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Madness Is Better Than Defeat
Madness Is Better Than Defeat: A novel | Ned Beauman
4 posts | 3 read | 9 to read
A wild, astonishing literary thriller by arguably England's most accomplished young writer, about Manhattan and Hollywood in the 1930s, Mayan gods, and a CIA operation gone terribly wrong--the Booker short-listed Ned Beauman's magnum opus thus far. In 1938, two rival expeditions descend on an ancient temple recently discovered in the jungles of Honduras, one intending to shoot a screwball comedy on location there, the other to disassemble the temple and ship it back to New York. A seemingly endless stalemate ensues, and twenty years later a rogue CIA agent sets out to exploit it for his own ends, unaware that the temple is a locus of conspiracies far grander than anyone could ever have guessed. Shot through with insanity, intrigue, ingenuity, and adventure, showcasing Beauman's anarchic humor, spectacular imagination, and riveting prose, Madness Is Better Than Defeat teases, absorbs, entertains, and dazzles in equal measure.
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LinesUponAPage
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Current library book. The premise of the book: In 1938, two rival expeditions descend on an ancient temple recently discovered in the jungles of Honduras, one intending to shoot a huge Hollywood production on location there, the other to disassemble the temple and ship it back to New York. A seemingly endless stalemate ensues.

Sounds like a trip!!

60 likes1 stack add
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ElleSkel
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Contrary to the title of this book, no... it isn‘t. I let this book defeat me and I am ok with that. I used to be able to read really smart books, but being a full time parent and student has made it difficult for me to focus enough to appreciate books like this. I don‘t have the brainpower left in my free time to make reading books like this enjoyable.
There was just so much going on. 🤯
Ugh.😕
#notthepopularopinion #thisbookbeatmeupsoibailed

Reviewsbylola Too bad because it has a cool cover! But I agree, life is too short. 6y
ElleSkel @Reviewsbylola It really is a great cover! It was on the incoming new books cart next to a book called ‘Mrs.‘ By Caitlyn Macy (it won‘t let me tag the book here) that was also really cool and I totally judged them by their covers and put them on hold. I am going to start Mrs. Tonight. I hope I can get into it! 6y
jwashreads I DNF anytime I think a book is going to put me into a reading slump. There are too many good books to read! 6y
Chelleo Totally agree with you. I really enjoy simple stories that I can easily get lost in. 6y
ElleSkel @jwashreads @Chelleo you both made me feel much better about this! My Mt. TBR is far to high for me to mess around and end up in a slump! 6y
65 likes5 comments
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GregZimmerman
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Pickpick

Ned Beauman novels can drive you do drink. But I love ‘em, and this one might be his best yet. Wildly inventive, hilarious, and smart as hell.

More here: http://www.thenewdorkreviewofbooks.com/2018/04/madness-is-better-than-defeat-may...

Ddzmini 🐢😍 6y
7 likes1 comment
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thebeercolonel
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Pickpick

Like a lost sun bathing octopus that novel sprawls out in the jungle​ gloriously, Beauman remains bae and this may be his best book yet.

RaimeyGallant Check out the new LitsyTips hashtag we started today. Lots of gems. :) It's the first post on my page, and then if you click the hashtag itself, you can see everyone else's tips. :) 7y
3 likes1 comment