A Spot of Bother (Vintage) by Mark Haddon
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Book Reviews of A Spot of Bother (Vintage)
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?).Book Review: An Entertaining Read
Summary: 3 Stars
I almost stopped reading the book when George cuts off his imagined cancer (it would make most readers queasy); yet I'm glad I remained loyal to Haddon's book. Both comical and tragic--as are our own lives--this story has the qualities of an enjoyable plot. As with his other novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, A Spot of Bother has quirky, witty, flawed characters. What I love about these characters is their realization of their own imperfections. While some, like George, may try to eradicate these flaws, in the end they embrace them.
This novel depicts a family's desires to forgive themselves and to forgive others in order to continue living their lives. The story was entertaining and somewhat philosophical, but I found the vividness of the self-surgery scene unnecessary. Haddon continues his tradition of misunderstood characters, but I prefer The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
Book Review: Nicely written but sags in the middle
Summary: 3 Stars
I read "A Spot of Bother" ostensibly for the purpose of airport entertainment and had not read Haddon's debut work "A Curious Incident" The good in this book as that the narrative flows effortlessly, and the voices of each character, especially around the wedding near the end is creative and enjoyable. Haddon has genuine sympathy for his characters and their various foibles. Detracting from it is that through the middle of the book George's voice is monotonous and depressing and the portrayal of Jamie the gay son is self obsessed with more gay action than I had bargained for. (Having enjoyed Colm Toibin's The Story of Night" I felt that the Jamie character was a bit too PC.)
That said the narrative style really is what carries the reader over the finish line.
Book Review: If you're a real reader skip this one!
Summary: 2 Stars
I enjoyed this novel for about thirty pages, and then I felt I'd been trapped inside an Anne Tyler novel gone dreadfully wrong. It's not terrible, but it's basically politically correct, high quality chick-lit. It's well-intentioned, but the epiphanies are contrived and appear like clockwork, and it's simply boring and absolutely predictable. If you enjoy complex fiction this book will annoy you.Book Review: Who cares about the Halls?
Summary: 2 Stars
I was annoyed reading this book about the most unlikeable people, except for the prospective groom. I was totally unsympathetic to this shallow and totally unlovable family. Not funny, just pathetic. I liked The Curious Incident....and was very disappointed with this book.