A Spot of Bother (Vintage) by Mark Haddon
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Book Reviews of A Spot of Bother (Vintage)
Book Review: This would make a great film!
Summary: 4 Stars
I was very impressed with Haddon's first novel, the award-winning _Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time_. This one is about as different as it's possible to be, and it's also pretty impressive. George Hall is in his sixties, a retired builder of playground equipment, who has always been a little off-center in his method of dealing with life. Mostly, he tries to ignore things that make him uncomfortable -- even more than your typical Englishman. Things like jetliner crashes and dying of cancer. He's coping with retirement in part by learning to lay brick and building a small art studio at the bottom of his garden. Meanwhile, his wife, Jean, has been coping with George by having an affair with one of his ex-colleagues. It isn't that George doesn't care, exactly, but he doesn't often show it and David simply makes her feel good. And David kind of wants Jean to leave George. Meanwhile, their daughter, Katie, who is really hard work, and who has a child by a guy who walked out on her, is contemplating marriage with Ray, who has a nice house and makes good money, even though he's large and hyper-masculine and not as intelligent as she is. But Ray brims with natural competence and he's really, really good with Jacob, and he loves her. It doesn't matter that her family seems uneasy, almost a little afraid of Ray. Meanwhile, Jacob, being about three and semi-hyperactive, is fixated on Bob the Builder and Power Rangers, and on asking whether Grandpa is dying. (No, dear, Grandpa is just having a breakdown.) Meanwhile, Katie's younger brother, Jamie, who is an estate agent and gay (Katie taught him everything he knows about self-defense), has just broken up with Tony, who has finally had it with Jamie's inability to stop being single and in control of absolutely everything in order to love someone else. Having laid out these separate lives for the reader's perusal, Haddon then stands back and allows them all to gradually merge. George sees something he wasn't meant to see and decides to engage in do-it-yourself cancer surgery. Jamie finds himself actually bonding with Ray. Ray wonders whether, for her own good, Katie ought to be marrying him. Jean has no idea what's going on but she's making sure the nuptials come off properly and on schedule. And it all comes together in one of the most dramatically entertaining weddings you're likely to see. Why hasn't this delightful novel been made into a film?Book Review: A spot is bothering them...
Summary: 4 Stars
The painful anatomy of a family, with a funny side to it. And for those who, like me, have already read and appreciated `The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time', this is a very different book by the same author.
George, the father, has retired and seems content with his pressure-free life. His wife Jean is mightily distracted by some private matters and the organization of the wedding reception for their daughter Katie, who is getting married for the second time. Her parents disapprove of Ray, the future son-in-law and Katie herself is starting to have doubts. Does she want to marry Ray because she loves him or because he seems to be a very good and reliable provider for herself and her son Jacob? Meanwhile Jamie, Katie's brother, is having problems with his boyfriend Tony. His parents are aware of the relationship but an invitation to the wedding seems inappropriate given the fact that none of the other relatives/friends know about Jamie's homosexuality. Jamie himself is not sure whether he wants Tony to come to the wedding or not.
The buzz & fuzz of the wedding preparation go almost unnoticed by George, however, as he discovers a problem on his body. Almost simultaneously and by pure coincidence, an entirely different matter, of a different nature but very disturbing indeed, comes to light. Unbeknownst to all, he starts to slowly disintegrate psychologically.
Among the tragicity of some of the episodes, the author was able to combine the intricacies of the mind and soul of the Hall family, with an easy and accessible narrative. Many hilarious and funny moments dot this novel without lessening the emotional impact. Very well done.
Book Review: A very entertaining book
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed reading "A Spot of Bother" by Mark Haddon, the author of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". It is the story of a family getting ready for a wedding, but nothing goes as planned of course. George, the father, discovers a lesion on his hip and thinks the worst, starting to slowly lose his mind. His wife Jean is having an affair with an ex-colleague of his. His gay son Jamie is having relationship issues of his own; and his daughter Katie is having second thoughts about getting married... I won't say more as I don't want to spoil the book. Each character is well crafted and contributes to a funny, fast-paced story where something happens in every chapter. Haddon is a master of voices. He did it in "The Curious Incident..." and he's doing it again in this one. Haddon has managed to capture George's voice particularly well as he is sinking into depression and madness. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the main characters, and this is highly entertaining. This is an easy read, but probably not one that will stay with you forever: the messages may be important, but they are not unusual. At times the story feels even a little forced, almost turning into slap-stick comedy. But despite its flaws, I found it a good read, and you may agree with me as long as you don't come to it expecting another tour-de-force like "The Curious Incident...".
Book Review: Haddon is a genuine talent
Summary: 4 Stars
The problem of having written a piece a of genius like "The curious incident..." is that your next book is going to be evaluated against high standards. So it is a remarkable achievement that "A spot of bother" does not only not disappoint, but even lives up to the expectations.
The story tells a family drama centered around the troubled buildup to the marriage of the daughter of the family. While the wedding is cancelled and later un-cancelled, the gay son faces existential questions after a break-up, the mother does not quite know what to think of her extramarital affair, the father discovers a lesion and gets depressed from fear of dying, and so the characters hobble towards the end. No heroism, no great romantic love or deep philosophy, no bad guys: this book should be very boring...
And yet, the great craftsmanship of Haddon is that in it's everydayness, the book has all the drama of people dealing with life's setbacks, triumphs, and the existential doubts that we all feel. The masterful writing certainly helps: Haddon has the ability to make a scene at the same time hilariously funny and very tragic. The dialogues are great and the multi-person perspective works very well, as does the touch of absurdity here and there.
I cannot give it five stars, because after all it is not "The curious incident..." , but I can guarantee you some addictive reading!
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.