Serious Sweet
Serious Sweet by A. L. Kennedy, published by Jonathan Cape in 2016, is a literary fiction novel that spans 515 pages. The story follows Jon Sigurdsson, a 59-year-old divorced civil servant in Westminster, who grapples with his disillusionment towards his work and colleagues. Alongside him is Meg Williams, a 45-year-old accountant facing her own struggles with sobriety and financial instability. Set against the backdrop of London in 2014, the narrative explores their intertwined lives as they seek connection and meaning in a complex world.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of two flawed individuals striving to make ethical decisions amid societal chaos. As Jon navigates the city with a mobile phone and a penchant for letter writing, he becomes embroiled in leaking government secrets while searching for safety and affection. Meg, living on Telegraph Hill, represents a contrasting yet complementary perspective as she seeks solace in her own life. Serious Sweet delves into themes of romance and contemporary challenges, presenting a unique love story that unfolds over a transformative 24-hour period.
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LONGLISTED FOR THE 2016 MAN BOOKER PRIZE
A Sunday Times Book of the Year
A good man in a bad world, Jon Sigurdsson is 59 and divorced: a senior civil servant in Westminster who hates many of his colleagues and loathes his work for a government engaged in unmentionable acts. A man of conscience.
Meg Williams is ‘a bankrupt accountant – two words you don’t want in the same sentence, or anywhere near your CV’. She’s 45 and shakily sober, living on Telegraph Hill, where she can see London unfurl below her. Somewhere out there is safety.
Somewhere out there is Jon, pinballing around the city with a mobile phone and a letter-writing habit he can’t break. He’s a man on the brink, leaking government secrets and affection as he runs for his life.
Set in 2014, this is a novel of our times. Poignant, deeply funny, and beautifully written, Serious Sweet is about two decent, damaged people trying to make moral choices in an immoral world: ready to sacrifice what’s left of themselves for honesty, and for a chance at tenderness. As Jon and Meg navigate the sweet and serious heart of London – passing through 24 hours that will change them both for ever – they tell a very unusual, unbearably moving love story.
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