that nobody else could have written.”
Carry on now, Your Royal Pettiness. I do enjoy your snark and humour.
I've read many Amis books. London Fields is my favorite, and I promise I had not read it when I wrote a novel of my own about a woman who engineers her own sex-murder. Damn! I said. Of course he did it better. Also, if you never have, run down a short story of his which imagines a world where poets make what screenwriters do, and screenwriters have to struggle.
Good Morning Karl. I wish I found this advice sooner, i.e., on how being petty can make you smarter! I'd be a rich man. Also, from here on forward I'm going to measure everything with the unit of "Grand Jury" units.
So now I’m a freeloader? Are you suggesting that the Substack platform was built primarily for making money? There is no way normal people can buy all the “art” and paintings and books and trinkets and plastic wrapped collectibles and cardboard boxes of tasty treats and print magazines and periodicals available everywhere. Not to mention the digital offerings like these in Substack. No way. I think it might be better to just put a cup out or ask everybody to donate a little something or buy a book of yours if they like your writing enough. That’s what I do with no expectations. And I love readers and people who say nice and thoughtful things. I write because I have to or I would die. Not sure if your post will get many subscribers but let me know if it works. And let me know if you want me to keep reading your free stuff cuz I don’t like the term “freeloader.” But I do like you Karl. And I said this with love.
I love reading anything by or about Martin Amis and when it makes me laugh - in much the same way that Martin Amis always did - it's a double pleasure. I would banish swiftly from my own life anyone who did not care for his prose (his story-telling, on the other hand... well, it never struck me as his own great area of interest. That's why I prefer his non-fiction). I'll stop now because otherwise I'll go on forever, almost like a literature nerd or something. Just wanted to say that was another good start to the day.
Thank you! I agree about the storytelling part. Amis reminds me of Waugh in this sense; they are pretty different, but they both are much more about language than story. I don’t see that as a negative, though. It takes all kinds to make a fiction world, and he’s gotten under my skin as much as other writers who were better at telling a tale. Interestingly, I’ve listened to podcasts where writers talk about how he affected them, and there are many different perspectives. People liked him for very different reasons. But there are three very different podcasts where people dissect his work— three that I know of— and that in itself is fascinating.
I also prefer his non-fiction, but I do enjoy his fiction. I just read today the story suggested by tom in this thread, and it is unlike anything I’ve ever read from anyone. Bitterly, brutally funny, satire so great that it embarrasses me further to see so much lousy junk being passed off as satire elsewhere.
You are quite right - Amis is quite like Waugh in that respect. Saul Bellow compared Amis to James Joyce in so far as for both of them the language always came first. Perhaps that was pushing it a bit far, but for sure both of them wrote sentences that, as you say, no one else could have written. Sometimes when I put an Amis book down I just feel stunned that a human being could keep coming up with that stuff. He's one of those writers who make me feel like quitting and you can't say fairer than that. You know which novel of his I haven't read? The Rachel Papers. Want to know why? Because he wrote it when he was about 24 or something and he's got no right to be so mean to the rest of us.
I'd be interested to hear the podcasts you mention. In fact, I need a new podcast to listen to. Otherwise there's the danger that I'll do some work at some point and no one wants that.
Have you read Inside Story, by the way?
I’m reading inside story— that’s where I got the writing tips. I’ve been cheating and fast forwarding to the writing tips but I read some bits about Hitchens and it was funny and sad. I’m a Hitchens fan so Amis on Hitchens is hard to beat.
The podcasts— one is a solo guy talking about the books. Another is a host interviewing one guest at a time about a book they’ve chosen. That’s my favorite although the solo one is very good. My least favorite is the American one, although it has its moments.
The martin chronicles— American show with three writers/editors.
The Amis papers— lone Amis fanatic talks endlessly.
My martin Amis— this one is my favorite. It’s a different guest each time and a different focus. Two women pop up defending him with great enthusiasm, interestingly— including a feminist scholar/activist who has zero patience for the charges of misogyny that many people throw against Amis.
I know what you mean about him making you feel like quitting. He’s just too good.
This piece came out of my research for a podcast interview I’m planning with excellent writer and thinker Mazin Saleem. He’s on a break from substack but his essays are terrific; he wrote two about Amis that I’ve read over and over.
I’ll get a link and return in a moment.
https://open.substack.com/pub/mazinsaleem/p/why-you-hated-martin-amis?r=6x9gm&utm_medium=ios
Thank you, Karl! I’ll try to avoid the lone Amis fanatic talking endlessly, perhaps. It sounds like voluntarily choosing the seat next to the crazy in the bus. I bet the others will be good. I hope you’re enjoying Inside Story. I had the same feeling reading that as I did with his autobiography, Experience. It was like hanging out with a friend who is on great form & top-notch company (much like your own Substack, of course) didn’t want either book to end. Sadly none of the writing tips made me write like Martin Amis but they certainly didn’t do any harm. I spend a lot of time now combing my prose looking for ‘stubbed toes & barked shins’. Naturally they only seem to appear after I’ve published.
Must look into Mazin Saleem. There just aren’t enough hours in the day…
I know, I know. Mazin is worth it, though. He should at least be on your back burner.
🤣 this is quite the opening line: I’ve discovered a way to be petty that actually makes you smarter.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that this has been the realization of a lifelong dream.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 you are so witty 🤣
I think I have my Percival Everett quotes picked out— will try to wrap that up today. For anyone reading this— C. and I are collaborating on a piece about the book “erasure” and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what she’ll be saying about this excellent book. I need to read more of her work and you do too.
Hello! Freeloader here.
Don’t banish me for this - I’ve never read Amis, I’m too busy reading Caribbean literature right now. But I do so love this: “ we must only write sentences that nobody else could have written.”
Carry on now, Your Royal Pettiness. I do enjoy your snark and humour.
Thanks, neena! I’ll try to live up to my new title.
😂
Wear a purple robe with gold braid.
I've read many Amis books. London Fields is my favorite, and I promise I had not read it when I wrote a novel of my own about a woman who engineers her own sex-murder. Damn! I said. Of course he did it better. Also, if you never have, run down a short story of his which imagines a world where poets make what screenwriters do, and screenwriters have to struggle.
Career Move— excellent, I’ve got it right here.
Good Morning Karl. I wish I found this advice sooner, i.e., on how being petty can make you smarter! I'd be a rich man. Also, from here on forward I'm going to measure everything with the unit of "Grand Jury" units.
Well, as you know, I’m here to help.
I’ve started London Fields. I’ll take a look for this story—
So now I’m a freeloader? Are you suggesting that the Substack platform was built primarily for making money? There is no way normal people can buy all the “art” and paintings and books and trinkets and plastic wrapped collectibles and cardboard boxes of tasty treats and print magazines and periodicals available everywhere. Not to mention the digital offerings like these in Substack. No way. I think it might be better to just put a cup out or ask everybody to donate a little something or buy a book of yours if they like your writing enough. That’s what I do with no expectations. And I love readers and people who say nice and thoughtful things. I write because I have to or I would die. Not sure if your post will get many subscribers but let me know if it works. And let me know if you want me to keep reading your free stuff cuz I don’t like the term “freeloader.” But I do like you Karl. And I said this with love.