Drivetime (Fiction) [Paperback]

James Meek (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fiction | Publication Date: February 1997

The latest novel by this young writer and journalist whose credits include MCFARLANE BOILS THE SEA and LAST ORDERS.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Alan Allen, freshly booted out of university, short of cash, and caught up in a bizarre case of mistaken-identity and the violence it incites, decides to get out of Edinburgh and head to Glasgow--where the people are hard, cool and warm the way he'd like to be. But instead of driving directly to Glasgow, Alan heads off for an absurdist romp through Europe, barreling down the motorways of France and Italy, seeking an elusive egg (with a moon painted on it, worth a lot of money to an eccentric in Scotland), and an even more elusive sense of self-respect. Along for the ride are Deidre, an alluring but frustratingly distant nurse, and Mike, an angry ex-student, baseball-bat wielding purist.

They say you can't leave your troubles behind. Alan hops towns and countries with ease, but no matter where he stops for gas, everything's the same--people, news, conflicts, goals, and his soft, awkward, cold self. It takes a lot of miles and coincidences and wrong turns before Alan is willing to be Alan. It's like Bill Murray's Groundhog Day on European wheels--La Grand Tour gone very wrong. Refreshing and innovative and very funny, James Meek's continental blast exemplifies the new literary energy coming out of Scotland and is an entertaining read, a perfect companion for a European tour.

Review

"* 'As though David Lynch has been let loose on the set of a drawing-room comedy.' - The Times * 'A compelling tour de force. The maniac energy of Kerouac pulses throughout the prose. Extraordinary.' - Scotsman * 'More Groundhog Day than Grand Tour, this is existential travel angst at its best.' - Guardian * 'One of the country's finest writers' - GQ" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 279 pages
• Publisher: Polygon (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0748662057
• ISBN-13: 978-0748662050
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,265,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Mystery Tour, August 26, 1999

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Drivetime (Fiction) (Paperback)

I went to a bit of effort to buy this novel after having read Meek's entertaining short story, "Brown Pint of Courage" in the Children of Albion Rovers collection. It sounded like a neat road trip book as this ex-student dude goes bopping around Europe with a madman and a cute woman in search of an antique egg some guy is paying him to retrieve. It's not all that funny though, and wanders off into phantasmagorical areas that left me scratching my head. Oh well.