Not such a Lucky Jem

The challenge is off to a halting start. This week has been hampered by a pain in the arse cold/flu thing that will not give in. I have spent the last five days trapped in a lethargic, depressed, stir crazy state that really needs to end. I keep thinking that it has, and then it hits again. I'm now resorting to wine - tea just isn't comforting me anymore. It's a slippery slope!

Anyway, Lucky Jim is being read, but in five minute bursts before falling into cough wracked sleep. I then pick up the book again and have to reread everything from the previous night. Needless to say there are good and bad points so far. On the positive side, the book has a lighthearted colloquial style. Faulkner at this point may have killed the challenge before it had even begun. Jim, a recent University hire, has, so far, been stuck in situations with people he doesn't want to be with - a baboon-like boss, bosses son he already started a fight with and girlfriend (?) who has recently tried to kill herself. He spends a lot of time making fun of these people and doing supposed hilarious faces behind their backs. This has not endeared me to Jim. Knowing a lot of university professors, Jim really doesn't seem like a successful candidate. He seems to hate his subject (Medieval history), hate teaching and cannot stand schmoozing with his colleagues. I predict he will have changed jobs and girlfriends by the end of the book.

Why is this in the top 100? Maybe because it shows academia in a negative light? It's a groundbreaking 1960s attack on the establishment. For me it's a man who doesn't really know what he wants getting drunk and ruining bed sheets.