Bleeding London

This book is a love letter to the city of London, from several points of view. I normally don't like the books and movies that shift between several people, as one story usually is stronger than the others. (See my intense dislike of _Infinite Jest_ in spite of liking Foster Wallace's nonfiction.) However, here the main character is the city, not its inhabitants. The characters are just transients on the surface of the dynamic city. Nicholson has a character say it better than I just did, but when I wanted to make a not to myself about the central theme of the work, I had no pencil close. It was worth while, but remember my views are idiosyncratic and subjective. Read it and we might have something to to talk about.

I really enjoyed this book and loved learning about the sides of a great city that I didn't know about...very entertaining.

I have never been to London nor am I interested in the city. However, I don't feel lost at all when reading this superb fiction. This isn't a book about London per se. It doesn't feel like a travel book at all. The stories could easily take place elsewhere in the world, New York, Los Angeles, Paris... I've read Footsucker by Nicholson which, by the way, is also a highly enjoyable book. Bleeding London, in comparison with Footsucker, is more complex and more involved. Three seemingly unrelated eccentric characters are manifesting their eccentricities in parallel, and sometimes their path are crossed. Nicholson is quite skillful in writing black comedies. If you're interested in his books, this is a good starting point.

I had severe reservations about buying this book. Although being disuaded by the photo of the author on the cover is not reason enough, the thought of another book wrapped up in romantic idealism about any city, let alone London, is enough to make anyone reconsider the purchase. Fortunately I was clearly destined to read it. As a Londoner I was desperate to find a reason to dislike this book, yet I could not. The characters are totally original, easy to relate to and incredibley funny. They would probably carry the weakest of story lines anyway, yet Nicholsons dark, paranoid and twisting story makes this a book even better I ever hoped, even the most cynical reader would totally love it. Personally I think that London is probably the greatest city in world, and this book does nothing to negate that. Only in London could the dangerous, brooding situations that arise seem so ridiculously hilarious. Even a Londoner looking for something a little bit different will love it - just don`t judge a book by the picture of the author.

I read this on my return from my first trip to London, so much of the geography meant something to me. The premise behind this book, assorted individuals taking on London on their own for their own reasons, is great. The switching between and intermingling of characters is well-done. There's some dark comedy here. Mick is quite a charcter, in both the literary and comedic sense. The ending was a shocker...who would've thought! If you find it, pick it up...Bleeding London is thoroughly entertaining.