A Spot of Bother

Perhaps genius would be too strongly stated for the elegantly understated writing of Mr. Haddon. But he has a wonderful and rare ability to draw you in, and have you keep turning pages, settling deeper and deeper into the domestic world he's created on these pages. I found myself chuckling in recognition of the 61-year-old who was afraid to undress because he didn't want to notice anything new on his skin. The author uses the device of making each chapter sprout from a different character's point of view, but it isn't obvious and annoying and false, as it is in so many books--when he does it, it is because their stories--and lives--are so intertwined, it's like listening to one end of the table's conversation for a bit, then turning and listening to the other.
I hope someone has already bought the movie rights to this, it will be a WONDERFUL comedy-drama.

Occasionally hilarious tale of family woes for George and Jean and their grown children, Katie and Jamie. Katie is about to marry a solid guy whom she may not really love, Jamie gets dumped by his boyfriend because he is too closed in emotionally to commit, Jean is having a middle-aged affair with a former colleague of her husband, and George may just be losing his mind. George contemplates a scaly patch of skin and quickly decides it must be cancer; this discovery starts a series of panic attacks despite doctor visits, and he starts to spiral out of reality. The panic attacks, and the nearly constant fear George experiences, with the resulting sense of disassociation, are unnervingly palpable while still being bizarrely funny. The book's near disasters culminate on Katie's wedding day, with refreshing and yet honest outcomes for all.

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?

This is the story of a British family on the brink: a father slowly going crazy because he finds a spot of eczema he is convinced is cancer, a mother who has entered into an affair, a daughter considering a second marriage to man she does not really respect, and a son still struggling with his sexual identity and his parents' acceptance. The members of this family are thrown together time and time again as they sort through their issues and figure out how to deal with one another. Haddon's book is a stroke of brilliance when it comes to character development and while I would not describe this novel as "action packed," it progresses at a lovely, enjoyable pace.

I was completely engrossed and entertained in this story, watching these characters dance around one another in a way that is sometimes sad, but often bordering on unabashed hilarity. The cover of this book is, well creepy, but do not let it put you off because there is a wonderful, satisfying novel just behind it. This is a book about a British family from a British author so be aware that there are some terms and phrases that will likely be unfamiliar to non-British audiences. However, there are not enough instances to make it distracting. Rip off that cover if necessary, but Haddon's novel is a gem.

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.

I was amazed at how short a time period the novel covered. After I accepted that the book was going to be about the day-to-day inner workings of each family member, I settled into it. Always I felt that George was the center of the novel, though the whole family is featured with each chapter shifting point of view. The story moves toward the inevitable wedding of George's daughter while watching the breakdown George is having. The book is not predictable (as the New Yorker said)--it is a genuinely affecting view of people in crisis. It's outstanding, that amid the chaos of family life that Haddon brings in so much humor. I laughed aloud many times, sometimes at the most macabre things. This is a completely engaging book, and I highly recommend it.

This was such a painful book to go through. Misery and agony throughout! Where was the charm, the wit, the near-genius of Haddon's previous Curious incident book?
Perhaps he started out with a good premise, but the execution fell flat flat flat. Could not relate to most of the primary characters, nor like them.
This was nothing short of torture. I had to intermittently leave this book to read two other books, before actually being able to finish it. I just want my time and money back!

I truly enjoyed Haddon's novel the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, so I had rather high hopes for his latest release.

While entertaining, A Spot of Bother cannot compare to the originality of Haddon's previous work. With a curious incident of the dog in the night-time, Haddon gave me something I'd never seen before with his brilliantly rendered protagonist. A Spot of Bother, on the other hand, is essentially about a dysfunctional family's attempts at dealing with a potential wedding.

While Haddon's characters are completely flawed, they never become complex, and for me that proved disappointing. What I mean is, sure, the father is completely neurotic and perhaps even insane, but only in the stereotypical way we would imagine. From there we've got the proper mother who struggles with her illicit acts, a gay son who can't commit, and a divorced daughter who is raising a child of her own while trying to maintain a relationship with a man she may or may not marry. Their plights are complex, but they are not.

I don't want you to misunderstand--this book is totally readable. It never failed to capture my interest, it moved along quite rapidly, and, at moments, it was utterly hilarious. But, while my praise above is true, it never broke new ground. It would probably make a perfect mainstream movie, and that's my biggest issue with it.

In summation, if you'd like to read about all the events that can go wrong leading up to, during, and after a wedding that may or may not ever actually take place, this is the book for you. If you'd like to read groundbreaking work with one of the most original characters I've ever come across, read Haddon's other novel entitled The Curious Incident Of the Dog In the Night-time.

~Scott William Foley, author of Souls Triumphant

When do you really know someone else? When, in fact, do you really know yourself? Oscar Wilde called it "wearing masks" but in this book the family of George Hall doesn't so much "wear masks" as simply change, grow, move on, as humans tend to do. Yet each member sees the other members as they want to remember them, not as they are.

