Will Self has established himself as one of the most brilliant, daring, and inventive writers of his generation. My Idea of Fun is Will Self’s highly acclaimed first novel. The story of a devilishly clever international financier/marketing wizard and his young apprentice, My Idea of Fun is both a frighteningly dark subterranean exploration of capitalism run rampant and a wickedly sharp, technically acute display of linguistic pyrotechnics that glows with pure white-hot brilliance. Ian Wharton is a very ordinary young man until he is taken under the wing of a gentleman known variously as Mr. Broadhurst, Samuel Northcliff, and finally and simply the Fat Controller. Loudmouthed, impeccably tailored, and a fount of bombastic erudition, the Fat Controller initiates Ian into the dark secrets of his arts -- of marketing, money, and the human psyche -- and takes Ian, and the reader, on a wild voyage around the edges of reality. As we careen into the twenty-first century, Self perfectly captures the zeitgeist of our times: money is the only common language; consumerism, violence, and psychosis (drug-induced and otherwise) prevail; and the human soul has become the ultimate product.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Will Self is great. Period.,
By rcp "RP" (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Idea of Fun: A Novel (Paperback)
I will be honest: My Idea of Fun is an excellent book albeit confusing. The story of Ian Wharton, a taciturn eidetic, sometimes blurs the fine line of reality and the subconscious. Will Self fuses together elements of economics, psychology and capitalism into a satirical tour-de-force that can easily be overlooked because of its brilliance. Self's vocabulary is expansive; when reading MIOF (or any of Self's books, for that matter) make sure that a dictionary is handy. Self employs an arsenal of words, expressions and beautiful linguistic explorations that raise the bar of the English language. More often than not, Self's prose is beautiful and challenging. Self's lexicon may make MIOF daunting and intimidating but it is undoubtedly a rewarding read.
Once I started reading MIOF, I couldn't put it down. It is simply a great read. Will Self is hands-down on of the best writers that a 21st century literary critic could have the pleasure of reading. Self is often described as a disciple of Martin Amis, but I find Self to be much better than Amis (with the exception of Amis' Money). Read My Idea of Fun. Look up the words and pay attention. You'll be glad you did.
3 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly the worst book that I ever read.,
By PI57 "pi57" (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Idea of Fun: A Novel (Paperback)
Title says it all ... it's just pornographic twaddle impersonating cool. Even makes Jay McInerney look good.
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