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Politics
Politics is about: a) a threesome; b) politics Moshe loves Nana. But love can be difficult -- especially if you want to be kind. And Moshe and Nana want to be kind to someone else. They want to be kind to their best friend, Anjali. Politics explores crucial problems of sexual etiquette. What should the sleeping arrangements be in a ménage-à-trois? Is it polite to read while two people have sex beside you? Is it permissible to be jealous?
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
17 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Adam Thirlwell
39books90followersAdam Thirlwell was born in 1978 and grew up in North London. He is a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and assistant editor of Areté magazine.
His first novel, 'Politics', a love story with digressions, was published in 2003, and his second book, 'Miss Herbert: A Book of Novels, Romances & Their Unknown Translators, Containing Ten Languages, Set on Four Continents & Accompanied by Maps, Portraits, Squiggles, Illustrations, & a Variety of Helpful Indexes', in 2007. 'Miss Herbert' won a 2008 Somerset Maugham Award. His third novel is 'The Escape' (2009).
In 2003, Adam Thirlwell was named by Granta magazine as one of twenty 'Best of Young British novelists'. He lives in Oxford.
His first novel, 'Politics', a love story with digressions, was published in 2003, and his second book, 'Miss Herbert: A Book of Novels, Romances & Their Unknown Translators, Containing Ten Languages, Set on Four Continents & Accompanied by Maps, Portraits, Squiggles, Illustrations, & a Variety of Helpful Indexes', in 2007. 'Miss Herbert' won a 2008 Somerset Maugham Award. His third novel is 'The Escape' (2009).
In 2003, Adam Thirlwell was named by Granta magazine as one of twenty 'Best of Young British novelists'. He lives in Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 20, 2013
Little Shit Syndrome is normally diagnosed in small children. Cheeky novelists are apparently also susceptible. Hey man, what if I alternate fucking and theory in my rad new novel? Check this one under bong hits to perspicacity. I nearly cringe when I think about this novel. Politics didn't leave me wanting a shower, I wasn't dirty, only bored and annoyed with Thirwell's waste of tender gifts.
June 25, 2023
Pirmas sakinys: Švelniai bandydamas stipriau suveržti pūkuotus rožinius antrankius, uždėtus ant jo merginos riešų, Mošė pamatė, kad ji vos pastebimai susiraukia.
Kai 2004 m. Adam'o Thirlwell'o romanas "Politika" pasirodė lietuvių kalba, jam buvo sukurta interneto svetainė (dabar nebeveikia), jis buvo reklamuojama lauko stenduose (bene pirmą kartą?). Sprendžiant iš pavadinimo, knyga turėtų būti apie politiką ar bent jau susijęs su šiuo mokslu, o pagal pirmuosius puslapius � apie dulkinimąsi.
Ir antrą kartą beveik po 20 m. perskaitęs romaną galiu tik pakartoti 2004 m. įspūdžius:
1) pagrindiniai romano veikėjai yra Mošė (myli Naną), Nana (myli Mošę), Adžalė (gyvena kartu su Nana ir Moše sudarydami ménage à trois � šeimyninį gyvenimą trise), Nanos tėvas (myli dukrą ir jam patinka jos draugas Mošė; šiame romane dar atlieka ir gerojo angelo vaidmenį) bei pasakotojas.
2) kūrinį sudaro bent du sluoksniai: pasakojimas apie jaunuolius (susitikimas, meilės, gyvenimas kartu, išsiskyrimas ir kuo visa tai baigėsi) bei pasakotojo komentarai: ką autorius nori vienu ar kitu epizodu pasakyti (labai vertingas dalykas, jeigu knyga analizuojama mokykloje), nuklydimai į šoną (iš serijos "ar žinote, kad...") ir šiaip pasišaipymai iš visko (dažniausiai subtilus angliškas humoras, kai šypsomasi ne lūpomis, o mintyse).
3) kadangi kalbama apie šiuolaikinio jaunimo santykius, neišvengiama sekso � jo netrūksta laikraščiuose, filmuose, o dabar galima rasti ir knygose. "Politikoje" yra paprasto, oralinio, analinio sekso, sekso tarp merginų ir sekso trise, tikro sekso ir tik orgazmo imitavimo. Beje, šiame romane "shopping & f**king" tinka ne taip jau blogai kaip tikėjausi. Žodžiu, tai nėra knyga apie seksą (tai yra knyga apie seksą trise?).
4) tačiau tai nėra knyga ir apie politiką: tam vien Mao ar Vaclovo Havelo paminėjimo neužtenka. Po velnių, juk niekas nesako, kad ši knyga apie žydus vien dėl to, kad vienas pagrindinių jos veikėjų yra pusiau žydukas.