The book opens with George fearing he has cancer, but too afraid to go to the doctor. His wife, Jean, is having an affair with someone George used to work with. His son is homosexual but afraid to bring his lover home to meet his family. The daughter has a small son by a previous marriage and is now intent on marrying again much to the dismay of the rest of her family. All this action centers around planning and having a wedding which is on-again, off-again, leaving a comical result.

I found the book very perceptive and well written. It is quite different from Haddon's first novel, but still an excellent read.

I bought this because i liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time- and then found this book was nothing like that book- but it's also great. I laughed all the way through it. The wit is dry British wit, and I found it very nice. The characters are nothing like Haddon's other book- it's more like Waugh, but if you don't mind dry humor, you'll like it. I read it right after I'd read What Shall I Tell the Dog- and after reading the two it was obvious that cancer can be made funny- and that was not something I'd thought of before. Apparently in the right hands, anything can be made humorous. That's nice to know.

Mark Haddon had quite a challenge coming off of the quirky, wonderful "Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time." How could you possibly follow that up? Haddon takes the noble approach by trying a different tact this time around; while "Incident" was seen solely from the point of view of one person (who just happened to be autistic), "Bother" takes on an entire family whose lives get shaken up in the weeks before the daughter's wedding. It's a very different approach that thankfully keeps Haddon's quirky sense of humor. Haddon also challenges himself by presenting us with some deeply shallow, selfish characters that for the first hundred pages are pretty severely unlikable. I was thoroughly convinced that there was no way I could ever care what happens to such wretched people, but Haddon proved me wrong. First, let's meet them: there's the matriarch, Jean, who has been having an affair with a former colleague of her husband; Jamie, the gay son, who has just been dumped by the boyfriend he stubbornly refused to invite to the wedding to meet his family; daughter Katie, whose nuptials may be cancelled because she can't decide if she loves her fiance or not; and George, the patriarch who suffers a complete mental breakdown after retirement and the appearance of a lesion on his hip (the titular spot of bother). Jean, Jamie, and Katie start out completely insufferable, but after the first hundred pages they have been forced to re-examine their lives and become determined to be better people. They discover their softer, more human sides and set about righting the wrongs they have committed. In no time at all I was hopelessly caught up rooting for them to get their lives back on track. George has the opposite problem: he has always been relatively stable, if emotionally distant. Caught up in a passed-mid-life crisis, he completely unravels. It is utterly fascinating -- and scarily realistic --to witness his descent into madness, and it gives the family drama a powerful edge that makes it all the more resonant. In the end I thoroughly enjoyed "A Spot of Bother" and its characters. And I really can't wait to see what Haddon comes up with next.

Mark Haddon has done an excellent job with his follow-up to the equally wonderful CURIOUS INCIDENT.

It's been a long time since I've read a book where the characters genuinely seemed to come to life. All the characters were so well thought out and beautifully described that I felt like I knew these people. In fact I had a hard time wondering why the family did not like Ray since he seemed to be the most normal, sane person in the book and was in fact quite likable.

I wouldn't say that there were a lot of "laugh out loud" moments in this book, but there are certainly some wonderfully funny moments that were so subtle I almost missed them. I found myself cringing when George pick-up those scissors and the scene towards the end of the book between George and David could have come off in a lesser book as somewhat slapstick, but here it works incredibly well and I enjoyed. A five star recommendation for this truly wonderful book.

Well, I really liked it and want to give it a plug, so, here's why:
It's FUNNY. And I really like how gentle Haddon is with his flawed human beings. He shows them trying to cope with their smelly/hairy/selfish selves, trying not to hurt others, to care for their families, to get thru their days and find peace/safety/enjoyment in their homes.
I actually read it too fast the first time, and only 'sort of' liked it. But my book group chose it, and this time I'm really savoring it.
Haddon gives us multiple perspectives, such as George's reactions to his daughter Katie and Katie's to him, which are mystifying to them. He shows his characters suddenly gaining insight into how they've edited their stories, their version of reality, and coming to new appreciation of those around them. All of this while making me laugh. I ended up caring for them all and trusting in their importance to each other. I actually liked it a lot more than "The Curious Incident..." but am thinking I may have read that too fast too, need to try it again.

Loved this book. Well-written and very amusing. It would make a great movie. There are serious subjects but overall the treatment leans toward humor in serious situations. I'd say it's mostly about people with crises small and somewhat large and working at cross purposes to each other. A few places I laughed out loud and that's unusual for me, so it must have really struck a chord. I will look for more books by this author.

I approached this second novel by Haddon with some trepidation, fearful he could not match his wonderful The Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. No worries. I'm now convinced Haddon can do no wrong. This story of George Hall and his family is brilliantly conceived and wrought, with Haddon's wonderful language choices and his ability to get inside the head of these often anxious, sometimes neurotic, trying-to-cope, repressed family members. I love a book that makes me laugh out loud on one page and on the next, wince with recognition at the symptoms of mental anguish. Read this book, get to know George Hall and his family; they will seem like old friends by the end of the book. And then you will miss them.

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!

