A review by essjay1
House of Meetings by Martin Amis

3.0

I liked the sparse language, the depiction of the landscape and the interesting play between the brothers. I like the way Amis has cleverly conveyed the bleak environment, without getting bogged down in description. Reminded me of Coetzee’s Disgrace. Especially the political undertones. Like Coetzee, Amis is using his platform as a soapbox to decry the depravity & atrocities inflicted in the 1950’s by Russia on her own people. For all it’s gloomy outlook, I enjoyed many elements of the novel although it is yet another in the confessional style, the old man (& it’s so often a man) narrating his past sins as if we all cared.