Labiausiai šiame romaniūkštyje (vartoju šį žodį ne niekinamąja, o lengvumo prasme, nes knyga panaši į greito maisto užkandinių asortimentą � gal ne McDonald's, o turkų ar kinų: greitai, pakankamai skanu, tačiau be didelių pretenzijų į aukštąjį meną) patiko pasakotojas � tik jo komentarai paprastai erotinei (pornografinei?) istorijai leidžia kilstelti į tą lygį, kuris, sprendžiant iš viršelio, domina ir rimtesnius leidinius ("The Times", "The Independent").
Beje, pasakotojo nuomone, šis romanas turi ir terapinį poveikį: "Jūs nežinote, kaip atrodo jūsų skrandis � lygiai taip pat nežinote, kokie jūsų jausmai. Kaip atrodo jūsų skrandis, nežinote, nes trukdo oda. Kokie jūsų jausmai, nežinote, nes trukdo tuštybė ir kitos iliuzijos priežastys. Odos problemai išspręsti turime anatomijos vadovėlius. Tuštybės ir kitų iliuzijos priežasčių problemai išspręsti turime romanus. Palyginkite tai su perdėtu Mošės nerimu, kai jis gulėjo Nanai ant nugaros. Jis nerimavo, kad visi kiti mylisi geriau už jį. Jis kentėjo, nes jo savimeilė buvo užgauta. Kai tau užgauna savimeilę, vaistas - atvirai ir ramiai palyginti save su kitais žmonėmis. Tai darydamas suvoki, kad visi kada nors būname tokie pat nerangūs. Tik saujelei išrinktųjų kiekvieną kartą pavyksta analinis seksas. Tokia išvada padeda atgauti proporcijos nuovoką. Mošei reikėjo romano. (Jam reikėjo šio romano). Mošė kentė, nes neturėjo šio romano. Šis romanas, pavyzdžiui, yra vienas didžiulis sumažinimo aktas. Viskas jame yra tinkamo dydžio. Manau, jei Mošė būtų perskaitęs šį romaną, jis būtų buvęs laimingas. Ši problema visuotinė." (19 p.) Tačiau nemanykite, kad ši knyga autobiografinė ar skirta tik nevykėliams: "Bet aš manau, kad kažkuriuo savo gyvenimo momentu kas nors labai panašaus yra nutikę ir jums. Žinoma, yra nutikę! Ši knyga turėtų jus nuraminti. Ši knyga universali. Tai lyginamoji studija. Mažiausiai noriu, kad joje matytumėt vien mane" (20 p.). Jeigu manote, kad kalbu ne rimtai, o blevyzgoju, tuo blogiau bus jums, kai skaitysite šią knygą.
Trumpai tariant, sudėjus pirmą ir įdėmesnį žvilgsnius, galima teigti, kad Adam'o Thirlwell'o "Politika" � lengva, nepretenzinga knyga, kurios įvertinimas priklauso nuo to, ko iš jos tikėjotės: norėsite per daug - nusivilsite, nesitikėsite nieko � gal net labai patiks.
P. S. O kodėl toks ž viršelis nesupratau nei 2004 m., nei 2023 m.
Kai 2004 m. Adam'o Thirlwell'o romanas "Politika" pasirodė lietuvių kalba, jam buvo sukurta interneto svetainė (dabar nebeveikia), jis buvo reklamuojama lauko stenduose (bene pirmą kartą?). Sprendžiant iš pavadinimo, knyga turėtų būti apie politiką ar bent jau susijęs su šiuo mokslu, o pagal pirmuosius puslapius � apie dulkinimąsi.
Ir antrą kartą beveik po 20 m. perskaitęs romaną galiu tik pakartoti 2004 m. įspūdžius:
1) pagrindiniai romano veikėjai yra Mošė (myli Naną), Nana (myli Mošę), Adžalė (gyvena kartu su Nana ir Moše sudarydami ménage à trois � šeimyninį gyvenimą trise), Nanos tėvas (myli dukrą ir jam patinka jos draugas Mošė; šiame romane dar atlieka ir gerojo angelo vaidmenį) bei pasakotojas.
2) kūrinį sudaro bent du sluoksniai: pasakojimas apie jaunuolius (susitikimas, meilės, gyvenimas kartu, išsiskyrimas ir kuo visa tai baigėsi) bei pasakotojo komentarai: ką autorius nori vienu ar kitu epizodu pasakyti (labai vertingas dalykas, jeigu knyga analizuojama mokykloje), nuklydimai į šoną (iš serijos "ar žinote, kad...") ir šiaip pasišaipymai iš visko (dažniausiai subtilus angliškas humoras, kai šypsomasi ne lūpomis, o mintyse).