This book is both laugh-out-loud funny, and wincingly disturbing at times, thanks to Haddon's dry, ascerbic wit (which I love). What I most appreciate is Haddon's ability to capture moments of very real life, and shine a light on them: - the sort of moments most of us choose to forget (such as vomiting, panic attacks, embarrassing, scary skin rashes, etc). But through all the disturbing stuff, what I love is the humanity of the characters, their vulnerability, their hopes, their courage, their efforts in the face of despair, and, despite their many flaws, each character is redeemable, even lovable. This story will stay with me for a long time.

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.

Like many many other people, I really enjoyed Haddon's first book, "The Curious Incident of the Dog at Nighttime." It had a unique perspective and took the reader on an unfamiliar journey. Alas, the journey here is an all too familiar one, and Haddon brings nothing new to the table whatsoever. This is your basic dysfunctional light domestic dramady. Components include the uncommunicative and emotionally distant retired father, his bored wife who's having an affair, their gay son, and their volatile divorced daughter.

Each of these characters has familiar woes around which their plotline revolves. The father is worried that a lesion on his leg is the first manifestation of cancer coming to take him away, and thus has a bit of a mental breakdown. The mother is worried that her last chance for happiness might slip away, and has to decide whether or not to leave her longtime husband for her lover. Their son can't commit to his lover, they break up, and he spends the rest of the book trying win back the man he now realizes he loves. The daughter is about to marry her dependable, if unexciting, boyfriend, and is having cold feet. The rest of the book is a standard "will she or won't she" type scenario, and all storylines come to a head the day of the wedding.

Haddon infuses the cliche soap opera situations with a light comic touch -- but the touch is so light that the book ends up feeling entirely slight . The themes of mortality, aging, happiness, commitment, sexuality, etc. are all presented, but in a totally superficial manner. Which is not to say it's an unenjoyable read, but it's an entirely forgettable one.

Haddon is a really good modern writer. Very funny throughout and also very English. Some of the colloquialisms are beyond me but that's ok. "A Spot of Bother" is a lot of fun but I'd say it could use a little more variation in dynamics. It seems that every character is in crisis all the time. It made it a bit tense for me at times, but I still definitely recommend it. I mean, they're going through turmoil through Haddon's quirky, funny, eyes, but even so it wore on me. Sometimes you need spot of peace, resting in a pleasant time in a character's life, something that glows and gives you a rest before the next worry..

OK, everyone seems to agree that "Curious Incident" was very, very good. There is a wider range of response to this new book, and I'm sorry to be one who can't recommend it very highly.

I was constantly troubled by the feeling that the people in this story, most especially the immediate family, are as dim witted as typical sitcom characters, and that made for too easily anticipated developments throughout, and much inward groaning and moping about while waiting for the stuff to get better. The writer's tone is very good, but seems wasted on its inhabitants. I read a great deal of fiction, but this book still left me feeling as if I had wasted my time, despite having no expectation that it might be another curious incident. In an odd way, I guess it is: curious that it got written, more curious that it was published, and most curious that it got some raves. Ah well. We do all have differing needs....

The story can easily be seen as unrelentingly depressing despite the moments of humor thrown in as an apparent counterweight. Don't misunderstand my tastes, please: I am an anglophile of the Highest Order, and brit humor especially is near the top of my list of what is good about life.

Perhaps, as one grows older, the terrors of aging gracelessly (among other things) become considerably less amusing, especially if one occasionally finds oneself barking mad under a hedge and staring at the sky without a clue as to how one arrived there? Yeah, sure they have. Been there, done that. Not the stuff of humor, really. Not, at least, the way this one was written. But then not really a black comedy either.

Let this be more a dark farce, then, for someone younger, for whom things are still looking upward, no prerequisite lie-down in the bushes for it to appear that way.

Spot on.

George's wife is having an affair, his son is gay and his daughter is about to marry a boring tradesman whose IQ is leagues below her own. He himself is massively depressed and has terminal cancer. A spot of bother,indeed.

The follow-up to his successful debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Haddon's latest effort will not win the same acclaim. The dog book, which was about the inner workings of an autistic mind, broke some new ground. Not so the spot book. Still, it is a pleasant read, taking full advantage of British understatement to generate some good laughs.

On a familial level, the goings on here are a "spot of bother" in the same way the Hindenburg's last flight was a bit of an oops. George is so obsessed with death that it wins over his life. He fears cancer--the actual spot of bother--so much that he determines to excise it with a pair of scissors. This is but one clumsy attempt among many to repair something using entirely the wrong tool. The wrenching relationships of the family are careening toward a climax in the form of an on-again, off-again wedding. We know it will be a car wreck. The only question is the extent of the maiming. In the long tradition of car wreck watching, we crane our necks to see the carnage, and we're a little disappointed there isn't more. Not more carnage, really, but a little more to the book.

