The Rachel Papers (Martin Amis, 1973) Grade: B+Wouldn’t you know it? Love sucks. It’s confusing. It’s great. It’s both heaven and hell. That’s the basic premise of Amis’ debut novel, which follows a young lad pursuing “The Pull” of title character Rachel. The story explores first love in all its delusion and ecstasy and, as a contrast, a newly married couple dealing with compromise and an older couple who accept the imperfection (and infidelity) of their relationship. All of which is best described in Songs of Experience by William Blake (quoted below).
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Love seeketh only self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another's loss of ease,
And builds a Hell in Heaven's despite.
Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor for itself hath any care,
But for another gives its ease,
And builds a Heaven in Hell's despair.
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