- Hardcover: 214 pages
- Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux (T) (June 1991)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0374275904
- ISBN-13: 978-0374275907
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.7 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 386 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,928,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Jones, the narrator and protagonist of this remarkably polished debut novel, is a solitary solicitor, an "almost transparent" fellow who cannot understand his own failure to distinguish himself. He is obsessed with one Michael Donovan, a worldly, successful barrister who seems to be and to have everything Jones is not and hasn't got. His year of clerking for Donovan was inexplicably fruitless, but now, three years later, Jones embarks on a painful odyssey of self-discovery because Donovan has "dug up my old future" by reappearing in his life. Vivid and well-chosen language draws the reader into the tortures and doubts of the narrator as he wrestles with his desperation and struggles to locate himself in the world he craves. Jones's account, in terms of its plot and O'Neill's delicate treatment of its themes, recalls H. F. Saint's Invisible Man. O'Neill is a 25-year-old Irishman, a poet and barrister practicing in London; his is a first-rate first effort.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
In this, O'Neill's first novel, we meet the rather introspective James Jones. Jones, who is not resigned to his present circumstances, is preoccupied with the life and career of illustrious barrister Michael Donovan. Early in his career, Jones had been one of Donovan's pupils. Crushed by Donovan's failure to help secure him a place as a junior barrister, he has had to work as a mere solicitor in an unprepossessing firm. When Donovan calls upon Jones to help him with his upcoming divorce, the former pupil is thrilled. However, Jones's involvement with Donovan during this year of the divorce proceedings just about ruins his career. Finally, he comes to realize that Donovan's fast-paced life is really not as wonderful as it seemed, and he sees his own life with its limitations in a better light. One hopes that this is only the first of many enjoyable works of a promising young author.
- Patricia C. Heaney, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Patricia C. Heaney, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
At last, Sep 22 2008
By EmmaH - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: This Is The Life (Paperback)
I unearthed this book recently when finally getting to unpack all my books from the boxes they've been sitting in for the last couple of years. I thought I had lost it. I read it years ago and couldn't remember the author's name or the title, but thankfully recognised the cover the instant I unpacked it. What I did remember is that it was very, very funny. It lodged itself in my mind as one of the few novels I would bother to read again, and now I have my hands on it, that's exactly what I shall do.My ex-partner read it too, and shared my opinion. I can't recommend it highly enough. Such a shame it now seems to be out of print.
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