'Amsterdam' by Ian McEwan opens at a woman's funeral where two of her past lovers, Clive and Vernon, are discussing her death and loss. The two men, a publisher and a famous composer, agree to protect each other from a lingering painful death, leading to moral challenges and disapproval of each other's decisions. The plot revolves around the unethical actions of the characters, the absurd conclusion, and the questionable recipient of the Booker Prize, with readers expressing disappointment in the predictability of the storyline.

Characters:

The characters are primarily self-absorbed individuals, notably Clive and Vernon, whose morally questionable actions drive the narrative, with Molly Lane as a pivotal figure influencing their fates.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by sophisticated, fluid prose, sharp wit, and significant detail, capturing the characters' internal conflicts effectively.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features two friends who navigate their relationship amidst the aftermath of their mutual lover's death, leading to unexpected moral complications and a twist ending.

Setting:

Set in contemporary British society, the story primarily unfolds in London at Molly's funeral and later in Amsterdam, which is pivotal to the plot's resolution.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk and engaging, with short chapters that contribute to a quick read and steadily build tension throughout the story.

Poor Molly. It began with a tingling in her arm as she raised it outside the Dorchester Grill to stop a cab—a sensation that never went away. Within weeks she was fumbling for the names of things. Par...

Notes:

Ian McEwan won the Booker Prize for Amsterdam in 1998.

The novel features two main characters, Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday, who are both former lovers of the deceased Molly Lane.

Molly Lane's death is a catalyst for the events of the story, bringing Clive and Vernon together in a complex friendship and rivalry.

Clive is a renowned composer tasked with creating a symphony for the coming millennium.

Vernon is the editor of a struggling newspaper, facing the pressures of declining circulation.

The novel explores themes of morality, self-absorption, and the impact of personal choices.

A significant plot point involves the decision to publish compromising photographs of a right-wing politician, Julian Garmony, who was also a lover of Molly's.

The story raises questions about ethical journalism and personal integrity in the face of ambition.

Amsterdam has been described as a commentary on the failures of 20th-century social ideals.

The novel's ending involves a dark twist that plays into its themes of vengeance and regret.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings might include discussions of death, moral ambiguity, and themes of betrayal.

From The Publisher:

The Booker Prize-winning contemporary morality tale-cleverly disguised as a comic novel-from the acclaimed author of Atonement.

On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a London crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly's lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence: Clive is Britain's most successful modern composer, and Vernon is a newspaper editor. Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister. In the days that follow Molly's funeral, Clive and Vernon will make a pact with consequences that neither could have foreseen…

Ratings (5)

Loved It (3)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (7):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (2)

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About the Author:

Ian McEwan is the bestselling author of seventeen books, including the novels Nutshell; The Children Act; Sweet Tooth; Solar, winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize; Saturday; Atonement, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the W. H. Smith Literary Award; The Comfort of Strangers and Black…

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Amsterdam

Ian McEwan