I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12974534 ( )

Harry is a prospective writer who is given a commission to write the biography of faded literary giant Haroon. Haroon wrote one good novel and several interesting items many years ago but has produced little of late and is living in the country with his second wife, the glamorous Italian Liana. Harry is in a relationship with Alice, a beautiful spendaholic, but that doesn't stop him being unfaithful. In this book life seems to imitate life, Haroon escaped life in India to try to become part of the establishment in England, Harry was educated at a top school before Oxbridge. Haroon is a serial seducer, so is Harry. Both had difficult relationships with their fathers.
As Harry writes about Haroon he finds a lot of half-truths and blocks to him getting to the heart of the subject and so it feels with this novel. The premise is clever, as Harry writes about Haroon and gets involved with the household, so Haroon writes about Harry in an equally unflattering manner. None of the characters in this book are likeable and all are trying to play games with each other. Harry and Haroon are so similar and Kureishi seems to be trying to make a point about the literary society that both inhabit. However it becomes very laboured and whilst entertaining enough I don't think it is a book that will stay with me. ( )

Ghost writer's escapades ( )

I thoroughly disliked this. Mean spirited and thin. I am a huge fan of Kureishi's and was most disappointed. Blech. ( )

Not sure why I finished this book, laziness on my part to put it down and pick up something better. Having just read two excellent but deep and rather depressing books I thought this would be a nice break. While I really enjoyed The Buddha of Suburbia, this book was really lacking. I felt nothing for the characters, none of which felt fleshed out or real. ( )