Mr Phillips

Rating:
Summary: Shlub City, here we come
Review: I still haven't gotten around to MRS DALLOWAY. (I'm too busy debating particle physics with Jeanette Winterson via her ouija board.) As far as I can tell, MR PHILLIPS is the fictional equivalent of the desultory "observational humor" that stand-up comedians do. (The stand-up material that invariably gets introduced with the phrase "Have you ever noticed that...?".) The main difference between this and THE DEBT TO PLEASURE seems to be that PLEASURE'S recipes have been replaced with tedious statistical calculations and sexual disquisitions.

Here's my fave line: "Karen's accent, East London verging on Essex, is sexy too, but in a more straightforwardly sluttish way. And there is something about the limitless reserves of indifference she can express, the thrilling estuarine boredness of her 'Yeah'."

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly Modern Mitty
Review: Mr. Phillips chronicles the first day of unemployment for aredundant accountant in London. No one knows he is out of work; hegets up and goes into town, as he normally would. The fortunate reader gets to occupy the imagination of this middle aged ex-accountant as he ponders on sex, family, city life, and death. John Lanchester 's writing is droll and at times will make you laugh out loud. But there is a deeper story in this novel which will move the reader to a feeling of satisfaction and delight at the end of Mr. Phillip's day. Mr. Phillips remains with the reader long after the last page is read. A well written and entertaining novel.

Rating:
Summary: A day in the lifeï
Review: There is something very organic about John Lanchester's Mr. Phillips. The descriptions of his daily life are filled with sights, sounds, and even smells, so meticulously detailed the reader can easily put himself (whether or not you want to is another story) in Phillips' place. An accountant let go from his position due to redundancy this book is a day in Mr. Phillips' new life. Filled with sexual commentary, calculations, and the occasional adventure, it's hard to say that this is a truly original work in plot, but Lanchester creates such a clear picture you can't help but be fascinated by the inner workings of a man whose life is thrown in such disarray.