3) kadangi kalbama apie šiuolaikinio jaunimo santykius, neišvengiama sekso � jo netrūksta laikraščiuose, filmuose, o dabar galima rasti ir knygose. "Politikoje" yra paprasto, oralinio, analinio sekso, sekso tarp merginų ir sekso trise, tikro sekso ir tik orgazmo imitavimo. Beje, šiame romane "shopping & f**king" tinka ne taip jau blogai kaip tikėjausi. Žodžiu, tai nėra knyga apie seksą (tai yra knyga apie seksą trise?).
4) tačiau tai nėra knyga ir apie politiką: tam vien Mao ar Vaclovo Havelo paminėjimo neužtenka. Po velnių, juk niekas nesako, kad ši knyga apie žydus vien dėl to, kad vienas pagrindinių jos veikėjų yra pusiau žydukas.
Labiausiai šiame romaniūkštyje (vartoju šį žodį ne niekinamąja, o lengvumo prasme, nes knyga panaši į greito maisto užkandinių asortimentą � gal ne McDonald's, o turkų ar kinų: greitai, pakankamai skanu, tačiau be didelių pretenzijų į aukštąjį meną) patiko pasakotojas � tik jo komentarai paprastai erotinei (pornografinei?) istorijai leidžia kilstelti į tą lygį, kuris, sprendžiant iš viršelio, domina ir rimtesnius leidinius ("The Times", "The Independent").
Beje, pasakotojo nuomone, šis romanas turi ir terapinį poveikį: "Jūs nežinote, kaip atrodo jūsų skrandis � lygiai taip pat nežinote, kokie jūsų jausmai. Kaip atrodo jūsų skrandis, nežinote, nes trukdo oda. Kokie jūsų jausmai, nežinote, nes trukdo tuštybė ir kitos iliuzijos priežastys. Odos problemai išspręsti turime anatomijos vadovėlius. Tuštybės ir kitų iliuzijos priežasčių problemai išspręsti turime romanus. Palyginkite tai su perdėtu Mošės nerimu, kai jis gulėjo Nanai ant nugaros. Jis nerimavo, kad visi kiti mylisi geriau už jį. Jis kentėjo, nes jo savimeilė buvo užgauta. Kai tau užgauna savimeilę, vaistas - atvirai ir ramiai palyginti save su kitais žmonėmis. Tai darydamas suvoki, kad visi kada nors būname tokie pat nerangūs. Tik saujelei išrinktųjų kiekvieną kartą pavyksta analinis seksas. Tokia išvada padeda atgauti proporcijos nuovoką. Mošei reikėjo romano. (Jam reikėjo šio romano). Mošė kentė, nes neturėjo šio romano. Šis romanas, pavyzdžiui, yra vienas didžiulis sumažinimo aktas. Viskas jame yra tinkamo dydžio. Manau, jei Mošė būtų perskaitęs šį romaną, jis būtų buvęs laimingas. Ši problema visuotinė." (19 p.) Tačiau nemanykite, kad ši knyga autobiografinė ar skirta tik nevykėliams: "Bet aš manau, kad kažkuriuo savo gyvenimo momentu kas nors labai panašaus yra nutikę ir jums. Žinoma, yra nutikę! Ši knyga turėtų jus nuraminti. Ši knyga universali. Tai lyginamoji studija. Mažiausiai noriu, kad joje matytumėt vien mane" (20 p.). Jeigu manote, kad kalbu ne rimtai, o blevyzgoju, tuo blogiau bus jums, kai skaitysite šią knygą.
Trumpai tariant, sudėjus pirmą ir įdėmesnį žvilgsnius, galima teigti, kad Adam'o Thirlwell'o "Politika" � lengva, nepretenzinga knyga, kurios įvertinimas priklauso nuo to, ko iš jos tikėjotės: norėsite per daug - nusivilsite, nesitikėsite nieko � gal net labai patiks.
P. S. O kodėl toks ž viršelis nesupratau nei 2004 m., nei 2023 m.
March 13, 2011
Yay for england, Yay for england.
I love this book, it reminds me of Milan Kundra not like Florian Zeller is cheating on Milan, but like a man who thinks the same way as milan. the book is full of asides, some are even about Milan.
I'm not honestly positive that this should be a 5 star book. it is certainly a 4 star book but I mean does it have that something I don't know. I give it 5 stars because I read it in a single day on and off for the course of 8 hours I believe, and I think that it is the type of book that needs to settle, not unlike Bolano. I want to be best friends with the narrator/author who won't shut up about how much he likes his characters and who is playing what role. I think the book is an interesting solution to the death of the author.
And lastly I suppose it truly comes down to the fact that the book has a back that sounds amazing (yes I read it for once) and then actually delivers more!!
I love this book, it reminds me of Milan Kundra not like Florian Zeller is cheating on Milan, but like a man who thinks the same way as milan. the book is full of asides, some are even about Milan.
