Ransom, Jay McInerney's second novel, belongs to the distinguished tradition of novels about exile. Living in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, ...
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Sep 20, 2011
Tony
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McInerney, Jay. RANSOM. (1985) *****.
This was the author’s second novel, and came out as a paperback original. It is the story of Chris Ransom, a young man who is trying to escape from his father in America and create a life for himself. He is in Japan, in Kyoto, studying karate, and interacting with a few of the other gaijin in the neighborhood. His steady job, like most other Americans in Japan without a profession, is teaching English to groups of young salarymen who expect that t More...
This was the author’s second novel, and came out as a paperback original. It is the story of Chris Ransom, a young man who is trying to escape from his father in America and create a life for himself. He is in Japan, in Kyoto, studying karate, and interacting with a few of the other gaijin in the neighborhood. His steady job, like most other Americans in Japan without a profession, is teaching English to groups of young salarymen who expect that t More...
Jan 02, 2011
Barry
rated it: 
After discovering McInernery via 'Bright Lights, Big City' I was disappointed in this book. There is still some worthwhile writing here but the book struggles to overcome cliché and a fairly daft kung-fu movie style nemesis. Modern readers are probably much more familiar with Japan and aspects of Japanese culture than when the book was published and it does seem very dated in places.
McInernery's prose is still very easy on the eye and this is a very easy read but whereas I found the More...
McInernery's prose is still very easy on the eye and this is a very easy read but whereas I found the More...
Oct 04, 2010
Adam
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I was ready to give this a very positive review, to recommend it to my friends, until the last chapter. The book had that sense of insincere noir that's hard to hate. The easy jokes about Japanese English were there, but nothing overtly offensive. The characters were interesting, fun to be around/fun to hate. But that conclusion! So very disappointing, so anti-climactic.
But I suppose that fulfills a realistic ending to the very apathetic, aimless protagonist. In many ways I found Ransom hi More...
But I suppose that fulfills a realistic ending to the very apathetic, aimless protagonist. In many ways I found Ransom hi More...
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Nov 20, 2011
Ugh
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Jul 02, 2010
Myles
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This novel did fall prey to the sophomore slump, as far as McInerney was trying to distance himself from his first novel. The humor is still there, and I enjoyed the balance he made of the divide in Japan between the past and the modern, if there is anything wrong with the novel - it is that too much reliance is put onto the mysterious.
The last third of the book is a twist, but not an unfair one. I wouldn't say there were hints as to what was coming but I don't think any of the chara More...
The last third of the book is a twist, but not an unfair one. I wouldn't say there were hints as to what was coming but I don't think any of the chara More...
Feb 09, 2012
Cmacauley
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I first read this book when I was in Japan in 1989 and marveled then at Mcinerney’s use of language and his deft delineation of character. Over the years the book stayed with me, not least because of its peculiarly painful plot twists and its unique setting.
Twenty-two years later the book has lost some of its charm and McInerney’s use of language is less innovative, but the story of a heartbroken young American seeking redemption through self-discipline in a Japanese karate dojo in Kyo More...
Twenty-two years later the book has lost some of its charm and McInerney’s use of language is less innovative, but the story of a heartbroken young American seeking redemption through self-discipline in a Japanese karate dojo in Kyo More...
Dec 29, 2009
Okay, this was a very sad book to read in a way. This is the second novel by one of my favorite authors, but he clearly thought after the success of his first novel that he would go on to conquer other genres and styles, redefining the novel over and over again. The thing is: I learn way more from bad books or half-assed follow-ups than I ever will from Moby Dick.
Mar 29, 2010
Lawrence
rated it:
This book definitely had the mid-eighties, over-confident American vibe to it. A friend attending Dartmouth College recommended it to me. Many Americans, myself included, were in awe of the rise of Japan's industrial might, and this book allowed folks who couldn't actually travel to Japan to enjoy the experience vicariously. A nice period piece, for sure.
Aug 11, 2011
Bookhuw
rated it:
A funny one. Nothing really happens, but it's oddly captivating, as you wait to see if it will detour away from nihilism. Interesting contrasts between Japanese simultaneous reverence and suspicions about the West, whilst Americans try to immerse themselves in the Asia Experience. Meanwhile, Miles becomes a Texan parody... Ransom, he ran some.
Mar 04, 2010
Ryan
rated it:
I've read all but one of McInerney's books now, and this is the only one I've really disliked. Too much martial arts, a pretty half-baked story, and one shitty ending add up to a bunch of blah blah blah. It did get me real interested in going to Kyoto though.
Jul 29, 2008
Mira
rated it:
Ok, I didn't mind the matter of fact style of this story. I think it made it better than if the main character was overly pensive and analytical - it would've cut out a lot of the funnier descriptive moments.
Ransom is an ex-pat American who goes to Japan to train in the martial arts after some more than shitty experiences trying to score along the steady line of drug trafficking through the east.
I have to admit, both the descriptions of local Japanese punk and jazz in the 70s and R More...
Ransom is an ex-pat American who goes to Japan to train in the martial arts after some more than shitty experiences trying to score along the steady line of drug trafficking through the east.
I have to admit, both the descriptions of local Japanese punk and jazz in the 70s and R More...
Dec 03, 2010
David
rated it:
In the 80s, everything Japanese was cooler, and there were lots of books about American expats "finding themselves" by going to Asia and learning Asian martial arts and Asian philosophy and basically being more Asian than the Asians. So this is about an American expat who hangs around with other expats even though he's "gone native" in Japan. It's got a decent pace and better-than-average writing, but the story was self-indulgent (like the main character), and an ending that
More...
May 06, 2010
Andrew
rated it:
a huge jay mcinerney fan, i was excited to finally read his second book which i'd never been able to find.
really enjoyed the first two thirds, the last portion, however, with an absurd plot twist and a bizarre, tone-shifting ending killed it a bit for me.
really enjoyed the first two thirds, the last portion, however, with an absurd plot twist and a bizarre, tone-shifting ending killed it a bit for me.
Jun 07, 2008
Sun
rated it:
American Christopher Ransom lives in Kyoto, hiding from the past. It soon becomes clear that there are two pasts - the relationship with his father, a Hollywood scriptwriter and another with two other young travellers. Ransom spends his life teaching and undergoing the discipline of karate. A very strange novel but highly humorous.
Sep 20, 2011
Jean
rated it:
An existentialist life in Japan (and Asia), which because it incorporates Japanese popular culture, can also read like a martial arts revenge story. For McInerney's second novel, I was constantly expecting more, even though it's very good - skilled both in prose and story-telling. Definitely does not outdo his first novel though.
Jul 31, 2011
Jackie
rated it:
This book blew my mind. I sat there reading it with a look of concentration and shock on my face. This one is on my re-read list and my recent interests intersect more with it.
May 15, 2009
Jeff
rated it:
Small-ish in scope but wonderfully rendered, very funny, and after a certain point impossible to put down...
Aug 12, 2008
Tom
rated it:
The first book I read by this author and I was immediately hooked to his writing style.
Aug 03, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
My least favourite of his books. The characters were thin.The race card tired.
Jun 30, 2008
Emily
rated it:
So good until the final chapter basically ruins the entire book.
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