Why did I love this book?
This book is an unyielding portrayal of the excesses of 1980s consumerism, hedonism, and self-destruction. Amis pulls no punches in his depiction of John Self, a 35-year-old director of TV commercials who lives a life of excess driven by his appetites—primarily for food, drugs, alcohol, sex, and, of course, money. Through John Self’s descent, the novel delivers a harsh commentary on the culture of greed and indulgence that characterized the decade.
The novel's portrayal of greed, addiction, and sexism rubbed some readers and critics the wrong way. Some saw it as too nihilistic or excessively grim in its critique of 1980s culture, where everything seemed for sale, including morality. However, in this age of trigger warnings, safe spaces, and pervasive purity spirals, I personally found its unapologetically gritty satire a breath of fresh air.
This book will appeal not only to fans of dark humor and satire but also to lovers of literary fiction. Amis showcases his witty, complex, and sometimes challenging style, using sophisticated prose, wordplay, and often pure metaphoric gold. His experimentation with language was particularly intriguing, reminding me of the Blue Jam monologues by comedy writer and satirist Chris Morris. Like Morris, Amis often mashes together unusual combinations of words and parts of words to create surreal yet cohesive ideas or descriptions—something that has influenced my own writing.
Amis pushes the boundaries so hard that it becomes difficult to look away from John Self, this sad and darkly mean character, as he metaphorically and methodically drives himself over the edge of a cliff that has been inching closer since page one.
4 authors picked Money as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
One of Time's 100 best novels in the English language-by the acclaimed author of Lionel Asbo: State of England and London Fields
Part of Martin Amis's "London Trilogy," along with the novel London Fields and The Information, Money was hailed as "a sprawling, fierce, vulgar display" (The New Republic) and "exhilarating, skillful, savvy" (The Times Literary Supplement) when it made its first appearance in the mid-1980s. Amis's shocking, funny, and on-target portraits of life in the fast lane form a bold and frightening portrait of Ronald Reagan's America and Margaret Thatcher's England.
Money is the hilarious story of John Self,…