I'm not honestly positive that this should be a 5 star book. it is certainly a 4 star book but I mean does it have that something I don't know. I give it 5 stars because I read it in a single day on and off for the course of 8 hours I believe, and I think that it is the type of book that needs to settle, not unlike Bolano. I want to be best friends with the narrator/author who won't shut up about how much he likes his characters and who is playing what role. I think the book is an interesting solution to the death of the author.
And lastly I suppose it truly comes down to the fact that the book has a back that sounds amazing (yes I read it for once) and then actually delivers more!!
February 12, 2023
NUOTAIKA perskaičius knygą: atsipūtus. Tai knyga, kurią galima pasiimti vietoj žurnalo atostogoms, kartais sutrikdanti tiesmukumu, nustebinanti faktus pateikiančiais intarpais, prajuokinanti.
Be pagražinimų apie TAI: iš fiziologinės, psichologinės ir tiesiog buitinės pusės. Apie Menage a trois - ne iš fantazijų, o iš realybės pozicijos.
Be pagražinimų apie TAI: iš fiziologinės, psichologinės ir tiesiog buitinės pusės. Apie Menage a trois - ne iš fantazijų, o iš realybės pozicijos.
October 10, 2017
This book is banal and crass; but above all it is deeply irritating. It is exactly the sort of book you would expect from an over-educated smart arse who has probably spent his entire life assuming that he has something wildly original to say. He thinks that he is James Joyce, but even Yootha Joyce would be ashamed of this tripe.
I picked this up from my local Underground Station library. I shan't be allowing anyone else to make the same mistake. I have taken steps to ensure that it is properly recycled in the hope that it is reincarnated into something better. Something like Mills & Boon.
I picked this up from my local Underground Station library. I shan't be allowing anyone else to make the same mistake. I have taken steps to ensure that it is properly recycled in the hope that it is reincarnated into something better. Something like Mills & Boon.
September 18, 2018
É muitíssimo curiosa a experiência de pegar um livro escrito num passado recente e perceber muito claramente as notas e engrenagens de uma sociedade parecida com a atual mas já tão distante. Adam Thirlwell, por exemplo, compôs este romance bastante explícito sobre a política (a-ha) e a ética que dizem respeito a um relacionamento a três -aqui um homem e duas mulheres-, como se isto fosse a mais esperta, ousada e inovadora abordagem sobre sexo que a literatura já viu. Dado o sucesso que atingiu quando do lançamento, é possível que boa parte do público realmente tenha levado a sério as digressões espertinhas e ácidas do narrador, que a todo momento opina sobre os destinos das personagens e as alinha com personagens históricos como Mao e Stálin, secreta ou notoriamente perversos. Thirlwell era, e hoje é possível ver com maior clareza, a deliciosa caricatura do escritor-revelação-dos-anos-2000: desbocado, por vezes metalinguístico, machista porém escorado na desculpa do bom humor, e principalmente muitíssimo apaixonado pela própria obra, apesar de disfarçar isso com uma dose de autocrítica.
Não é raro encontrar, ao longo de Política, comentários sobre as inadequações morais ou estilísticas de Sade, Kundera, Bulgákov, entre outros. Numa entrevista concedida à época do lançamento, o autor comenta diz: "Tento não ler autores jovens. Prefiro os mortos, com os quais não estou competindo." Parece explicar algumas coisas. Tudo isto considerado, é impossível negar que em seu nível mais elementar, aquele que diz respeito a personagens e suas motivações, Thirlwell consegue ser quase eficiente. O violentamente burguês drama de Nana, Moshe e Anjali consegue sim ser divertido, e por vezes através de um humor crasso, escatológico, distante do tão famoso refinamento da comédia inglesa. Se o próprio autor calasse um pouco a boca, seus personagens só teriam a ganhar. Trivia aleatória: Política foi uma das inspirações de Christophe Honoré para criar Canções de Amor; o livro inclusive aparece no filme e tem um de seus diálogos totalmente replicado. Talvez me faça gostar menos do filme.
Não é raro encontrar, ao longo de Política, comentários sobre as inadequações morais ou estilísticas de Sade, Kundera, Bulgákov, entre outros. Numa entrevista concedida à época do lançamento, o autor comenta diz: "Tento não ler autores jovens. Prefiro os mortos, com os quais não estou competindo." Parece explicar algumas coisas. Tudo isto considerado, é impossível negar que em seu nível mais elementar, aquele que diz respeito a personagens e suas motivações, Thirlwell consegue ser quase eficiente. O violentamente burguês drama de Nana, Moshe e Anjali consegue sim ser divertido, e por vezes através de um humor crasso, escatológico, distante do tão famoso refinamento da comédia inglesa. Se o próprio autor calasse um pouco a boca, seus personagens só teriam a ganhar. Trivia aleatória: Política foi uma das inspirações de Christophe Honoré para criar Canções de Amor; o livro inclusive aparece no filme e tem um de seus diálogos totalmente replicado. Talvez me faça gostar menos do filme.
October 3, 2013
I'm dropping it.
Started the book after a friend recommended it in a stormy discussion about where are all those well-written books with good sex for grown up women who don't want to read about Lolitas or 80s SM-pretend.
It started promising (the opening scene is well written, explicit and catchy) but then became... boring. Sporadic sex teasers and a lot of naivish leftist politics trying to sound like post-cultural studies. Plus irritating attempts to be oh so clever (throwing sharp phrases about the Holocaust and racism in between erotic divagations hitting the reader indeed, by the sheer contrast..).
And when it comes to sex, it still is (anyone who read it all - will it change?) not satisfactory. At least it's not as offensive to women who think as all those new literary versions of Lolita. Still, it only reveals the world of clever though frustrated, maturing though not there yet, men.
To sum up:
+4 stars for good writing
-2 stars for not the best sex
-1 star for not finishing it
reply | edit | delete | flag *
Started the book after a friend recommended it in a stormy discussion about where are all those well-written books with good sex for grown up women who don't want to read about Lolitas or 80s SM-pretend.
It started promising (the opening scene is well written, explicit and catchy) but then became... boring. Sporadic sex teasers and a lot of naivish leftist politics trying to sound like post-cultural studies. Plus irritating attempts to be oh so clever (throwing sharp phrases about the Holocaust and racism in between erotic divagations hitting the reader indeed, by the sheer contrast..).
And when it comes to sex, it still is (anyone who read it all - will it change?) not satisfactory. At least it's not as offensive to women who think as all those new literary versions of Lolita. Still, it only reveals the world of clever though frustrated, maturing though not there yet, men.
To sum up:
+4 stars for good writing
-2 stars for not the best sex
-1 star for not finishing it
reply | edit | delete | flag *
December 13, 2023
Underwhelming and I couldn’t get on board with the writers very self-referential and choppy writing style.
October 18, 2007
This book made me realize I needed a sex shelf. So there's that.
There are many many good lines in this book. The plot is lacking but that's not really the point. It's more of a character/relationship piece. It's also written in the first person, but the narrator isn't one of the main characters. That's interesting. This is really more of a 3.5 star book rather than 3.0. I remember really enjoying it while I read it, but very little sticks in my memory.
Perhaps that is because lines like this...
"And panicking, dismayed, ashamed, he tried to shove it quickly, back to its unnatural home, but only finished up in Nana's surprised vagina."- page 9
and
"He like it when Nana described what Anjali was doing to his testicles. It sounded interesting. It sounded technically advanced."-page 157
...are clever and fun in the moment, but it's nothing you really feel compelled to memorize. All the same, there is an equally enjoyable quote on just about every page.
There are many many good lines in this book. The plot is lacking but that's not really the point. It's more of a character/relationship piece. It's also written in the first person, but the narrator isn't one of the main characters. That's interesting. This is really more of a 3.5 star book rather than 3.0. I remember really enjoying it while I read it, but very little sticks in my memory.
Perhaps that is because lines like this...
"And panicking, dismayed, ashamed, he tried to shove it quickly, back to its unnatural home, but only finished up in Nana's surprised vagina."- page 9
and
"He like it when Nana described what Anjali was doing to his testicles. It sounded interesting. It sounded technically advanced."-page 157
...are clever and fun in the moment, but it's nothing you really feel compelled to memorize. All the same, there is an equally enjoyable quote on just about every page.
December 17, 2012
nteresting style this. The author talks directly to the reader as he introduces characters and concepts.
He starts by telling us how we are going to like two of the main protaganists - Moshe and Nana and then goes on to tell us about a sex scene with them which involves general unlplesantness
Then we are introduced to a third character, Anjali, who is introduced by nana (yes, six foot, blonde, into the unpleasantness but has no real interest in sex) in a menage a trois.
The thing to like about this book is Moshes insecurities make it difficult for him to really enjoy what's happening.
There are some things to enjoy. I liked the quoted reason for why people read. I would write it down here, but I left the book in spain, but it went along the lines of people looking at anatomy books to see their insides - people want to read to compare their thoughts and emotions.
Which I thought was pretty adpt.
ultimately, the early premise disappears and its an ultimately boring and unsatisfying book.
He starts by telling us how we are going to like two of the main protaganists - Moshe and Nana and then goes on to tell us about a sex scene with them which involves general unlplesantness
Then we are introduced to a third character, Anjali, who is introduced by nana (yes, six foot, blonde, into the unpleasantness but has no real interest in sex) in a menage a trois.
