Scan barcode
A review by reed_with_read
The Rachel Papers by Martin Amis
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
This feels like an 80s Dark Academia adjacent book, and yet also reminded me a bit of Heaven by Meiko Kawakami.
We follow a rich twat of a character, who is equal parts ego and gross teenager.
He spends most of his time trying to plan out how to manipulate Rachel into sleeping with him.
To the point of writing out entire speeches, and calculating when to say them, before going to an art gallery - just to make him seem like an intellectual who just comes up with essay-like speeches, reflecting on the art, on the spot.
He also does things like quote Latin to her, before deciding 'She probably didn't get the reference'.
He keeps notebooks of his interactions with most people, so as to keep track of his demeanor with them - and if it's working to achieve what he needs out of that relationship.
There is nothing likable about this character, and yet he is incredibly believable.
Amis does a great job of giving this character depth.
3 Stars - because this is genuinely a good book, especially as it was his debut novel.
But it didn't quite get higher just as it does feel a little deliberately gross and meandering at times.
Still good though.
We follow a rich twat of a character, who is equal parts ego and gross teenager.
He spends most of his time trying to plan out how to manipulate Rachel into sleeping with him.
To the point of writing out entire speeches, and calculating when to say them, before going to an art gallery - just to make him seem like an intellectual who just comes up with essay-like speeches, reflecting on the art, on the spot.
He also does things like quote Latin to her, before deciding 'She probably didn't get the reference'.
He keeps notebooks of his interactions with most people, so as to keep track of his demeanor with them - and if it's working to achieve what he needs out of that relationship.
There is nothing likable about this character, and yet he is incredibly believable.
Amis does a great job of giving this character depth.
3 Stars - because this is genuinely a good book, especially as it was his debut novel.
But it didn't quite get higher just as it does feel a little deliberately gross and meandering at times.
Still good though.