Although the novel bounces around from narrator to narrator, the main thread, and most entertaining character by far, is George. And what starts with the discovery of a skin lesion, leads us through a whirlwind of life changing choices, personal tragedies, paranoia and, in the end, a family, with all their scars and shortcomings, somehow getting through it all. A smart, funny and wry look at life. Mark Haddon is one of those wonderful writers who creates characters who you hate to say goodbye to when the book ends.

Hey, has anybody noticed the similarities between Spot of Bother, and Death at a Funeral ( the original British version)? I should start out by saying that I loved both. I saw Death at a Funeral before I read Spot of Bother, but the book came out the year before the movie. There are so many similarities that I checked to see if Mark Haddon was the screenwriter. He's not.
Check it out:
1. major family event with much ado and anxiety Wedding/Funeral
2. a character has a skin lesion causing him much anxiety
3. a parent is having a (secret) affair
4. parents disapprove of daughter's fiance
5. a gay character
6. a character takes too much valium/valium substitute at the event and
7. a secret is revealed at the family event, leading to
8. chaos, misunderstandings, hilarity at the event
9. a character with low self esteem makes a very good speech/eulogy at the event
10. characters gain peace and self acceptance as a result

From A Spot of Bother: A Novel:

"If he were given the choice he would rather someone had broken his leg. You did not have to explain what was wrong with a broken leg. Nor were you expected to mend it by force of will.

...

What he felt mostly was a relentless, grinding dread which rumbled and thundered and made the world dark, like those spaceships in science-fiction films whose battle-scorched fuselages slid onto the screen and kept on sliding onto the screen because they were, in fact, several thousand times larger than you expected when all you could see was the nose cone.

The idea of genuinely having cancer was beginning to seem almost a relief, the idea of going into hospital, having tubes put into his arm, being told what to do by doctors and nurses, no longer having to grapple with the problem of getting through the next five minutes."

Mark Haddon's follow up novel to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time is another sort of exploration into the darker, more obscure regions of the human mind. Instead of an adolescent main character with Asperger's Syndrome, in A Spot of Bother Haddon portrays a 61-year old who begins to think he's losing his mind shortly after finding a mysterious skin lesion on his hip.

George Hall is convinced he has cancer, and that there's nothing that can be done for him. He's plunged into a dark, confusing sort of despair in which the world seems to wobble on its axis, throwing life as he knew it into an alternate nightmarish dimension. Fear overtakes him, often crippling him, and he begins having panic attacks he believes are a further proof of the cancer he's convinced himself is ravaging him.

Meanwhile, his daughter is planning her second marriage to a man he and his wife disapprove of. His wife is having an affair with a former colleague of his, and his homosexual son lurks like an unsolved problem in the background.

George Hall is falling apart.

Mark Haddon's second novel is stellar. It's at times riotously funny, deeply empathetic and peopled with characters the reader comes to identify with so closely it's not surprising to find yourself actually worrying about them. Well, at least I hope it's not surprising to find yourself worrying about fictional characters!

Perhaps I've just hit on fodder for Mark Haddon's third novel, devoted to the notion that readers can actually come to care so much for fictional characters they build a delusional world around them.

All royalty checks accepted, Mr. Haddon.

A Spot of Bother is a book not to be missed. Thanks so much to Doubleday for sending me a review copy of this book.

In this humorous look at a dysfunctional British family, Haddon takes a different tack from his bestseller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Recently retired George Hall slowly and quietly begins to unravel, convinced that his eczema is cancer, troubled by his daughter Katie's upcoming second marriage, his distant relationship with son Jamie, and his wife's affair with his former business partner. As each of the Halls' lives spiral out of control, the beleaguered family rediscovers the love and healing that holds them together.

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.

I had just finished Mark Haddon's previous book, "The Curious Incident...", when I rushed out to see what he would do for an encore. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. Each member of this disfunctional family is embroiled in their own private drama. Adding to their anxiety is the fact that no one is especially willing or able to speak out until their father's slow burn of insanity begins to blow their world apart. Each character leaves you either rooting for them, or wishing someone would smack some sense into them. Regardless of whose side you take (and you will be taking sides), you'll find yourself pulling for everyone's ultimate happiness in the end. An easy and enjoyable read!

When I was asked what this book is about, all I could say was it's about a dysfunctional British family. The daughter is getting married, the father is having a breakdown. So the plot sounds--is--very pedestrian, and there's not much that happens to change that assessment. The interest is entirely in the telling. Haddon has a very dry, deadpan sense of humor, including a postmodern sense of the absurd, which I found consistently entertaining. I don't consider it life-changing, nor do I expect to remember it for years, but it was a great way to spend a few days.

Oh how I wanted to like this book. It was not to be. I gave it two stars as a nod to the occasional chuckle.

Why so glum? All but the ancillary character (to husband to be) is a complete and utter small-minded turd on toast. As they would say - prats. Who could like any of them? Jamie redeems himself somewhat, but his underlying character is... lacking. How could the author even make the innocent child bothersome?

If all is awry and lives are begging for reconciliation do you make the characters thoroughly vacant, bankrupt, unlikeable jerks who have to think out normal human emotion because they are incapable of it naturally? The husband-to-be had it right - George is the most sane in that house.

What a waste of time.

A Spot of Bother is one of the most wonderful books I have read in a very long time. Laugh-out-loud funny in places, brilliantly written and elegantly executed, it is revelation to read a work whose author feels such kindness and compassion toward his characters and their foibles. When the final words are read, you will long to know and stay in touch with the wonderful people who populate this world and, by extension, the dazzling mind that brought them into being. Buy this book and read it as a gift to yourself. If you do not in the course of it laugh and cry and emerge deeply humbled, check your pulse.

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.

'A Spot of Bother' is a whimsical, well observed comedy/drama about a family trying to cope with relationship issues during a very stressful time (the marriage of a daughter). It's rather well written novel, complete with good dialog and characterizations. There is much to like here but I found it a bit too lighthearted, ... it felt more like a script to a made for television serial than a memorable piece of fiction. I also found that it made perhaps too much fun of psychotic episodes endured by the family patriarch. Casting mental illness in a humorous light is always tricky. I am afraid the author went too far for my taste.

Bottom line: as semi-slapstick family sagas go this book is probably among the best out there. Recommended.

Haddon's second novel is everybit as good as the first and I simply can't uderstand some of the reviewers slagging him off. What do they want? Don't they realise the time and effort and thought that goes into writing a novel? Don't they realise that the author delibrately does not want to deliver to the reader a like for like version and wants to move on. The dysfunctional family characterised in Haddons book are masterful I was particularly taken with George. Great stuff, a good rioutous read.

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.

This is a wild and wacky take on an English family, whose lives come to a climax around a wedding. There's George, the father who has eczema and thinks its cancer; Jean, the mother who's having an affair with a former colleague of George's; Katie, the daughter who's getting married but not sure she loves her fiance; Jamie, the son who's affair with his lover Tony is on the rocks; plus other assorted family members and friends, all of whom are a little bent, one way or another. A highly recommended fast and funny read.

This is a great book. I wasn't incredibly fond of Haddon's previous effort, 'The Curious Incident'; I thought it was overhyped and underdelivered. This, however, more than makes up for it. It's full of humor, pathos and realism that makes it believable and touching at the same time, without any sense of corny, false emotions. I can't wait to read more from Haddon, as he seems like a young writer with a lot of potential. If you're a Nick Hornby fan, as I am, then this is also a definite selection for you, as it reminded me somewhat of his breezy, yet serious style.

I LOVE the audio book "Curious Incident..." so I am listening to this one. So far I only understand about 3/4 of what the characters are talking about. I know it's a different culture, but wow they have some odd phrases!!! Unfortunately, I do not like any of the characters; nor do I like the meandering plot. I still like the writer's stream of consciousness, so I will stick with it a while longer.

I won't repeat plot details here. The characters are at times infuriatingly damaged, and their motives and behaviors are as apalling as some of your more exasperating relatives. In the end, these characters become as endearing and as disturbing as your own family can be. That's pretty high praise for a book of fiction. So, why not five stars?

The story lines, as compelling as they are in terms of engaging the reader, don't give us any depth of insight about humans misbehaving, or their consequences--they just act selfishly (which we do) and crazily (also true). But, for five stars, I'd like to have learned something about myself and others. That happens rarely. But I loved this book.

This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. I won't go into a synopsis, as that ground has been covered. Just read this book! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll groan, and most of all you'll appreciate your family more.

Many of the criticisms I have read have said that this is The Corrections lite and that you can't care about the characters. First off, yes, it does have a lot in common with The Corrections (another fantastic read) being a black comedy about a family, following individual yet converging plotlines. Yes, it's not as heavy. It is, however, a quick and engaging read and held my interest through every page. It doesn't claim to be anything more than a good story. As far as the characters, I'm glad that those aforementioned reviewers are perfect enough that they can't appreciate and relate to flawed characters. I, for one, saw a little of myself in several of the characters and found myself only wanting the best for them, despite them not always making the best decisions.

Life isn't perfect. People screw things up. It's nice to know you're not alone. I seriously couldn't put this book down. Don't listen to the haters, read it!!

if you are embarassed by laughing out loud. Mr. Haddon's experience in writing scripts is evident in this comedy of manners. Every member of this family facing a wedding day, which is stressful enough under the best circumstances, is experiencing a life turning point of their own. Haddon's handling of each person's dilemma, the interweaving of such crises, and the satisfying resolutions thereof is masterful. He shows a sure hand equally with pathos and bathos, and makes the reader care about what happens to these people later down the line.

I bought and read this book immmediately after reading Haddon's "Curious Incident" and found it to be a very entertaining, fun read. I finished the novel in maybe 2 days but was a little disappointed by its ending.

There are definitely characters in the book whose stories interested me less than others but I sometimes found that the story line bordered on a soap opera of sorts: a father who thinks he has cancer, is losing his mind and discovers his wife is having an affair; a wife who is contemplating leaving her husband for her lover; a daughter who is weighing whether or not she is in love with the man she's engaged to and a son who is afraid of bringing his boyfriend to the wedding. All very nice but not equally interesting.

By the end of the novel I was a bit frustrated that more of Jamie's (the gay son's) process of increasing self awareness wasn't described. But nonetheless it was a good, easy read and I don't fully regret the time spent reading it. If you're looking for substance or something especially revealing or thought-proviking, this isn't the book for you but if you want an alternative to the tv, give this a try.

I am gobsmacked by the positive reviews. Categorically one of the worst books I've ever read. As awful as Curious Incident was wonderful. So forced and contrived, not to mention psychologically implausible, a true groaner.

I was "bothered" just a "spot" by Mark Haddon's latest offering, and for the longest time I couldn't figure out why. Was the book funny? Yes, in quite a few parts. Did the book seem to portray flawed and fully human characters? Yes. Was the book engaging, plot-wise? Yes, very much so!

So why didn't I like it, or at least like it enough to give it more than 3 stars? Maybe it's because I'm an American and was confused by all the British slang. Maybe I got a little discombobulated trying to keep up with all the things the different characters were doing at the same time. Or maybe, just maybe, the characters all seemed too harsh, too unlovable, and too unsympathetic. I wasn't expecting "Full House" dynamics here, but neither was I expecting a family as quite without warmth as the Halls.

George Hall, as he tries not to lose his mind, is never treated very well by his immediate family even when he's completely lucid. Sure, George is irascible and far from perfect, but I felt, and only felt, for George.

What is Jean Hall doing "shagging" her husband's business colleague when she has a husband that truly does love her even when not in his right mind? At the end of the book, she seems to resolve to stay with George more out of resignation than love, which is a terrible motive for doing so. Either you truly love someone, or you should leave them. So say I.

Katie Hall is the ultimate "Bridezilla", and her hapless fiance Ray doesn't even suspect it until the end. He still marries Katie, and I pity the future he'll have with her. Between Katie's temper tantrums and those of her young son, Jacob (not to mention wiping the latter's bottom), will Ray ever come to figure out that Katie doesn't really love him? (Note: Their 'falling in love' part doesn't seem convincing to me, Mr. Haddon.)

I didn't even mention Jamie, or the boyfriend that dumped him and then came back to him for--I still can't fathom what reason. What the dvukh?!?

My verdict: Skip this one, or borrow it from the library or your friends!

I read and LOVED The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime... unfortunately I did not feel the same about this book.

I found the characters somewhat annoying and particularly the father character who was losing his mind, these chapters also seemed to be the longest.

Anyway I dont highly recommend this book.

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" didn't just make it on my list of best books of 2005; it made it on my top-ten list of all time. That's why I was so excited to get my hands on "A Spot of Bother" by the same author. Unfortunately, this book didn't come near the interest level or originality of its predecessor.

This book reminded me of a blend of Jonathan Franzen ("The Corrections") and Nick Hornsby ("How to Be Good"), neither of which I enjoyed much. I found "Bother" to be deathly slow and the characters to be frankly uninteresting. I kept hoping one of them would die, just to liven things up, paradoxically speaking.

Though I hate to admit it, I quit reading after 150 pages.

To start off the storyline did not attract me at all,but i loved The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time,(Brilliant book)and figured I'll give it shot,and i was so happy i did!At first i only liked Jamie but the more and more i read i started to fall for the rest of the Hall Family were i get concered and want them to pull thro their problems,it was funny,and it gave me the ending i wanted(AND MORE!^,,^)without being cheesy,Mark Haddon has a gift for writting and at times make me put the book down and seriously think about what he's saying the depth of it when i think "Yeah this guy gets it,"
2 B honest the slang wasn't hard to get if uv read harry potter u wont feel lost and if u havent u can tell by the emotions and wat the characters are saying and what their doing and the slang isn't really important.Neway Amazing book I'd recommend this to family,friends,strangers,enemies,shemales,robots and the such.

I thought the book was well written, but I simply did not like the characters. I just didn't care for the story. I give him 3 stars for his ability to write well but only 1 for the story.

I absolutely loved the Curious Incident so I was quite eager to read this and was disappointed - wouldn't recommend it.

I will definitely give the author another chance when his next book comes out because I think there is great potential.

Is it unfair to compare spot of bother with curious incident? - yeah, it probably is.
And that can be the difficulty in reading multiple books by the one author, especially when you have enjoyed the first one so much.
Other reviewers have set out the plot and characters, so i won't reproduce that here - but overall, while i found the characters well observed, it all came across as a bit contived - the happily ever after ending and rah, rah, rah.
I can see it being made into an on the buses film, and probably doing quite well at it too with Jude Law playing Jamie.

The book was all over the place. It took me a month to read. Found myself losing interest very quickly. I didn't want to give up on reading it though. I finally was intrigued toward the end. Suprised to see this was on a list of suggestions for good reads.
I can say that I read it and mark it off my list.

What an articulate, funny, heart breaking book. I bought Haddon's novel in an airport, and spent the next five hours on the plane fighting back laughter and the approach of tears. I deliberately will not comment on the plot or characters, as part of why I enjoyed this story so much was the complete surprise.

I enjoyed the "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." This second novel has a different tone, voice, and pace. Haddon is so gifted that I was compelled to go to his website and share what a joy this novel is. On his site, he informs us that he won't be answering emails as he is busy working on another book.

I will be among the first to buy it.

This was the second book I've read by Haddon (after The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime) and while I didn't love it as much as the first, it was still . I'd definitely look for more by this author.

For more reviews, please visit my blog, CozyLittleBookJournal.

This is one of the funniest books I have read in a long while. Mark Hadden has a great touch in pointing out the bizarre in every day life, in an appropriately understated way. Other reviewer have covered the stories and characters, so what I would add is that I found this book much funnier (laugh out lout funny) than some of the other reviewers.

After reading "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime," you can't help but have high expectations for Mark Haddon's next book. In that book, he creates a sympathetic character from page one and you stick with him to the end. In this book, he creates nothing but characters you can't possibly care about. None can garner, nor deserve, your sympathy. And are they believable? Maybe the kids are, and the wife and the marital problems, but George, who wigs out over a small bump and even when told it's a skin condition of minor consequence, continues to consider it cancerous? Not believable, nor funny, nor enjoyable. This book seems to tell the story from five steps away, whereas "Dog" kept you right in the skin of Christopher. It also seems like a knock-off of Hornby, where a lot of characters you don't really care about come together to tell you about their dysfunctional lives. It's a big disappointment.

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.

I loved Curious Incident and this was as well written but the story is not quite as good. It was funny and sad but it did get a bit tiresome. It was a bit like an hysterical soap opera. After awhile I began to wonder, "did I really care?" But the characters were pretty true, even if the situations were not. And with short chapters and good writing it's an easy read. Good for airplanes.

I bought this book in finding "The Curious Incident..." to be one of the most delightful reads I've come across in the past couple years. Unfortunately, Haddon's effort this time around was not nearly as satisfying. While I admit there were parts that were "page turners", particularly involving the father and his neurosis, I found the rest of the family to be annoyingly clichéd (particularly the children, who are meant to represent my particular generation - late 20's/early 30's).

Despite the poor character development, I also found the ending to be rather predictable and anticlimactic. In particular, it would have been much more entertaining in my opinion to have the final events happen in an entirely different setting. One only has to glance at the front cover and read the first few chapters in order to discover where this story is going to end.

Though this review has been mostly negative, I would like to emphasize that Haddon is still an extremely talented writer, and only hope his next work will restore the reader's confidence in his abilities!

Note: I also agree with fellow reviewers that this story is a "lite" version of "The Corrections" (not a bad book, not my favorite either, but definitely better than "A Spot of Bother").

Mark Haddon is so freakishly talented that it's hard not to be scared when I open one of his books: this one unfolds with a Barbara Pym-worthy delicacy, yet there is nothing twee or dated about it. I love this book. The characters are marvelous and the writing--oh, exquisite. Envy, envy, envy.

I really liked this one! It took me a few chapters to get into it, but before I knew it, I was hooked. Every character was interesting and I really enjoyed the changing point of view. The storyline was very funny and real. I found it very entertaining. I would definitly recommend it.

I guess all families are dysfunctional to some extent, my own of 10 included. But I loved the way his characters were a bit selfish but grew through and lots of error into much better human beings. Wonderful story, beautifully told. Best novel I've read in ages

This was my second time reading a Mark Haddon novel, the first being The Curious Case of the Dog in the Nightime, which I loved. I loved this book too! Excellent writing and character development! I can't wait for Mark's next novel!

Thank you for opening up writing and going different routes than most writers. This book had me laughing out loud at George's antics, cringing at family politics (that are all too familiar) and crying over the necessary painful moments we all go through. Yes, it is different than "Curious Incident" but it stands on its own as a great book!

While I really enjoyed "A Curious Incident...", I think that Mark Haddon did a great job with this one too. It is a completely different book, written in a completely different manner. I think that it shows us that he can write more than one style of literature.

I found myself getting really caught up in the book. Because the chapters are so short, it is really easy to just keep reading. Haddon has each chapter center around a different character, switching from one member of the family to another, sometimes overlapping scenes from varying perspectives.

I think it would make a good film.

This is Mark Haddon's second quirky book. If you like British humor, you'll love this book. He gets the English tone spot on with the funny slang terms, funny rituals, and quirky characters who are so very British. The family members are well described; each has a particular oddness. Their relationships will entertain you from first page to last. I really liked this book.

I am listening to the Audiobook of this, and have found myself literally laughing out loud. Not a good thing, as I walk around my neighborhood for my nightly powerwalk, but a good thing for the book. Just a nice, nice funny book. Only four stars because everything and everyone are pretty nicely packaged, maybe a little too nicely. But read freely - you will enjoy!

This book, as far as I am concerned, gets by on the coattails of 'A Curious Incident...'. It's really quite a tedious read and it left me feeling rather annoyed with myself for giving it so much benefit of the doubt. My advice? Don't bother with A Spot of Bother.

