A Spot of Bother (Vintage) by Mark Haddon
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Book Reviews of A Spot of Bother (Vintage)
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: Hard to put your finger on
Summary: 4 Stars
I did laugh out loud twice (which is rare for me when reading) and though I wouldn't go as far as to describe it as 'riotously funny' I could certainly see the humour amongst the madness throughout the book.
To start with I almost felt depressed myself at how miserable all the characters were. Not one of them seemed content with their life. There was just something about it though that kept me wanting to pick it up and read on and thankfully, about half way through each of them started to admit their discontent to themselves and actually do something about it.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable, expect maybe Jamie and Ray who were maybe the more balanced of them all.
I've given it four stars because I did like it and it was certainly more amusing than some 'domestic drama' books I've read but it's hard to put my finger on what I actually liked...maybe the fact that they weren't MY family!
Book Review: A good holiday read
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the story of Kate's wedding. That seems straightforward enough, but she has a mother who is having an affair with her father's ex work colleague. Her father believes that he has cancer and cracks up with near disastrous consequences. Her brother is homosexual and worried about inviting his partner to the wedding. Actually, her brother is probably the most sane character in the whole book; or maybe his partner is. With all of these nutters around, the wedding may never happen. And if it does, there are bound to be ructions.
This book is just hilarious, Despite seeming to be very far-fetched, there are parts of the lives of each of the characters with which I am sure any of us can identify.
Once again, Mark Haddon succeeds in writing in a style that imitates him sitting in your front room telling you the story.
Just a very pleasant and easy read.
Book Review: Feels Like A Working Title Film.
Summary: 4 Stars
This story of a British family in meltdown mode in the weeks leading up to the daughter (Kate's) wedding, has all the ingredients to be slapped up on multiplexes everywhere with a witty attractive cast that could be culled from the likes of, 'Bridget Jones Diary' or 'Four Weddings & A Funeral'. Think Jim Broadbent as George, Imelda Staunton as Jean, and tack in Jude Law and or Emily Mortimer, and you get the idea. The strange thing with this book is that it started as this light, witty and charming confection of a novel and then suddenly began to veer off course into a totally unexpected territory beginning when George, the elderly protagonist, really began to lose his marbles. It didn't make me any less interested in the book,it just wasn't what I was expecting.Book Review: A great story about unfortunate facts of getting older
Summary: 4 Stars
I got this book after I thoroughly enjoyed "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." At first I was disappointed because it was very different, almost like it was written by a different author. But then I was impressed with Haddon's versatility. Though a different feel, this was equally as good a book about real people in the real world and the real unpleasantnesses that come along with it. This one features an aging man whose life just starts to mean nothing, and worsens every day. Who doesn't feel that way at some point in their life, at any age? This a great read that will make you feel like you're not the only screwed up human out there.