From: StephenP
Category: Amis's Contemporaries
Date: 9/13/99
Time: 10:54:05 AM
Remote Name: 195.171.125.1
Well, I'm not sure about Little Jim's exclamation-marked arse, but he's spot on.
I read High Fidelity a few years ago and it was a sort of 'Woman's Room' for men, for me. It changed my life and spoke to me in a meaningful way. However, it changed me from Terence Service into Guy Clinch, which backs up Jim's point that his fiction is largely reactionary in intent and effect, for all Hornby's politically correct feel-goodery. About A Boy has the same goodwill but nothing further to say, nothing interesting to happen, and nary a chuckle to be had. At least HF had the excellent 'long nude walk to the bathroom' joke.
Jim is developing into a very nice young man. Since Gustave Raffe fingered him as my protege, I have felt all peculiar and paternal. I want to dandle him on my knee and tell him not to accept peciliar smelling sweeties off men called Bill. So don't you dare be rude to him, Edward, you big bully...
I sorted out the baddie at the end of level 2 of Zelda, by the way, thanks to everyone for all your help. You have to hit him with your sword and throw him against the wall.