This Is the Life [Hardcover]

Joseph O'Neill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1991

In this witty first novel, the ordinary confronts the romantic with darkly hilarious results. Solicitor James Jones wryly recounts a year spent unraveling the mysteries of his glamorous international lawyer-client's complicated private life and realizes that there are no faily-tale existences--only lives to be lived, and that, for himself, this is the life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jones, the narrator and protagonist of this remarkably polished debut novel, is a solitary solicitor, an "almost transparent" fellow who cannot understand his own failure to distinguish himself. He is obsessed with one Michael Donovan, a worldly, successful barrister who seems to be and to have everything Jones is not and hasn't got. His year of clerking for Donovan was inexplicably fruitless, but now, three years later, Jones embarks on a painful odyssey of self-discovery because Donovan has "dug up my old future" by reappearing in his life. Vivid and well-chosen language draws the reader into the tortures and doubts of the narrator as he wrestles with his desperation and struggles to locate himself in the world he craves. Jones's account, in terms of its plot and O'Neill's delicate treatment of its themes, recalls H. F. Saint's Invisible Man. O'Neill is a 25-year-old Irishman, a poet and barrister practicing in London; his is a first-rate first effort.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this, O'Neill's first novel, we meet the rather introspective James Jones. Jones, who is not resigned to his present circumstances, is preoccupied with the life and career of illustrious barrister Michael Donovan. Early in his career, Jones had been one of Donovan's pupils. Crushed by Donovan's failure to help secure him a place as a junior barrister, he has had to work as a mere solicitor in an unprepossessing firm. When Donovan calls upon Jones to help him with his upcoming divorce, the former pupil is thrilled. However, Jones's involvement with Donovan during this year of the divorce proceedings just about ruins his career. Finally, he comes to realize that Donovan's fast-paced life is really not as wonderful as it seemed, and he sees his own life with its limitations in a better light. One hopes that this is only the first of many enjoyable works of a promising young author.
- Patricia C. Heaney, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 214 pages
• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux (T) (June 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374275904
• ISBN-13: 978-0374275907
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,583,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joseph O'Neill was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1964 and grew up in Mozambique, South Africa, Iran, Turkey, and Holland. His previous works include the novels This is the Life and The Breezes and the non-fiction book Blood-Dark Track, a family history centered on the mysterious imprisonment of both his grandfathers during World War II, which was an NYT Notable Book. He writes regularly for The Atlantic. He lives with his family in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, September 22, 2008

By 

EmmaH (Dorset, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is the Life Pb (Paperback)

I unearthed this book recently when finally getting to unpack all my books from the boxes they've been sitting in for the last couple of years. I thought I had lost it. I read it years ago and couldn't remember the author's name or the title, but thankfully recognised the cover the instant I unpacked it. What I did remember is that it was very, very funny. It lodged itself in my mind as one of the few novels I would bother to read again, and now I have my hands on it, that's exactly what I shall do.

My ex-partner read it too, and shared my opinion. I can't recommend it highly enough. Such a shame it now seems to be out of print.