Any Human Heart
The Intimate Journals of Logan Mountstuart
by William Boyd
Most of us struggled to get into this book.
The main protagonist is certainly not a likeable or admirable character although he becomes more sympathetic in his old age.
Several of us who actually managed to get to the end of the novel found the last section the most enjoyable.
Logan’s childhood and upbringing were certainly not conducive to producing a happy and harmonious adult and he remains largely an outsider to whom remarkable things happen.
His path crosses those of many literary and artistic figures and as a satire on the art world this works well.
Boyd obviously particularly enjoys having some fun with the fictitious Nate Tate introduced among the genuine luminaries of the creative world.
Whilst this is quite funny in a knowing sort of way none of us found the book the hilarious romp we were promised.
There were few laughs though it is certainly well written.
Some of us found the structure unhelpful being fragmented and leaving many loose ends.
It seems that this is the author’s intention representing a truer reflection of life.
Some of the incidents seem just too far-fetched but could merely be reflecting the old adage “you couldn’t make it up”…….
NS. November 2012
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