A Spot of Bother (Vintage)
by Mark Haddon
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Book Reviews of A Spot of Bother (Vintage)
Book Review: Funny but a bit disappointing
Summary: 3 Stars
One family, 4 intertwining stories: mother Jean is having an affair with a former colleague of her husband George; George has discovered a lesion on his hip and is convinced it is cancer despite the fact that the doctor says it is eczema; grown-up daughter Katie is a divorced mother of a 3-year old and is getting married to Ray but is having last-minute hesitations; and finally grown-up son Jamie has a relationship with Tony but is cocking that up too. And all this during the time that everybody is preparing for Katie's wedding that will take place at her parents' house. George is steadily losing his mind and the whole family tries to help the other family members to cope with whatever is happening to them.
All this leads to hilarious situations, but that's about it. After "The curious incident of the dog in the night-time" (a book about an autistic boy that gives a wonderful insight into the minds of autistic people), I had very high expectations of the new book of Mark Haddon, but this book is simply funny and has none of the moving and compassionate aspects of his previous book. So yes, it was fun to read but it still left me slightly disappointed.
Book Review: A Comedy of Family Errors
Summary: 4 Stars
Hat's off to Mark Haddon for trying something different to follow his spectacular success in The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time. Here's a story of a sitcom-style dysfunctional family: a businessman who fails into retirement, whose wife is having an affair with a former co-worker of his; a contentious daughter who has divorced and now wants to marry someone far outside the usual social realm of the family; a gay son who cannot make a satisfying commitment. And it reads like what a sitcom writer forced into typing 354 pages might produce. If you go that long, you're going to have to resort to some substance.
It's an enjoyable read, if somewhat circular in its story line. The problem with the book is that George Hall, the father/husband/retiree, doesn't really behave in a believable way. His erratic actions probably are necessary for the story and especially for the ending. Considering that all the other characters are right out of your life and mine, I would have liked the book better if George was a bit less wacked-out.
Nevertheless, a good book. I look forward to Haddon's next.
Book Review: Funny, touching, well written
Summary: 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed A Curious Incident and am happy to report that I enjoyed this book almost as much. This is the story of a family, told from the thoughts of each. George is convinced he has cancer; we know at least that he's going mad. Jean is wondering how to keep up her affair with George's former colleague now that George is retired and around the house more. Katie is going full steam ahead with plans to marry Ray, but is starting to share her family's hesitations. Jamie agonizes over his relationship with his boyfriend Tony and how he doesn't want to bring him to the wedding.
The whole family is messed up and shallow, but slowly, with each very short chapter, we come to love them as much as we see they love one another. All the inner monologues are hilarious and ring true to each character, but George is especially well drawn. I really got the impression I was inside a madman's head!
The plot hums along too, as we speed toward Katie and Ray's on again, off again wedding. I found this book entertaining and skillfully written -- this family really puts the "fun" in "dysfunctional!"
Book Review: crazy hall
Summary: 4 Stars
Luego del "Incidente del perro a medianoche", estabamos esperando con ansias una segunda vuelta. Y en esta Mark se lanza de lleno a las partes mas oscuras de la mente, esas partes que en realidad afloran en lo cotidiano, en el dia a dia. si bien la traduccion al español no es la mejor, la trascendencia de la vida de George Hall toma color desde el inicio: desvanecimientos, dudas, sentimientos cruzados, perdicion, locura, expulsion. Cuando a este personaje le sumamos los condimentos del resto: Jean (su esposa que lo cornea), Jamie (su hijo tragasable) y Katie (que apenas sabe como se llama) el libro se transforma en una comedia digna de una telenovela caribenia, solo faltan las bermudas, las flores y mucho, mucho calor. En cambio el descenso q' sufre George se lee en forma exponencial, y hasta supongo se podria hacer una miniedicion solo con los capitulos de George, se podria prescindir del resto y el libro igual conservaria su espiritu: como la locura puede alojarse en lo cotidiano, como el derrumbe puede ser en 1-click,... George ya se gano un lugar mas al igual que Boone. Mark, esperamos tu tercero.Book Review: Something missing? ?
Summary: 3 Stars
I am always ready to branch out and try something new, so during a recent trip to my neighborhood borders I picked up a book recommended by the staff. I won't go back over the plot as that has been done enough here, but for me "A Spot of Brother" did not quite work. It is evident the author can write but the for some reason the plot and characters never came together for me, they never came to life, which is critical for novel like this that is essentially about relationships. The book has its moments, and did get me to laugh a few times, but it never hooked me they way it should. I think part of the problem for me was that I did not feel sympathetic to any of the characters, it was like watching an afternoon soap oprea, lots of emotional stuff going on but I never cared . I give it three stars because I did finish it (two stars of less means I quite before the end!). I hear "Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time" is better, maybe I'll give it a chance, but I don't know? (Leave a comment if you think I should?).