Book Review: "The Old Devils" by Kingsley Amis

At one time this had come after instead of before putting his underpants on, but he had noted that that way round he kept tearing them with his toenails. ... The socks went on in the bathroom with the aid of a particular low table, height being critical. Heel on table, sock completely on as far as heel, toes on table, sock round heel and up. .... Pants on in the bedroom, heel and toe like the socks but at floor level, spot of talc around the scrotum, then trousers two mornings out of every three or so. On the third or so morning he would find chocolate, cream, jam or some combination from his bedtime snack smeared over the pair in use and he would have to return to the bathroom specifically to its mirror for guidance in fixing the braces on the front of the fresh trousers, an area which needless to say had been well out of his direct view these many years.

- The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis

If you know me then you know I am not that much of a fan of darkly comic or satirical books very often. But, sometimes I can be drawn in by an interesting blurb and so, this is what happened. Whilst perusing a bookshop, I managed to get my hands on this copy of 'The Old Devils' by Kingsley Amis. I had read some of his works before and not been overly won over by them, personally I prefer his son's novels over his. However, I found myself completely pulled in by the characters, their stories and their lives in this one. It was quite fascinating to realise that there was a book by this guy that I actually really enjoyed. Though it did have its set-backs as well, I would like to start off on a good note.

First of all there's the storyline. It's quite simple actually. Alun, a semi-famous welshman returns home to his native Wales to see what his old friends have been getting up. He comes back with his wife and though he is married, he manages to get the wives of his former friends to cheat on their husbands. All this is done whilst they sit in various pubs and bars getting absolutely wasted. Now, you might think that there is no story there and to me, that's the point.

I didn't like Kingsley Amis' opinion of Dylan Thomas and I thought it was probably borne out of jealousy for the fact that Thomas was the better writer. However, I think there is probably a character that is at least partially based on Dylan Thomas and has all the poor qualities of the man completely hit on the head. What Kingsley Amis has created from his plot is a character-centric narrative where every single character is wholly unlikeable. I think it's meant to be funny but we'll come on to that next.

One of the set-backs to the book is that whilst it is sarcastic in tone sometimes and often satirical in style, it does lack real wit. I have never found Kingsley Amis' books funny but I often get confused about why they are meant to be funny. From the sight of the story and its characters, it just seems rather sad.

I think many people who reviewed this book as the worst novel to ever win the Booker Prize missed the point of what it was supposed to be. More than often this book is called 'terrible' and some have stated that there is no wonder as to why people thought the British Novel was dead in this era. But the reality here is that it is showing us a glimpse of the boredom and lack of soul that is bursting out of the literary scenes around the country. It is supposed to be boring and dull and so, the reader fills the novel with their opinions of the people involved. The reader therefore, becomes part and parcel to the gossip and intrigue around the Welsh pubs and bars frequented by the characters.

I have to say I was surprised beyond belief that I enjoyed a Kingsley Amis novel. Normally I just say that he is a good writer to keep everyone happy because honestly all of his other books are pretty terrible. But this one is actually rather good.