Remembering Martin Amis and The Literature of an Era
Episode 40: I reflect on the death of Martin Amis, who for me symbolized a time when literature still held a prominent place in popular culture. To make a point about the changing landscape of books and of book buying, I reminisce about haunting bookstores in downtown Manhattan with my writer friends, where I once discovered an Amis essay that marked me. Using Amis's novel 'London Fields' and his memoir 'Experience," I praise his writing talent, erudition, and rich literary background, which his father, the great Kingsley Amis, clearly played a part in.
Books Mentioned:
Experience, by Martin Amis, 2000
This Music, by Lewis Dimmick, Wardance Records, 2013
London Fields, by Martin Amis, 1989
The War Against Cliché, by Martin Amis, 2001
Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis, 1954
The Closing of the American Mind, by Allan Bloom, 1987
Authors mentioned:
Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes, Philip Larkin, Robert Graves, Saul Bellow,
Christopher Hitchens, John Updike, Norman Mailer, Vladimir Nabakov, James Joyce, John Milton
Clive James interviewing Martin Amis:
• Talking in the Library...
#martinamis #britishnovelists #kingsleyamis
Пікірлер: 18
Loved this “rant”…thank you! I miss Martin Ami’s too!
@book_rants
3 ай бұрын
Lots of people do. He was special. Thanks for subscribing!
I became instantly a admirer od Nabokov and Bellow because of Amis, Hitch , Mcewan and co. It is interesting when you hear that Amis's literary kings were Nabokov and Bellow. The two never really liked each other. Great re post about Martin btw 😊
@book_rants
6 ай бұрын
Thanks for the interesting comment, and for the encouragement. One of these days, I should review Nabakov's memoir SPEAK, MEMORY.
Tank you very much. I really miss Martin Amis too.
@book_rants
6 ай бұрын
He was both talented and wise! Yes, very much missed!
I agree, I think both Martin & The Hitch were fascinating gentlemen. Men of style and wit
@book_rants
7 ай бұрын
We need more men like that in the public eye!
He was this bridge to the past like few other writers.
@book_rants
3 ай бұрын
Very well put. I completely agree.
Well said #amistribute
@book_rants
2 ай бұрын
Thanks, man!
I think Martin Amis is an enigma..I don't think his literature will be remembered (although he wrote some brilliant stuff) but I think he will be remembered because he was bigger than his literature.. he was a giant on the literary landscape..I'm still saddened that he's gone..
@book_rants
12 күн бұрын
He definitely was bigger than his literature, and he backed it up with talent and vocation. You might be right that his work won't be remembered. Perhaps his essays will be. I hope he lives on in some way or another. And, yes, I´m sad, too.
Very commendable reviews
@book_rants
8 ай бұрын
Thanks, man! I enjoy doing them.
It’s because of Amazon that we don’t have any bookstores to speak of and look at Amazon doesn’t allow you to really flip through a book and get it taste for it. Amazon is destroying culture.
@book_rants
2 ай бұрын
Thanks for the comment. It's true that Amazon is making it harder for independent bookshops to compete, but I'm struck by the fact of how many independent bookshops have their own very "corporate" model of doing things, only on a smaller scale. In general, it's no longer fun to browse in bookstores.