We Are Now Beginning Our Descent

by James Meek

book data

47 ratings, 2.91 average rating, 16 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		4%
4		25%
3		34%
2		29%
1		6%

edit

published

March 2008 by Canongate Books Ltd

binding

Hardcover, 302 pages

isbn

184195988X (isbn13: 9781841959887)

description

From the author of the best-selling, universally acclaimed The Peopleā€™s Act of Love comes the incisive and timeless story of a globe-trotting journa...more

find at: Amazon | Half.com | Barnes & Noble | Abebooks | compare prices…

new topic
discuss this book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

Best books of 2008

877 books | 3314 voters

More lists...

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 93)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only

01/03/09

Pris robichaud added it

Read in January, 2008

Political, Mental and Emotional Insulation, August 11, 2008
"The theme of the West's (and journalism's) distanced overflight of the rest of the world is an arresting one, richly written and cleverly developed. But like a Strasbourg goose force-fed for its liver, the organic growth and movement a novel requires are forced into distortion and bloat. What the characters stand for is interesting, but often they hardly stand at all. They are stood; they are moved about.' Richard Eder
...more Political, Mental and Emotional Insulation, August 11, 2008
"The theme of the West's (and journalism's) distanced overflight of the rest of the world is an arresting one, richly written and cleverly developed. But like a Strasbourg goose force-fed for its liver, the organic growth and movement a novel requires are forced into distortion and bloat. What the characters stand for is interesting, but often they hardly stand at all. They are stood; they are moved about.' Richard Eder

'We Are Now Beginning Our Descent", when most of us hear these words, we are relieved, we are reaching our destination. However, these words written by James Meek have a totally different connotation. In the context of this novel, America, full of its own power is losing altitude and coming to face the power and anger of the third world. James Meek has the ability in his precise and so thoughtfully written prose, to put us in our place with many reminders of where we have been and how silly and frightening the lies and power of the United States have become. It seems most every other country has faced these idols. Now, James Meek tells us we must face ours.

Adam Kellas is an English journalist who portrays the guilt of the West in his behaviors. He has his entire life, done whatever he wanted, when he wanted, with no thought of anyone else. Relationships come and go, friendships are sometimes built of straw, and his career is as aimless as his thoughts. He is offered a job in Afghanistan to report on the war. At first, he says no, but then realizes he does not want to be thought of as a coward. His last relationship has ended, he is at loose ends. He hops a plane and in a matter of hours is in Afghanistan, joining other journalists. All of them intelligent and talented, but many without any goal but to be the first reporting the War. It is in this context that Adam meets Astrid Walsh. Astrid an American, thin but attractive. She carries a gun, which is unusual for a journalist. Guns portray taking a side, but Astrid says she needs to protect her self from unwanted advances from the many men who surround her. Soon they fall into a liaison. A memorable event occurs and Astrid up and leaves. Adam cannot find her, and in his misery he gives up his assignment in Afghanistan to go home and write a novel that will make him rich. In this sense Adam reaches his pinnacle and his downfall.

This story is told in flashbacks and in present tense, but is told in such a manner that we are able to appreciate the story within. James Meek has the talent to hold our attention when all seems to fall apart. The observations that James Meek makes held me spellbound. His development of the characters was superb. We all have our selves that we present to the public, and then we have our selves that are true, the troubles and inner secrets we all share. Kudos to James Meek.

Highly Recommended. prisrob 08-11-08
(less)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

02/05/09

Bookmarks Magazine added it (review of isbn 1847671764)

While a few critics thought We Are Now Beginning Our Descent a worthy successor to The People's Act of Love, most of them felt that Meek's second novel lacked focus. Certainly, his topics are interesting‚Äīlove during wartime, the guilty complicity of journalists and their subjects, the West's power plays‚Äībut, along with digressive subplots (and a few stock characters), they never coalesce into a compelling whole. Meeks does, however, exhibit flashes of beautiful writing, and his nuanced explo

...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

07/11/08

Brian rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in July, 2008

When I finished reading this novel, I couldn't help think back to the uproar over Bill Maher's comments that got him fired right after 9/11. He said Americans are cowards because we dropped bombs from 10,000 feet and consequently did not have to deal with the human toll those bombs left behind.

