"Amis is one of the best writers of dialogue." John Niven

Описание: John Niven is a Scottish author and screenwriter whose books include Kill Your Friends, The Amateurs, The Second Coming. The F*ck-it List, and O Brother.

John discusses his favourite of Amis's novel, The Information, published in 1995. The Information follows two star-crossed writers, Gwyn Barry and Richard Tull. The pair have been friends since university, but now as their approach their mid years, Tull's once promising career is withering on the vine while Barry receives plaudits and more opportunities than he can manage.

John explains how the novel has aged like fine wine for him, both as a reader and writer whose career has mirrored both Tull and Barry's circumstances, though he is pleased to say it has settled somewhere comfortably in the middle of the two.

As John says, Amis occupied a rarefied place: a serious literary novelist who was at the same time incredibly funny. His hunch is that Amis will be read for decades to come. Time is, after all, the only true test of a writer's work.

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00:00 Amos novel improves with age, relatability, humor.
05:33 Richard's passionate, deranged outburst challenges simplistic views.
08:46 Gwen's "Amelia" celebrates bland, conflict-free utopia.
11:58 Experienced both literary success and struggles as novelist.
14:38 Martin Amos experienced modest literary success initially.
19:55 Richard and Professor Mills discuss crime and punishment.
24:08 Customarily chaotic family dialogue hints midlife crisis.
26:46 Richard's midlife crisis threatens his novelist dreams.
31:36 Two different fathers form an unexpected friendship.
36:46 He was venerated, but never won the Booker.
39:23 Amis's "Information" showcases peak writing craft and experience.
42:01 Successful vs. unsuccessful novelist experiences mid-1990s pressures.