The thing to like about this book is Moshes insecurities make it difficult for him to really enjoy what's happening.
There are some things to enjoy. I liked the quoted reason for why people read. I would write it down here, but I left the book in spain, but it went along the lines of people looking at anatomy books to see their insides - people want to read to compare their thoughts and emotions.
Which I thought was pretty adpt.
ultimately, the early premise disappears and its an ultimately boring and unsatisfying book.
November 27, 2023
The perfect travel book: light, playful, sometimes even sexy, although for the most part comically so (and comic sex is the best, at least in writing). This very British novel about a ménage à trois among three people who aren̕t really committed to it or even comfortable with sex (except for one) is narrated by an omniscient narrator who has his own opinions and has as much fun sharing them as the reader does reading them (very Kunderian, and yet still refreshing). A short confection, full of playful irony, some philosophizing (all in jest and not), intelligent, silly, and yet on the mark.
Fortunately, the novel's one major fault holds off to the end: the author's intent seems to be to show that selfishness is the best policy. He is clearly an Adam Smithian liberal, and has created a playful morality play that seems to be playful about morality too until the end.
Fortunately, the novel's one major fault holds off to the end: the author's intent seems to be to show that selfishness is the best policy. He is clearly an Adam Smithian liberal, and has created a playful morality play that seems to be playful about morality too until the end.
August 28, 2007
This book deftly deals with sex in a non-sexual way. In fact its discussion of sex, while explicit, is only pornographic for one paragraph. It basically explores the complexities of human interactions and communication and what happiness, sacrifice and love mean.
The biggest selling point of this book for me is the narrator. He's snarky, witty and kind in turns. His voice is omniscient and guides you through the intricacies of the main characters' relationships which could be seen as exotic, yet, through the matter-a-fact way the issues are dealt with, a resonance and familiarity with their plight is immediate.
The biggest selling point of this book for me is the narrator. He's snarky, witty and kind in turns. His voice is omniscient and guides you through the intricacies of the main characters' relationships which could be seen as exotic, yet, through the matter-a-fact way the issues are dealt with, a resonance and familiarity with their plight is immediate.
November 23, 2008
I might have liked this book had I read it, say, 15 years ago in my 20s. Because it's cutesy and fun and sweet. Like Pop Rocks.
And a little bit of Pop Rocks goes a long way. So after 30 pages I wanted to tell the author to take some chamomile tea and chill the f**k out.
The book is more character- than plot-driven, which is fine. But the author uses the meta-fiction/narrator-intervention device less skillfully than others (Milan Kundera, Italo Calvino and Vonnegut come to mind)and more self-consciously (Look at me! look at me!).
So now that I sound like an unappreciative dick, I'll end with this: It's not awful, but you can probably skip it.
And a little bit of Pop Rocks goes a long way. So after 30 pages I wanted to tell the author to take some chamomile tea and chill the f**k out.
The book is more character- than plot-driven, which is fine. But the author uses the meta-fiction/narrator-intervention device less skillfully than others (Milan Kundera, Italo Calvino and Vonnegut come to mind)and more self-consciously (Look at me! look at me!).
So now that I sound like an unappreciative dick, I'll end with this: It's not awful, but you can probably skip it.
November 2, 2010
Had I never read Martin Amis, then I probably wouldn't think of Adam Thirlwell as third-rate, knock-off Martin Amis. Had I never read Tibor Fischer, then I probably wouldn't think of Adam Thirlwell as second-rate, done-over Tibor Fischer. Had Thirlwell never read Amis or Fischer, Politics would likely imitate some other popular stylist's style instead. Had Adam Thirlwell's been the only novel I'd ever read, I'm sure I'd still find it ever so hashed and rehashed. Somewhere among these conditions lies the unconditional belief that I should have judged this book by it's cover (which is awful, just awful) and never misspent any time with it at all.
April 24, 2020
Politique n'en a que le nom, puisqu'il s'agit au contraire d'une histoire intime.
Elle lie trois personnages, qui vivront bientôt en ménage. Cette situation particulière est l'occasion d'observer de près leurs relations, émotionnelles et sexuelles. Surtout sexuelles pour dire vrai, et c'est un peu redondant... finalement, l'originalité principale de ce roman réside dans sa forme. Car l'auteur nous parle directement, brise le quatrième mur pour se confier, essentiellement sur ce qu'il pense de ses personnages, comme s'il les observait, s'ils existaient ailleurs que dans son imagination. Voilà qui est réjouissant! Pour le fond, on a vite fait le tour...
