I was intrigued by the title / cover / author... and since it was a short story I read it in less than 15 min.
Loved it! Fantastic writing!
Wish it were more of it...
I wanted to continue reading more...

My Purple Scented Novel is a Vintage Short by Ian McEwan. I don’t often read short stories because it is a rare author who can produce a satisfyingly complete story in a very small space. McEwan, of course, is that rare author. The novel is about a friendship between two aspiring writers, one of whom achieves early success leading to jealously and eventually literary theft, betrayal, and a reversal of fortunes. As it says in the publisher’s blurb, this is ‘a jewel of a story’, a beautifully drawn portrait of the human capacity for creativity as well as ego, duplicity, and frailty.

Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

This is a very entertaining and quirky short story by the brilliant Ian McEwan which is well worth thirty minutes of your time. It concerns two old friends (and perhaps rivals) who publish debut novels round about the same time. The success of the narrator if far outstripped by the success of the best friend who goes onto be a national treasure. But pride comes before a fall and you'll have great fun seeing where the payback comes in the longer story arc. As you would expect from McEwan; melancholic, knowing, amusing and just a great drawer of people. Highly recommended.