Any Human Heart by William Boyd

[iloveblue]

Hello

Have just started rereading this in eager anticipation of the TV series in a few weeks.
I loved it first time round.
Would be interested in hearing other peoples opinions.
Anyone read any of his others?

I loved it and am so looking forward to the adaptation, I thought it was so well writtend that I actuallay googled to see if he existed

I have read Restless and also An Ice Cream War and have a couple of others stacked up for reading.

I just googled LMS 10 mins ago - was also thinking he might have really existed.
I love all the references to real people.

I completely loved it when I read it some years ago and it immediately became one of my favourite ever novels. I was distraught when I finished it. Cried for hours. I can't wait to see the adaptation on C4.

It was the first William Boyd book I read - I didn't know much about him and couldn't understand why he wasn't why he wasn't in the same bracket as Amis/Faulks/McEwan in the literary firmament. I loved the fantastic arc of Logan's life. Did kind of go off Boyd a bit when read the New Confessions which seems to be pretty much the same book...

I love that book. Although it is so heartbreaking. It was my first WB, I read lots of others after that but Any Human Heart is my favourite.

Totally agree about new confessions. Wish I'd not read that. Loved AHH very very much.

When is it on?

Anyone read ordinary thunderstorms?

Yes, I read Ordinary Thunderstorms - does depict London very well, you get a real sense of the city, but a bit, ahem, flawed in terms of plot. Not going to watch AHH on TV, would spoil it for me.

Ch 4 Sunday 21st November

Matthew Macfadyen as younger LMS, Jim Broadbent as older iirc

Glad it's not just me. I'm about half way through OT and quite disappointed. Dodgy plot and dull characters IMO.

Thank LCPO

I loved it too - particularly the way each chapter/segment of his life seemed to be written in the style of a different book - eg, school days like a school story, Uni days a bit Evelyn Waugh, war bits a bit Ian Fleming.

I've loved everything I've read by William Boyd tbh, and I came to him late (just the last couple of years) so I've got quite a bit to go. Would also recommend A Good Man in Africa - I'd like to see the film of that.

I enjoyed OT but it felt a little bit like it was written with one eye on a film adaptation to me - v unsatisfactory ending. One eye on a sequel too maybe?

I've only read Any Human Heart - which one of his others should I put on my Christmas list?

I liked Restless a lot and Brazzaville Beach - the thing about Boyd is that his books all seem (to me) to be quite different - apart from The New Confessions.

I really enjoyed it. Quite liked the one about the warring (sp?!) chimps, although it was rather odd and can't remember the title!

Yes, they're all very different (well the ones I've read so far). I wonder if he treats the writing of his novels as something of an intellectual exercise:

"hmm I've never written a fast-paced thriller set in modern day London which wouldn't be out of place in an airport bookshop. I wonder how that would go?" (Ordinary Thunderstorms)

Iloveblue, you must read Stars and Bars. It's so hilarious.

I thought that Any Human Heart was basically The New Confessions (which I loved) again, except not as good. Didn't really rate Ordinary Thunderstorms either, but I enjoyed most of his books. I saw him do a reading at a literary festival a couple of years ago and thought he gave an interesting talk about his work.

Crystal Queen - for me it was the other way round :grin] - I wonder if it's the order you read them? I read AHH first and adored it, then read TNC a couple of years later, and really liked it but remember thinking it was very similar; almost a dry run for the perfection of AHH, but not as good. I did really like TNC though.

Love it and can't wait for the series.

If you have a question for the man himself then please pop them here as William Boyd is doing an emailed Q&A exclusively for Mumsnet. Yes, indeedy.

I am in knots as I adored ANY HUMAN HEART, have a massive crush on Mr Boyd and the combination of both telly series and author Q&A is slightly overwhelming.

I need to send him all our questions by next Tuesday 23 November, so please post before then to avoid disappointment...