A.L. Kennedy

LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE Jon is 59 and divorced: a senior civil servant in Westminster who hates many of his colleagues and loathes his work, he is a good man in a bad world. Meg is a bankrupt accountant – two words you don’t want in the same sentence, or anywhere near your CV. Living on Telegraph Hill, she can see London unfurl below her. Somewhere out there is safety. As Jon and Meg navigate the sweet and serious heart of London – passing through 24 hours that will change them both for ever – they tell a very unusual, unbearably moving love story.

Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize

Serious Sweet

A. L. Kennedy

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2016 MAN BOOKER PRIZE A good man in a bad world, Jon Sigurdsson is 59 and divorced: a senior civil servant in Westminster who hates many of his colleagues and loathes his work for a government engaged in unmentionable acts. A man of conscience. Meg Williams is âe~a bankrupt accountant âe" two words you donâe(tm)t want in the same sentence, or anywhere near your CVâe(tm). Sheâe(tm)s 45 and shakily sober, living on Telegraph Hill, where she can see London unfurl below her. Somewhere out there is safety. Somewhere out there is Jon, pinballing around the city with a mobile phone and a letter-writing habit he canâe(tm)t break. Heâe(tm)s a man on the brink, leaking government secrets and affection as he runs for his life. Set in 2014, this is a novel of our times. Poignant, deeply funny, and beautifully written, Serious Sweet is about two decent, damaged people trying to make moral choices in an immoral world: ready to sacrifice whatâe(tm)s left of themselves for honesty, and for a chance at tenderness. As Jon and Meg navigate the sweet and serious heart of London âe" passing through 24 hours that will change them both for ever âe" they tell a very unusual, unbearably moving love story.

Amanda Wells

It took me a month to read this book. And not because I didn't have the time to sit down and read, but simply because it was SO. HARD. to read this book. While I appreciate that the point of the story is in the excessive details, and the CONSTANT angst - it was such a hard slog. Just a little bit of editing would have made such a difference to me. 

It isn't as if I'm unfamiliar with anxiety and overthinking - just ask my psychologist and/or my husband. But this felt like the author was seeing how long we'd stick around and endure this study of overthinking. 

When we *finally* got to the bits where *something* (anything) remotely plot-like happened, I was so relieved. It is what stopped me saying I hated this book. The resolution is moderately satisfying, but I don't know if that is out of sheer relief on my part, or for the characters... 

Now, if you want to know in excruciating detail what its like to live inside the brain of a constantly anxious and tortured mind, by all means - read this book. If you don't, perhaps give it a miss. 

Thank expletive that's done.

Serious Sweet Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize

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