Reviews
Dermot Davis: Zen & Sex vs The Younger Man
Christoph Fischer Books
Today I have the pleasure to
review two books that are written
somewhat as companions or as
opposites if you so will. A younger
man and an older woman date and
the two books are the two sides of
the story. Unlike some might
suspect, these novels are quite
different stories who simply
overlap where the characters meet
but they both have their own plot
and issues. I don’t have a favourite,
so here are both of my reviews:
surprisingly well and guided by her
maturity they seem to be making a
proper go at romance.
But life is of course complicated
and there is a lot more going on.
I liked Martin’s honest internal and
external dialogue which makes the
book wirth reading way beyond
any plot.
All of us have been on dates, good
and bad ones, we all have
pondered about the differences
between the sexes, dating, dating
etiquette, soul mates, luck and
destiny.
The book touches on all of these
issues, but primarily, it is a quirky,
fresh, very pleasant and
intelligently entertaining book that
does not shy away from tongue in
cheek and laughing about itself.
Very enjoyable!
Find the book on your Amazon site
“Zen and Sex” by Dermot Davis is
the fourth of his novels I am
reading in as many weeks. I am
very taken in by his honest and
sharp writing, both in comedy and
in more serious work.
“Zen and Sex” follows the dating
experience of Martin, who after a
terrible date meets a different
woman by accident, older and into
Zen. The unlikely couple get on
in therapy, Frances has kind of
sworn off all men when she is
approached twice by younger men
for dates.
That is the premise but if you think
you are in for a simplistic dating
chick lit then you are only right in
parts. With an analytical and
highly reflective approach Davis
(and his character Frances) live
through the challenges that the
dating-after-heartache and the
dating-someone-younger throws at
his characters.
There are further complications in
the mix through friends and family,
who serve as great reflectors and
catalysts for the plot. There is an
unpretentious honesty and
directness about this book that
resonates a little with the best
episodes of ‘Sex and the City’,
which were just as poignant and
spot on about relationships.
Written by a man but ‘told’ from a
female perspective the book
doesn’t lose any of its credibility, I
would never have known the
difference, a sign of a writer that is
a good listener and has great
empathy in other humans.
It is however not all anaylsis and
deep thinking, there is plenty of
fun in this novel, great one liners
and hilarioussmall observations
and scenes.
Simply excellent.
Find the book on your Amazon
website
Link to my interview with Dermot
“The Younger Man” by Dermot
Davis is a beautifully warm and
thoughtful novel. 38, divorced and