Sobrebeber

Por Kingsley Amis y Cristopher Hitchens

Los jugos embriagadores irrumpieron en un mundo apenas estrenado con la castaña del virtuoso Noé y la argucia nefanda tramada por las hijas de Lot para multiplicarse. Ésas fueron las primeras copas y desde entonces han corrido ríos de alcohol por las llanuras literarias (al fin y al cabo, el líquido elemento mana sin pausa como inductor o bálsamo de casi todos las desdichas). Entre los efluvios del siglo XX destaca una cima del pensamiento etílico: Kingsley Amis. La bebida no fue para él una mera contingencia o un complemento de pasiones más hondas, sino una necesidad perentoria, una alegría autónoma y, a menudo, el único argumento de la obra. Amis fue además un maestro de ese humor taimado, lateral e hipotenuso que gastan los caballeros británicos cuando trinchan el pollo, de modo que este libro es el encuentro en la cumbre entre el divino arte de la ironía y una ciencia humana adquirida tras largos años de paciente exploración. Aquí se cruzan la guasa del filósofo y la sapiencia del crápula para impartir doctrina sobre materias de tanta envergadura como la naturaleza ontológica de la resaca, la dieta del beodo, los ardides del tacaño o las fórmulas (seguramente conjeturas) para eludir una borrachera. Aquí se sirve un delicioso cóctel de sosa cáustica y experiencia destilada. Pasen y beban.

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: MALPASO
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 7 ene 2014
• ISBN: 9788415996163

Kingsley Amis

Born in London in 1922, Kingsley Amis was one of the best-loved British novelists of the twentieth century. He was the author of more than twenty novels, including the classic Lucky Jim, and a number of other works of criticism, poetry, and memoir. He was knighted in 1990, and died in 1995 at the age of seventy-three.

Comentarios para Sobrebeber

[grandpahobo_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

The book is a three part compilation. The first part is a guide to various types of alcohol, cocktails, wine a beer. If found this to be the most entertaining and informative part of the book.The second part is a compilation of weekly (I assume) newspaper columns written by the author. Some of these deal with subject covered in the first part. This section is also entertaining, though not quite as much as the first part.The third part is a quiz on wines, beer and cocktails. I did not read this section, as the quiz aspect did not appeal to me.All in all, a very enjoyable read.

[sturlington_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This is not a book for reading straight through as much as tippling from at odd times. But if you are at all fond of alcohol, it is a must-read.There are actually three short books in this volume. The first, and best, section is Amis's treatise on drink. It is quite funny, and some practical tips are scattered here and there. The second section reprints Amis's newspaper columns on the subject of drink, and there is some repetition here. The final section contains several alcohol-related quizzes, which might be fun after having a few.Keep this book by your bar, and remember to nip from it every now and then. It's probably the only book on the subject you'll need.

[jpsnow · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

In addition to his mastery of language, Kingsley Amis was apparently a master of spirits. I enjoyed this book not so much for that topic itself as his commentary about how we interact with it. This books includes a collection of a series of columns he wrote, plus several essay on such things as wine, beer, whisky, and pubs. He had the historical and cultural depth to provide a deeper assessment than most people could.

[davidgoldsteen · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Reading this book is like inviting an evil angel to sit on your shoulder. You think "I shouldn't like this" but you can't help yourself. Here's Kingsley Amis being Kingsley Amis. Bibulous, bilious, and quite funny. His essays display an amazing knowledge of drink -- and not a purely academic knowledge. He also shows a great deal of self knowledge; Amis knows his own charms, and his flaws, and makes the best of both sides of his character.Read this: you'll want a drink, or a better one.

[nemoman · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Amis knew alot about drinking and his series of humorous articles serves up his collective wit and wisdom on the subject. Ultimately, however, Amis could not handle his drink. He did not care much for wine and that prejudice shines through. This book came close to being charming, but failled somehow.

[neurodrew · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley AmisKingsley AmisWednesday, July 24, 2013 This volume collects "On Drink", an extended essay on cocktails, wine and wine snobs, and parties; "Everyday Drinking", a collection of short articles written originally for a magazine, and "How's your Glass" a series of mock-serious quizzes about drink, also written for a magazine.  Amis is a very good comic writer.  He is more of a "spirits" man than a wine or beer connoisseur.  His comments on the hangover are priceless for the distinction between the physical and the moral parts of the feeling.  Light but fun.