Elle lie trois personnages, qui vivront bientôt en ménage. Cette situation particulière est l'occasion d'observer de près leurs relations, émotionnelles et sexuelles. Surtout sexuelles pour dire vrai, et c'est un peu redondant... finalement, l'originalité principale de ce roman réside dans sa forme. Car l'auteur nous parle directement, brise le quatrième mur pour se confier, essentiellement sur ce qu'il pense de ses personnages, comme s'il les observait, s'ils existaient ailleurs que dans son imagination. Voilà qui est réjouissant! Pour le fond, on a vite fait le tour...
February 3, 2008
Despite pink furry handcuffs, attempted anal sex, and golden showers, Adam Thirlwell describes his text as "prude."
And he is kind of right.
Adam Thirlwell is just as funny and at least as smart about sex as Dan Savage while being his complete intellectual opposite. While I lean ever-so-slightly toward the Savage side, Thirlwell has some worthy observations on relationships and on the sex.
I'd love to read a published transcribed conversation between these two. Someone please make that happen.
And he is kind of right.
Adam Thirlwell is just as funny and at least as smart about sex as Dan Savage while being his complete intellectual opposite. While I lean ever-so-slightly toward the Savage side, Thirlwell has some worthy observations on relationships and on the sex.
I'd love to read a published transcribed conversation between these two. Someone please make that happen.
October 15, 2008
Kai pamačiau šią knygą pirmą kartą knygyne, pamaniau, kad reikia būtinai ją perskaityti. Nuo to laiko jau praėjo geri 3 ar daugiau metų... Perskaičiau... Įspūdžio didelio nepaliko... Eilinis romaniūkštis apie seksą... Kiek įdomesnio rašymo būdo, bet turinys tai prastas. Nerekomenduoju :)
November 12, 2011
J'ai détesté chaque page de ce livre
Au risque d'avoir l'air d'un vieux con haineux, son auteur m'a tout l'air d'un jeune con prétentieux
Au risque d'avoir l'air d'un vieux con haineux, son auteur m'a tout l'air d'un jeune con prétentieux
April 21, 2017
2003 notebook: a would-be racy, sexy disquisition on sex in the 90s/noughties, but I was bored.
May 9, 2023
Hubiera querido que me gustaran estas lecciones y2k sobre la vida sessual y sentimental, o de (philip) jodido seguir vampireando el encanto que tiene la construcción de mundo por artistas que no viven 2paycheks away from poverty tan de la época.
No lo logró en ningún sendio, terminó siendo un hombruno y vomitivo bootcamp sobre cómo no ser un tasteless hetero judío y gánale a tu competidora lesboss hindi a la white women's club en el trío.
Esa tendencia britshit de querer mezclar líbido y cerebro vpero que no les termina quedando porque no tienen esa sensualidad práctica german, sólo son esas típicas refledxiones frias guiris acerca de la corporalidad protestantecore. El narrador es como un coach, juez del mejor papel a ejercer: "yo no sería tan cerebral como tu" después que dió diez contorsiones su alma para decir una bobaliconada. Tropes como por querer ser tan complacientes con el otro generamos una fuerza coercitiva, no nos abrimos lo suficiente. Todo se trató de una emancipación barata.
El craft pedorroso es como: "el sexoi es lo de menos", es solo el tip de iceberg de políticas y movimientos del trato. Damn bro, algo nuevo que aportar= y aoarte bi oywdes begar sy reakudad con lo perversillo de lo voy a hacer tan porno y tan explícito queva a dejar de serlo y haré las reflexiones mansplaineras a costa de figuras políticas e históricas. En todas estas historias con Hitler, Mao o Stalin, siempre deja huecos inmensos para que el lector sea el que le compre las sugerencias y llene los huecos con universales moralistas aurridazos....
La rubiatarada a quien no gusta del sesso vs el judio romántico vs la hindi sensual,
rompe mal con prejuicios hetero viejos, mistifica el trío y.... no da nada ni prenda de sabiduría, lo tomo como un bluff para hacer un dictum capitalista asqueroso (de white pork) para justificar que rompas con el egoísmo comunista de compartir a tu pareja (mensaje feo de aduéñate de tu deseo), regresa a tu confort burgués, no te expongas más de lo necesario.... innecesarísimo llamar a la política.
Y, nada, la prosperidad, un trabajo de actriz de ruidos guturales de bebe en un comercial de talco yonson,,,,,, los tiempos idos, mi salario que no da ni para comer saludable..... con eso mínimo rescataba pieza de época
No lo logró en ningún sendio, terminó siendo un hombruno y vomitivo bootcamp sobre cómo no ser un tasteless hetero judío y gánale a tu competidora lesboss hindi a la white women's club en el trío.
Esa tendencia britshit de querer mezclar líbido y cerebro vpero que no les termina quedando porque no tienen esa sensualidad práctica german, sólo son esas típicas refledxiones frias guiris acerca de la corporalidad protestantecore. El narrador es como un coach, juez del mejor papel a ejercer: "yo no sería tan cerebral como tu" después que dió diez contorsiones su alma para decir una bobaliconada. Tropes como por querer ser tan complacientes con el otro generamos una fuerza coercitiva, no nos abrimos lo suficiente. Todo se trató de una emancipación barata.