James Meek provides a gloomy picture of two war correspondents and how their lives came together and separated after the invasion in Afghanistan in 2001. Through the eyes of Adam Kallas, the re...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

03/27/08

Ollie rated it:

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: bitter journalists and paperback writers

Anyone expecting a great follow up to James Meek's brilliant The People's Act of Love is in for a disappointment. Like his previous novel, this one revolves around war - this time, though, he tells the story of a journalist stationed in Afghanistan, Adam Kellas, who falls in love with hard-to-peg Astrid, another journalist. The novel then traces Adam's search for Astrid in America as his personal and professional life falls apart.

Meek's experience as a Guardian journalist during Am...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

01/27/08

fbuser616512112 rated it:

Read in January, 2008

SO - WAY - different from People's Act of Love in setting and feel, Descent is another powerful meditation from Meek on the irrevocable damages of war; in this case, how journalists are affected by being supposedly objective observers of the daily horror and carnage of war zones. What are the ethical stance and the responsiblities of reporters? Is true objectivity possible or even desirable? What happens to humans when they become hardened to violence? Do they become, at some level, monsters...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

01/15/08

Doogyjim rated it:

Read in January, 2008

I was eagerly looking forward to this as I'd enjoyed The People's Act of Love, mainly for the gripping originality and strength of its story but this new novel came as a disappointment.

Evidently based on Meek's experiences in Afghanistan, it seems flawless in its detailing of place and atmosphere and there's a terrific dinner party sequence where Kellas, the protagonist breaks down nd lets rip at its smug guests. But the narrative, ultimately a rather unconvincing love story, is a ...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

05/19/09

Jeremy rated it:

bookshelves: modern-fiction

Read in May, 2009

Disappointing after The People's Act of Love.

Meek's lyric flare is subsumed by obvious signposting, unlikely and impossible events, and an incredible predictability.

I'm starting to wonder whether anyone should write novelists as characters after Philip Roth.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

05/01/08

Dan rated it:

Read in May, 2008

I've filed my review with the Austin Chronicle, and have to confess that I did not know about author Meek before picking up this novel. It's a swirling, interesting take on writing and war craft in the Age of Terrorism. Key to the understanding that I came up with is the idea that regardless of the political stakes, Westerners and foreigners to the conflicts of the Middle East are still living their lives, drinking, fighting, filled with jealousy and trying to create art.

So, yes, I...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

04/13/09

Guy rated it:

Read in April, 2009

Nog een post-9/11 boek, maar dan eerder gefocust op de oorlogsvoering en -verslaggeving, dan het leven in NYC. Indringend, en een aparte combinatie van zakelijkheid en occasionele humor. (***1/2)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

01/10/08

Stewart rated it:

bookshelves: scottish

Read in March, 2008

"With the current political climate involving efforts to bring ā€the American wayā€¯ to nations such as Afghanistan and Iraq, Meek is perhaps right that culture has begun its downward flight. But We Are Now Beginning Our Descent is not the novel to combat it, being a lesser novel to Meekā€™s previous effort."

Read my full review here.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

05/12/08

Michael rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, generalfiction

Read in May, 2008

Not sure why I liked this book as much as I did. The novel had no plot to speak of (quite a departure from Meek's last novel, "The People's Act of Love") and the dialogue was strange and stilted in some spots. But there was also a sly sense of humor at work, and a lot of skill in the way the characters were drawn.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

12/04/08

Sara added it

bookshelves: tried-to-read

Read in January, 2009

I got further in this book that most tried to read-- mostly because I was on long subway trips with nothing else to read.

This book was obviously written by man-- from the flat female characters to use of last names for characters. I was not interested in finding out what happened in the end.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

06/05/08

Donster rated it:

(review of isbn 0002008564)

Like others here, I was expecting something of the quality of The People's Act of Love and was disappointed. The book is well written; there just isn't much of a story here and what there is just isn't that interesting.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

10/24/07

Andrea rated it:

Read in September, 2007

recommends it for: men

A real man's book, a tale of a journalist's time in Afghanistan, then back home in England. There's a bit of a love story too, told in a way only a man can.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

12/15/08

Manda rated it:

(review of isbn 1847671764)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in February, 2009

I loved James Meek's last book but this one I just couldn't really get into.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

07/14/08

Alissa rated it: