Tuesday 21 May 2013

Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West


"He had given his read­ers many stones; so many, in fact, that he had only one left—the stone that had formed in his gut."

It seems the life of an advice columnist is an unpleasant one - plagued by the constant barrage of misery ridden stories our Miss Lonelyhearts looks for escape in booze, sex and violence to no avail. Set in the depression, this speedy read smacks of the dark comedy seen in "The Day of the Locust",  yet I found it less enticing.

Having said that, there are some interesting themes developed within its brief expanse and while not the recipe for a pick me up, it certainly bears an appreciative read. 

Wall to wall tales of woe, yet definitely an interesting work. 4 out of 5 sob stories are hard to put up with.

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