El craft pedorroso es como: "el sexoi es lo de menos", es solo el tip de iceberg de políticas y movimientos del trato. Damn bro, algo nuevo que aportar= y aoarte bi oywdes begar sy reakudad con lo perversillo de lo voy a hacer tan porno y tan explícito queva a dejar de serlo y haré las reflexiones mansplaineras a costa de figuras políticas e históricas. En todas estas historias con Hitler, Mao o Stalin, siempre deja huecos inmensos para que el lector sea el que le compre las sugerencias y llene los huecos con universales moralistas aurridazos....
La rubiatarada a quien no gusta del sesso vs el judio romántico vs la hindi sensual,
rompe mal con prejuicios hetero viejos, mistifica el trío y.... no da nada ni prenda de sabiduría, lo tomo como un bluff para hacer un dictum capitalista asqueroso (de white pork) para justificar que rompas con el egoísmo comunista de compartir a tu pareja (mensaje feo de aduéñate de tu deseo), regresa a tu confort burgués, no te expongas más de lo necesario.... innecesarísimo llamar a la política.
Y, nada, la prosperidad, un trabajo de actriz de ruidos guturales de bebe en un comercial de talco yonson,,,,,, los tiempos idos, mi salario que no da ni para comer saludable..... con eso mínimo rescataba pieza de época
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2019
A playful, saucy and slightly irritating metafiction that is very much in the self-reflexive, postmodern tradition of Philip Roth, Milan Kundera and Martin Amis - and it knows this. Like Amis’s ‘Money� is a deliberately broad title for a novel concerned with a culture of excess, Thirlwell’s ‘Politics� on the surface doesn’t seem to be about politics at all, more like sex. It’s a cheeky joke, purporting that the novel will provide answers to everything, but it’s actually a cock and bull story, full of sexual anxiety, narrative experimentation, and musings on Jewishness. Entertaining in parts, but mostly just annoyingly clever.
August 6, 2017
Politics was a great surprise. Not only is it an honest look at adult sex and all its idiosyncrasies and spillover effect to realtionships and basic facts about everyday life, Politics also shows a very withheld sensitive approach to relationships and love. So it's disappointing when the book fails when it tries to create constant parallels between the characters and historic facts about Soviet Union and other subjects. Sometimes these parallels work, but they become more exhausting as the story advances. Anyway, really good book.
February 4, 2024
Es un libro que nos relata las dificultades de un trío amoroso, su cotidianidad, la sexualidad en el trío, las confusiones que van apareciendo pasando la convivencia, los sentimientos desarrollados y la insatisfacción de la relación.
Es un libro que no te aporta el gran comociemento, no ahonda profundamente en el pensamiento de los personajes y tampoco están bien desarrollados. A mi punto de vista hubo muchos temas de los que se pudieron prescindir (que no aportaban a la trama) y centrarse más en el desarrollo de la historia y la psicología.
Es un libro que no te aporta el gran comociemento, no ahonda profundamente en el pensamiento de los personajes y tampoco están bien desarrollados. A mi punto de vista hubo muchos temas de los que se pudieron prescindir (que no aportaban a la trama) y centrarse más en el desarrollo de la historia y la psicología.
November 22, 2020
Un libro decepcionantemente aburrido... Debería haber sido un cuento y hubiera estado bien... Un sinfín de lugares comunes salpicados con alguna que otra frase lúcida... Lo busqué por más de 10 años y lamento haberlo hecho. No creo que vuelva a leer nada de Thirlwell
June 18, 2023
I didn’t finish it, and I didn’t get far. This novel just didn’t get going for me. I’m giving it two stars because it wasn’t completely awful. I could see this style of prose working for some people but not for me.
January 21, 2025
fun sexy book, a little charming, but overall far too derivative of Milan Kundera and the characters felt a bit one dimensional
the narrator constantly telling you how much he liked his own characters made it harder to like them on my own terms
the narrator constantly telling you how much he liked his own characters made it harder to like them on my own terms
May 9, 2017
Uneven. At times exhilarating, funny and thoughtful. At others banal and tedious. I found the idiomatic speech ambitious but missed the mark somehow. Clearly a talented writer with lots of potential.
May 4, 2018
This is a novel about the novelist’s cleverness. It was not my cup of tea.
July 18, 2018
Really not what i expected when I bought the book (judged it by the title) but I sure enjoyed reading it.
December 24, 2021
Couldn't finish. It's not good. It's trying to be edgy and modern but it just fails. A book that opens with a couple trying (and failing at) anal sex shouldn't be this boring.
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