by Martin Amis
John Self makes his living directing television commercials and dreams of producing his first feature film. He splits his time between London and New York, chasing deals and drowning in alcohol, fast food, and meaningless sex. His life revolves around money he spends faster than he earns it. Self meets with producers, actors, and financiers while his personal relationships crumble around him. His girlfriend Selina grows distant. His business partner Fielding Goodney makes promises that seem too good to trust. Self consumes everything in sight but finds no satisfaction. The film project becomes his obsession and potential salvation. As deals collapse and debts mount, Self must confront what his relentless pursuit of success has cost him. This is a story about appetite without limits and the price of living without restraint.
Genres: fiction, addiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century, money
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: obsession, unreliable-narrator
Setting: London, New York
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
Paperback
Content warnings: addiction, alcohol-abuse, substance-abuse