Magnificent comedy. Doesn't lay it on too thick most of the time so the laughs are left for the reader to interpret. That said, the caricatures of old Taff drinkers are extravagantly monstrous. This so-called Welshman enjoyed the fun at the expense of Welsh cultural cliches. Some classy turns of phrase in amongst all the mockery too.

Quite funny in a subtle way, this is the story of three old men who meet daily at the Bible - a pub in their small Welsh community - who have their lives rocked when a former student of one of the men returns to the town with her "shit" of a husband, who proceeds to seduce each of the old men's wives, then meet them at the Bible the next day. There's some lovely scenery depicted, and Faulkner-like long sentences, but it's mostly humorous watching three drunk old men discover what's going on.

Disliked the characters. I think I was supposed to. It worked too well.

I have very mixed feelings about The Old Devils. One of Amis' late novels, it follows a band of long-time friends as they connect, reconnect, and remember their lives and decisions from the discomfort of old age.

This is the second book I've read from Amis, and far less enjoyable than Lucky Jim. The one his first published work and the other from near the end of his career, they share an overbearingly cynical and enjoyably sarcastic (not to mention booze-soaked) outlook on life and relationships that ultimately gives way to a sliver of begrudged hopefulness in the last pages, despite the long odds coming with the author's and every characters' bleak outlook.

The book was a bit depressing because of the complete brokenness of every relationship involved. The closest thing to a positive relationship was between two characters who hung around each other often and never seemed to experience overwhelming negative feelings toward one another. Every marriage is a long-game farce and every friendship a boring drag left running because, apparently, nothing better is going on in Wales.

I did really like the very frank insights into what it feels like to be aging rapidly and feel passed by regarding manners and customs. Though nearly every emotion or thought expressed was negative, they were mostly highly relatable, though the majority of the life choices reflected upon would seem highly questionable. Hindsight is resoundingly 20/20 here.

I feel like I didn't catch nearly as much of the mirthful imagery and extreme, silly sarcasm I found in Lucky Jim, which is really what drew me to read more Amis so quickly. I'm sure I didn't catch some of the slang and the constant commentary on "Welshness" was mostly lost on me as well. Overall, this book was a somewhat sad look at what life looks like in the end if you never open up with others and continue to choose to live selfishly and apathetically.

This was a slow read for me, but that seemed a bit fitting for this book. I don't think everyone would like this as it does consist mostly of conversations between old friends, reminiscences of times past and lots and lots of drinking. Still I found it charming in it's way and enjoyed the perspectives of the different characters.