The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis

Well I am officially a quarter of the way through the list, that is until I add 2011’s winner…however, I am feeling rather pleased with myself.  I’m incredibly glad I embarked on this journey through the Bookers as so far it’s been really enjoyable (apart from slogging through the latter part of ‘The Famished Road’)!  I’m learning a lot about writing, the world, people – such a breadth of experience and wonder represented in the written form.

And so on to yet another corner of the world, Wales and yet another group of people – the retired.  I guess my overwhelming impression of this book was slight indifference.  Not in a bad way and there was plenty to entertain and occupy for the duration, but on reflection it seemed just a bit odd to focus a story on a group of retirees who drank a lot, spent a great deal of time in the pub or at each others houses drinking, and to have affairs with each other, or having had affairs in the past.  Moreover, I couldn’t quite dismiss the uneasiness I had about them drinking excessively and then jumping in the car, but then I guess they were of a different generation not scarred by Drink Drive campaigns! 

However, this is looking at it rather superficially and obviously the characters had great complexity written into them and the way that each of the chapters were written from various of the characters’ points of view gave greater insight into their past and the way they viewed their lives and the other characters.  Also perhaps most endearing was how well they knew each other and as a result of being really old friends accepted each other for who they were and demonstrated great tolerance towards each other. 

As I write this review I can appreciate the positives, especially the depth of the book, however, my lasting impression of the book is one of disappointment and disillusionment of the latter stages of life; where tolerance is almost one’s greatest asset, an acceptance of one’s own mortality and general slowing down, the companionship/putting up with long-term spouses and friends and life generally.  Perhaps if I were older this story would have had more resonance, but as someone in their mid-twenties, I found it rather saddening and disheartening to think that this is what life could become…