http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb Books. More Books. Books. Sat, 24 Apr 2010 10:22:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en By the way, did I mention I was going to Ireland for a few weeks and wouldn’t be posting? No? That’s because you might be a thief and break into my flat while I’m away. Anyway, I’m back again now. I’ll try to post more on The Pregnant Widow soon. ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=216 Going pretty slowly with The Pregnant Widow, read another chunk of Diarmaid MacCullough’s history of the Reformation instead. Now there’s a real book. I don’t feel bad about this. You’re not paying me. And you know what? If you did offer to pay me, I’d refuse. It would compromise my ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=214 Thought this was kind of interesting. Yeah, lying. You got me. It’s an article on the Guardian Books Blog, of course it ain’t interesting (apols to Billy Mills, he’s alright). Journalistic, ploddy, doesn’t really know its stuff (eg “Flannery O’Connor, the only Catholic writer acclaimed by American critics in the ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=213 I’m trying to help you here, Mr Amis. We’re creating buzz! Everyone’s talking about me talking about you! (I have no evidence to back that up). You look all cool and onliney, like Johnny Mnemonic, because I’m writing about you. I really do like your work. The Pregnant Widow opens ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=212 People have been worrying that there’s a conflict of interest in my Martin Amis series. “The Midnight Bell,” they say, “The Midnight Bell you conducted one of the most in-depth interviews with Amis on record; anyone can see that a close personal bond developed between the two of you over ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=211 Should I switch to a tumblr? All the cool kids have one. I don’t think I should switch to a tumblr. It’s fun here. It’s like living in a crazy old haunted mansion. http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=210 Here’s C Hitchens defending Amis from the charge of misogyny: So far from being some jaded Casanova, Martin possesses the rare gift — enviable if potentially time-consuming — of being able to find something attractive in almost any woman. If this be misogyny, then give us increase of it. Yeah, no. ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=209 An aside. The HOW-IT-ISism of Amis actually adds some fun to his novels for the engaged reader. Use one of the following phrases each time he makes a HOW-IT-IS observation: • Really Mart? • Is that so? • You don’t say. • What a world! • How interesting. • You learn something new every day. • Nowt ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=208 So, we probably need to get a few things straight if we’re talking about Martin Amis. I haven’t started reading the book yet, but I’ll spread out my general thinking-about-Mart grundrisses here. First up, I like his novels. He’s more fun and interesting than his contemporaries. One of the best ... http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=207 Does he really understand ants? Really? http://www.themidnightbell.com/tmb/?p=206