Intimacy and Midnight All Day: A Novel and Stories

Rating:
Summary: CLEAR SHARP AND INTROSPECTIVE
Review: This is the 2nd book I have read by this author and although it does not entertain to the same extent as BUDDHA the writing is clear sharp, honest and original. The story of INTIMACY is very one dimensional and therefore reads very autobiographical. There is very little characterisation of anyone in the book except the protagonist, which almost confirms the autobiographic theory. I liked the honesty, the weakness, the selfishness, the sheer madness of the thoughts and situation - it all rings very true from what I felt. It was like reading someones diary almost so the voyeurs out there will love it. There is plenty to dislike in the book but I read it in a day and a half and i dont do that often, the ending for example is weak, pathetic and superficial, bit like the author really, I am not saying this in a bad way, the character is just not very likable, no wonder his life is a disaster! Read it and be glad that you are not him.

Rating:
Summary: Life begins at 40?
Review: This set of stories from Kureishi is concerned with the onset of middle age. A series of characters all reach a stage in their lives (around 40 years of age) where they hit a crisis: previous certainties disintegrate, whether they are expressed in the form of their marriages (as in "Intimacy") or in their careers (as in "Sucking Stones"). Throughout the stories, Kureishi's characters experience disillusionment, a sense of failure or underachievement and a desperate urge to start anew.

Although the final story, "The Penis", is more light-hearted, this is a deeply introspective collection of stories. I seem to recall when I first read "Intimacy", which was published originally as a novella, that Kureishi had been going through a huge disruption in his personal life. If my memory is correct, then that would explain the confessional feel of "Intimacy", and indeed would go some way to understanding the author's exploration of this particularly difficult time of life in the other stories.

So, if you're searching for something to uplift your spirits, this collection might not be for you. On the other hand, if you've experienced any of the difficulties Kureishi explores, there might be solace in the fact that others go through similar trials. If neither of the above apply, this is still an interesting collection from a skilled writer, perhaps at a key stage in his development.

Of course, the stories are of variable quality. I thought that "Intimacy" was by far the best, as it felt (achingly at times) very personal. Others are somewhat inconclusive, but mood and exploration of emotions seemed to be Kureishi's main aim rather than plot resolution.

G Rodgers