Metro

by Alisdair Duncan

Dark, hedonistic and sometimes violent, Metro tells the story of six months in the life of university student Liam Kelly. When his girlfriend Sara leaves Australia to backpack around Europe, Liam's friends expect him to play up, and he does – but in a way that no-one could imagine. As well as the drinking, drugging and partying, he is hiding a secret homosexual life from his middle-class friends.

With a deft, satirical touch, Duncan captures the wealthy, directionless Gen-Y tribe, living in a world where nobody says no and sexual preferences change as often as the latest hip drink.

Genres: Fiction

299 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Chanel J · Rating 4 out of 5]

It a great book. I rated it 4 stars for the skill and thought that went into it, and not because I enjoyed it. It's very difficult to read. The main character is insufferable, he learns nothing and gets away with everything... But a story doesnt need to have a happy ending to be good, and I think this book is a great example of that fact.

[Brock Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

this author must have problems

[Andrew Chidzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read by this Brisbane based author - I found the writing style engaging and refreshing and I look forward to reading more books by him in the future.

[Oliver Heywood]

thanks for the recommendation scott i will find it and read it

[Emma Whyte · Rating 1 out of 5]

very good enjoyed page 28

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people who read this will rate it poorly because of the fact that they hate the main character, or because the violence and sexual manipulation abhors them, or because it embodies everything that is wrong with modern class divides. These are the reasons you should read Metro. Duncan has done an excellent job at surgically peeling back common assumptions about generation, sexuality, morality, and identity; all while making you dislike the very scalpel he uses. A must read - especially for those who will dislike it most...

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

The protaganist has no redeeming qualities and got away with vile homophobic behaviour including beating up a boy who trusted him. There was a hint that he was exposed to at least an STD, but that plot point went nowhere. He got back with his ridiculously naive girlfriend at the end and nobody knew what a revolting person he was. His friend ended his life and only one friend really expressed any feelings about that. I wish I hadn't read this.

[Tanya · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was nothing I could like about this book. I got about 50 pages in, and tried to convince myself to keep going. I flipped further through the book. The story did not get better. If anything, it got worse. Gave up.

[Aaron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will be donating this back to lifeline for the next Bookfest.

[Daniel Ferguson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this was one of the most boring books I read at Uni. The characters didn't have any drive, ambition, or any sense of them doing anything.

There was a photographic moment in the middle, when something bad happened to the smartest of these losers, and there was a controversial sex scene, but beyond that, this book was boring. The characters were insufferably boring, the plot was nonexistent, the story wasn't really a story, the writing wasn't anything interesting, I don't know why anyone would rate it highly, other than it was gay fiction, and only then because people are more lenient on works that deal with gay characters just because there's gay sex in them. This is one such novel.

There's nothing happening at all. Nobody does anything but get high. One character, I suspect, committed suicide to get out of the book. The main character is supposed to be a man, but I didn't find anything manly about him at all. That's the most disappointing thing about it. That and the main character treats his girlfriend like an object. I suppose that's saying something about sexism, but it could have been done better.

[Trashpalace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno sguardo divertente, intelligente e arguto sulla gioventù australiana attraverso gli occhi del 19enne Liam, protagonista tormentato e facilmente detestabile che approfitta del viaggio in Europa della sua ragazza per esplorare un'omosessualità latente, causa di conflitti interiori e di un testardo (e a volte violento) senso di rifiuto.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to like a book that so bluntly defines my own generation. Simultaniously, it's hard not to like a book that so effortlessly reveals the shallow-ness of upper-middle-class-uni-brats whom I know and secretly despise.
It's well written; the narrator is an asshole; and I'll never read it again, because I do not want to meet the narrator again.

[eprptegshtgn · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting. made me think. the ending was unsettling though and left me very unsatisfied, I have a feeling the author wanted us to feel this way. I absolutely hated the main character but understood him at the same time.

[salelbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what it was I liked about this book - but I did like it. Not in a can't-wait-to-pick-it-up-again way, but I did enjoy it. I don't want to give the ending away so I'll settle for saying I wonder what the future would hold for someone like Liam, based on the choice he makes at the end.

[Leslie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Australian, lots of drugs/bit boring, 18-19 yr olds, main character not that likeable, ending dumb.

[Malcolm McPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book by young Brisbane author. Looking forward to reading future works.

[Luke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Urgh