We Are All Guilty door Kingsley Amis

A plot Summary.
The book We Are All Guilty by Kingley Amis is about Clive, a 17-year old boy from London. He lives with his mom and step-father with which he heavily argues sometimes. One night as he’s walking around with his friend they decide to break into a warehouse, just for the laugh of it. While breaking in he heavily injures a night watchman, accidently. He feels sorry and is shocked. Everybody around him, his mother, his stepfather and even the local vicar wants to forgive him, but Clive doesn't seek any forgiveness. He wants to be treated like an adult and be punished for what he did.

Character Analysis.
Clive:
Clive it the main character in the book. He is a 17-year old boy from London who is trouble all the time. His parents, especially his stepfather, want him to get out and do something with his life. But all Clive does is watch TV. He doesn't go to school because dropped out and he doesn't work because he thinks it's useless. Clive is not so smart but he is wise, even though he doesn't know how to express himself properly.

Don MacIntyre:
Don MacIntyre is Clive's stepfather, he lives together with Clive and always tells him what he should do. He wants the best for Clive but he can't get along with him very well. He is extremely Christian and he wants Clive to be Christian too.

Theme.
The theme of the book is obviously a drama, even though it has some black humour in it. Kingsley Amis definitly wants to let people know that young-adults should behave like they are young-adults and be treated like they are young-adults.

My opinion.
I don't really like the book, that's no surprise because I don't like drama. But I also don't like the book because it's so tedious. The first part of the book was nice, but the action was short and the last 150 pages of the book were about everybody feeling sorry for Clive, and that was it. I would not recommend it if you like exciting books because this is not an exciting at all.

Creative Exercise.
True/False Questions.

1. Clive has many friends.

    True/False

2. Clive wants to become a judge when he gets old.

    True/False

3. Clive breaks into a warehouse with Terry.

    True/False

4. Clive is not an adult.

    True/False

5. Clive has a pet.

    True/False

6. Clive loves to watch TV

    True/False

7. DonMacIntyre is not from London.

    True/False

8. Clive's mother is married twice.

    True/False

9. Clive works.

    True/False

10. The nightwatch man for the warehouse breaks his legs.

      True/False

Multiple Choice Questions.
1. Who doesn't work?

    A. Marylin.

    B. Clive.

    C. Terry.

2. Where do Clive and Terry break into?

    A. Butterfield Bros.

    B. Bloomberg & Co.

    C. BS Store.

3. Don suggests Clive should see somebody after his arrest, who?

    A. Terry.

    B. The local Vicar.

    C. His grandfather.

4. What is Don MacIntyre's nationality?

    A. Irish.

    B. Scottish.

    C. Not mentioned in the book.

5. Where is Clive's house?

    A. Near a field.

    B. Near a road.

    C. Near both.

Short Open Questions.

1. What is Clive's age?
2. Is Clive arrested before?
3. Does Miss Adams smoke?
4. Does Clive smoke?
5. Does Clive go to school?
6. Is Terry arrested before?
7. What kind of work does Clive's mother do?
8. Is Clive Christian?
9. Does Clive steal anything when he breaks into the warehouse?
10. What does Clive do when he is at home?

Key:

1. False
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False
10. True

1. A.
2. B.
3. B.
4. C.
5. C.

1. 17
2. No
3. Yes
4. Sometimes
5. No, he dropped out
6. Never
7. She cleans
8. No
9. No, he does not get the chance
10. He watches TV