What do You think about Heavy Water And Other Stories (2000)?
I finally get why so many people like Martin Amis and so many dislike Martin Amis. He is such a skillful prose stylist that his stories can be as hard to put down as they are to finish because of his nasty characters and view of the world.No, I do not like these stories very much but I admire the skill that went into writing them. Different people will prefer different stories, of course, but I favor the first and third where the author tries to get us to see the world differently by simple switches: in the first story screenwriters live the lives of poets and poets live the lives of screen writers. In the third, being gay is normal and being straight is controversial. While these both seemed clever for a while, both stories continued long past the point where I got the point. I'm not sure either did much to change my thinking about either matter.In sum: if you like Martin Amis, have fun, but I don't think I need to bother with him again.
—Mike Jensen
I read a lot of short story compilations and anthologies. It gives me a taste of different authors and wider range of genres to chew on. I read two anthologies concurrently these past weeks. One was better than the other. This collection by Martin Amis, a British writer, was not the better one.There was not a single common narrative or theme throughout this assorted collection, other than the fact that the stories were based in England. It touched on topics such as relationship, marriage, feminism and even the act of writing itself - but it proved dry, and at most times, felt tedious. There was even an entire story about an accountant's penchant for wanking himself (i'm not kidding) that was just bad through and through. Even the language / style used varied from standard queen's English to local dialects and slangs, and the last one was just a made up language (something like speaking with a blocked nose as in what the comedian Benny Hill used to do). I guess Mr Amis found it funny, but i doubt anyone else would.Frankly, i could hardly relate to any of the characters or stories here because the basic flair of writing a decent conversation is missing. Everything proved to be either truncated, or just blown out of portion.Only the lead story - Heavy Water - slotted in almost towards the end of the book proved bearable. But one gem does not a crown make. Sigh.I found this in a bargain bin, and i hate to say this, i'll probably return it there. It's safe to say it would be a long time before i pick up another book by Amis.~ Shob
—Shob
Picked up a lovely 1st edition hardcover in perfect condition for next to nothing in a lovely second hand bookstore in South Haven, MI when we were on holiday a few months ago. So its a collection of short stories mostly written in the 90s and with a couple of real gems. When Amis is biting and funny he is head and shoulders above everyone else. The satire about the movie business, applied to a poetry - 'his f-cking sonnet did forty million opening weekend' is wicked. And the story about the 'Straight District' in NY with the marginalised hetros campaigning for rights had just the right spot on details.
—Esther
