Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #458 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-07
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Evening Standard: Rev'd Catherine Shoard
`It's a resolutely unpretentious read: drily, almost flatly funny,
but with a deep, sharp humanity...'

The Independent
One of the '50 best holiday reads'

The Daily Telegraph
'[a] comedy of suburban manners'

Customer Reviews

Richard & Judy Would Love This
I don't know if this comedy-drama made it on to one of Richard & Judy's book lists but it is exactly the kind of vaccuous, trite, middle-class nonesense that I'd expect them to choose - on a par with A Starter For Ten which was equally underwhelming. I can almost picture the gruesome twosome rolling around on the sofa at the sheer side-splitting hilarity of it - except that, like "Starter", it's neither funny nor dramatic.

The characters are, at best, irritating. The "will they, won't they (get married)" plotline would only be interesting if I actually gave a damn. Frankly, my dear, I didn't.

I forced myself to read through to the end as a good friend bought it for me as a present and I felt obliged. Moreover, I thought that if they had bought it expecting me to like it then it must have some redeeming feature. I thought wrong.

If you like the film comedies of Richard Curtis then you'll probably love this. I don't, I think they stink. To be fair, this book doesn't stink but it does whiff a bit.

A spot of bother
So different from his first novel! The first novel was a "cross-over novel" suitable for all age groups. Not so "Spot of Bother" which is quite pornographic in places. Mark Haddon has great insight into gay culture and life it would seem. But the book's main theme is what caught my attention - how a retired man manages to get his life together and become a better person. The book kept me entertained and reading. Quite memorable.

Sheer boredom!
I purchased this book on the strength of a few reviews which made it appear promising.
Boy do I regret it!
I do not like giving up on books and read this one right through; it was a painful experience. I was bored silly.
The second half was a real trawl.
About a somewhat dysfunctional family, it's full of tired cliches and overworked scenarios - it is just plain tired.
I expected laughs and stylish writing; neither materialized.
Sorry - I cannot find any kind words for this book - I wish I could.
An author I am now likely to avoid!