Submarine

by Joe Dunthorne, c. 2008, Hamish Hamilton, 290 pages.

Fifteen year old Oliver Tate is a boy obsessed. He is equally obsessed with his parent’s failing marriage (and lack of sexual activity) and learning new words from the dictionary. Another obsession is losing his virginity—and soon. Though he finds himself entwined in a relationship with the eczematous and occasionally pyromaniacal Jordana, his precocious awkwardness eventually isolates him from her.

Oliver is at times callous and detached as he takes a clinical view of those around him. This makes him a tough character to like in those moments. Luckily there are more moments throughout the novel Submarine in which Oliver reveals the awkwardness and anxiety of adolescence allowing him to become relatable to readers. This is a very darkly funny novel.

That Uncertain Feeling

by Kingsley Amis, first published in 1955

In Wales, assistant librarian John Lewis has a young family and a small salary. A bit of a ladies' man, John soon finds himself tempted by a seductive socialite who also offers a boost to his career--if he wants it bad enough.

Though written in 1955, this humorous portrait of modern life, including marriage, boredom and adultery, still holds up today. Also see the film Only Two Can Play (1962) , starring Peter Sellers, based on Amis' book.