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Monday, March 25, 2024

793. Cigarettes

Cigarettes
Henry Mathews
1987
Around 305 pages











After so many bangers in a row, we were due for a slump. Thankfully, this is more middle of the road than bad, but it's still a letdown after hanging out with Adams and Drabble. How easily we get spoiled.

Allen is married to Maud but having an affair with Elizabeth, who lives with Maud. We get to see the characters that inhabit New York City’s art and business world in the early 1960s. This was a fresh concept, and executed well.

Not much to complain about here, but not much that drew me in either. I did love the ending, but in general thought the prose was a little too dense and detailed. 

So a decent novel, but Adams is a tough act to follow.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Mathews, among other literary figures, makes an appearance as a party guest in Paul Auster's novel 4321.

UP NEXT: The Child in Time by Ian McEwan

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