Stunning. Review on Last Orders - Graham Swift

I read this book about an year ago, and ever since I've been very much .This book deserves outmost praise simply for the fact no other author has an elegant and smooth style of writing save, Andrew O Hagan. Also this book went on to win the '95 Bookers.

The book follows the actions of five men who go to fulfill the last wishes of their friend.The book is different in that the entire book is in London Cockney.Although difficult to gauge first it becomes easier to undertsand as time goes by.

The most important aspect of this book is that it shows the full maturity of the author in his style especially if you consider his previous novels.The exploration of the turbulent relationship betwen all five of them ais gripping,especially with the quintessential English bar converstions serving as the fulcrum and social standpoint.

Deserving special mention is the mentally retarded daughter of Jack Todd whom Amy goes to visit every Thursday in which the daughter cannot speak and how one of his friends(the narrator and ardent betting man meet up with this and another (an undertaker) watches without their knowledge,all beautifully potrayed.

The fact that one should not wait for any final denouement in any Swift's book also holds good here, they despose the ashes of Jack as he wished but only their various actions of the five men their thoughts as envisioned by the author counts.