...in finding Martin Amis strangely sexy?

[Mumtabulous]

Or is it just me!

I've really enjoyed his tooth writing.

Haha, for real pointy? Where did you read about his tooth shenanigans?

I think one of the main reasons for the attraction is the fact that he is the complete opposite of my newly-chucked XP

Only going on what you've said Mum

One of the characters in Dead Babies had a real paranoia about his teeth falling out as he was dreaming...I do that too! I actually think I should confront Martin about this personally Mumtabulous...sorry

Yep, dead babies. And his Memoirs talk about the teeth.

called Experience

I though he was well-known for his twattishness, definitely his daddy's son.

Well, I'll agree that he is 'strange', but disagree vehemently on the 'sexy' bit of your OP. What is it that you find appealing, exactly?

I used to see him from time to time (we did keep fit classes at the same place) - and he seemed to take himself very seriously. The rest of us would chat casually, and periodically he would proclaim something in his loud and smoky voice (very distinct timbre - like a broadcaster's voice).

He seemed quite aware that people knew who he was, and were listening to whatever he had to say. I had the impression he has a HUGE ego - and thinks he is almost always the most intelligent/interesting person in a room (and maybe he is!). Not appealing though. Not in the least.

Far too over-serious, yes, he does come across that way. He does seem a bit twattish but sometimes that's ok.

Yanbu. I love Marty. I think his Memoir is just about the finest book I have ever read.

He writes some brilliantly awful grotesque vile seedy sexist characters. But his use of words is just superlative. Imvho.

Aha! More clues

Is your attraction because your ex has naturally perfect gnashers while Marty has spent a fortune on false choppers?

Is is that M.Amis is allegedly a noted swordsman of the wham bam school of fencing while your ex spent hours pleasuring only you?

Mumtabulous, you are a sick woman. Not only are his novels seething caudrons of obnoxious misogyny, but he looks like an angry, shrivelled, reddish leprechaun. I once had the misfortune to sit at the next table to him in a restaurant while he pontificated at his fellow-diners, and spent the entire meal longing to stab him in the windpipe.

I was just thinking, bob, that I should read Experience again. I know I liked it v much first time round.

Oh do pointy. The teeth is only a little bit of it. He writes so brilliantly about his dad and his cousin who was one of Frederick West's victims doesn't he?

I just love him. I was working in the publishing industry when there was the great hoo-ha about him leaving his literary agent Pat Kavanagh and going with one of the fearsome American agents - Andrew Wylie I think? - and getting an obscene advance for The Information. He fell out spectacularly with his friend Julian Barnes (Kavanagh's then husband, she has since died) over that and even included the letter he sent him after the falling out, in the book! I feel he is an honest man, but deeply flawed, vain and greedy and a bit leery and seedy too.

Yes, I sort of get the feeling he wouldn't mind being called a bit of a nob . I remember the Barnes fall-out.

I think he probably relishes his reputation .

Yes, seem to recall that he dumped his agent in a bad way and it caused an uproar.

Am I correct in recalling he also dumped his wife in a bad way too?

I never understand people accusing him of sexism/misogyny, simply because his male characters revel in those values. I've always thought his ability to depict the very worst sort of masculinity actually makes him a feminist.

See also, from 2:35ish, him addressing that question here:

YANBU, but maybe him in his 40s rather than now.

Oh definitely not him in his young days...I like the older man!

He left his wife/partner and mother of his two boys for another lady with whom I think he has two girls.

I know that as soon as you say Martin Amis people always write him off as a sexist twat. I am not sure if they know something about him that I don't?

I've never understood the 'terrible sexist' tag either. And no one seems willing to explain.

I think a lot of it stems from his 'Nicola Six' character in London Fields, her hypersexuality combined with her (fulfilled) desire for the narrator to murder her - someone on the committee for the Booker Prize that year vetoed the novel because of its alleged misogyny. And the pornography-obsessed, rapist scumbag men that people his novels. I think its bizarre that so many people don't realise that it is (very funny) satire.

Ah, ok. Thanks carmen. Makes sense.

Quite. But then for years I have had a nagging doubt that he himself (rather than a character in one of his novels) has famously proven himself to be a vile misogynist and I am simply unaware of it . Which is why I am always keen to hear people backing up their claims about his sexism.

urgh no! YABU, what Hardcheese said, hideous inside and out. Could you not pick someone either loathesome but beautifull or ugly yet charming rather than the double grimmness whammy Amis has got going on?