Amusing enough- absolutely diabolical ending
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There is a strong sense of the meanings of relations between people in this book and very little really happens otherwise. When I try to remember the storyline it is eclipsed by Malcolm Bradbury's Eating People Is Wrong, which is similar to Lucky Jim but far superior and much more funny.
Amis has written a readable book that is interesting in places and will appeal to middle-aged readers more than young. Unfortunately the book sufferers from a lack of plot and has possibly one of the most anti-climatic endings in the history of literature.
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Still a comedy classic
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I first read this book years ago and have just re-read it, wondering whether it would still make me crack up. It did! I read ages ago that what makes people laugh is having your characters say or do things that everybody thinks or does, but nobody ever talks about. I still think the episode where Jim burns the sheets, tries to cover it up and dreads getting found out, is absolutely classic. Of course this is practically a historical novel now; anyone with an elderly relative who constantly says, 'We were damn hard up...' should read this. Poor old Jim, wondering whether he can afford another half... For anyone who wasn't there, and doesn't believe it really ever existed, it's also a brilliant insight into the pre-pill, pre shagshagshag era. Read this, pity your aged relatives, and have a really good laugh.
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Wonderful Gentle humour - an excellent funny novel
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Jim is an English University lecturer to who despite all his attempts to the contrary, ends up in the most hilarious and ridiculous situations. I first read this book when I was feeling really down, and it is one of the few I've ever read that made me laugh out aloud! An excellent classic novel. The rest of the Kingsley Amis books are not a patch on this one. If you enjoy this, I'd suggest you also try "Changing Places" by David Lodge. Highly recommended ! PS. Did you know in a competition to describe England in the vein of "As American as Apple Pie", the winner was "As English as possible in the circumstances".
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