Nice Work

This was the novel about academia I decided to read while trying to write a novel about academia. Well, reread, as I had read this first about seven years ago.

It's an entertaining book, and I've always loved David Lodge's novels. There's something so relaxing about reading his books, even if they are not about anything relaxing. My only quarrel is that everything wraps up so quickly in the novel. It's as if Lodge suddenly realized he had hit his word count, and decided it was time to tie up all the loose ends and get the book to the publisher.

I suppose I'm thinking like this because I just finished up Nanowrimo for a second year. (That's the main reason there wasn't a whole lot of reading being done around these parts lately.) I know my 50,000 word novel came to a sudden end once I had hit my word count. I had no more patience for character development as I neared the very end. It was time to finish up the plot, and get the thing over with. I get the feeling Lodge felt the same way. 

Disturbing thing I learned about this book: Morris Zapp, a smaller character here who plays a larger role in other Lodge novels, was played on television by John Ratzenberger. Great, now, whenever I come across Morris in other novels, I'm going to envision Cliff Clavin.