One of the best books I've ever read. It's an account of a dysfunctional family going through a number if stressful family situations. I found it very moving at points, sometimes funny, sometimes very sad but always believable. I really recommend it. I would not give 5 stars lightly, but this book really got to me. I do think that because of its content it may be something of a love it or hate it kind of book.

I actually read this before his major bestseller..and I was laughing by page 16. I loved all of the characters and could actually place a few in my own family. If youre looking for a richly written, funny,and a very creative subject matter AND you have a keen sense of humor,this book is for you...I pushed the book club to read it and they all loved it... Lisa B

Its like Mark Haddon was in my brain. The way he portrays George's hypochondriasis is 'spot' on. It had me laughing (and didn't get too scary so as to send me, myself, spiraling down). I really wonder if Mark Haddon has ever suffered this before because he got it so right. The fear, the anxiety, the unreality.

The other characters are wonderful as well!! The much maligned and misunderstood Ray was also a delight. It is a very funny and a very real story.

Mark Haddon has done it again. For anyone who has read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" and wondered how he could match it, be assured that he does.

This is not an easy read, but it's an amazing story that keeps the surprises coming. It will make quite the movie someday.

Love, sex, death, and mental illness all blend together in a familial storm that culminates in a crescendo that will have you laughing and wondering what could possibly go wrong next. You'll see.

Haddon's 2nd novel was better than the first... all characters are fully developed and his knack for "catching a moment" or personality with traits, innuendo or situations is uncanny. The writer allows us to find ourselves deeply caring about each character because he allows us to really get to know each one: their interior life as well as their behaviors and other character's opinions of them. Fine writing I thoroughly enjoyed; it left me satisfied yet still wanting more from this fine author. A great read. So surprized this one hasn't done as well as his first. A terrific and rewarding effort. Thank you Mark Haddon. ljd in nj

I savored this novel.
I enjoyed the family and felt as though I knew them so well that I should have been invited to the weding.
At one point I was glad to be home alone as I sat and laughed aloud, a lot,especially the days leading up to the wedding.

Rather than being engaging farce, which Haddon's seems to want it to be, this novel becomes tedious, cliched, sentimental, and mired in details that the reader really doesn't care about (is the wedding on or off: after a while we really don't care). The novel might work well as a play at a local community theater, with lots of gaffaws at the over-the-top and predictable turn of events, sending everyone home with the smug satisfaction of "all worked out in the end." Of course the gruesome self-mutilations would have to be curtailed a bit on stage.

I was really disappointed after reading some glowing reviews. But with characters that we come not to care about very much, the novel quickly becomes a bore; one can skim through much of it and still "get it," which reflects the paucity of good writing.

Haddon's trademark wit--an improbable mixture of acerbic wisecracks and compassionate quips--is alive and well in A Spot of Bother. Here, Haddon proves himself to be a masterful story-teller and not just a one-shot wonder. He makes the mundane seem miraculous and embraces the often ugly complexities of family life. Each family member is imbued with both innocuous foibles and categorical flaws, and the book, like its defective characters, comes together as a cohesive unit. It's kind of like Little Miss Sunshine--but better.

Rather than being engaging farce, which Haddon's seems to want it to be, this novel becomes tedious, cliched, sentimental, and mired in details that the reader really doesn't care about (is the wedding on or off: after a while we really don't care). The novel might work well as a play at a local community theater, with lots of gaffaws at the over-the-top and predictable turn of events, sending everyone home with the smug satisfaction of "all worked out in the end." Of course the gruesome self-mutilations would have to be curtailed a bit on stage.

I was really disappointed after reading some glowing reviews. But with characters that we come not to care about very much, the novel quickly becomes a bore; one can skim through much of it and still "get it," which reflects the paucity of good writing.

Haddon's trademark wit--an improbable mixture of acerbic wisecracks and compassionate quips--is alive and well in A Spot of Bother. Here, Haddon proves himself to be a masterful story-teller and not just a one-shot wonder. He makes the mundane seem miraculous and embraces the often ugly complexities of family life. Each family member is imbued with both innocuous foibles and categorical flaws, and the book, like its defective characters, comes together as a cohesive unit. It's kind of like Little Miss Sunshine--but better.

Quite a disappointment. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Haddon's new book...o.k., maybe I was expecting too much. But as I tried my best to be impartial, bottom line is that it's just a boring piece of work.

I'm amazed at the reviews that say "laugh out loud funny"...maybe these readers should get out a little more...

I do agree that his writing style is unique, and still very good (the reason for 2 stars instead of one)...but as far as plot...monotonous and boring.

The "Curious Incident..." is a must read, but I got the feeling that this book was a hurried follow-up to get something out there, and ride on the coat tails of "Curious Incident's" successes.

I bought the book for my teenage son, but wish I would have read chapter 44 before purchasing it. The book is now in the trash. The primary themes of the book adultery, homosexuality, and paranoia are not enduring for pre-teens especially. It was one of those books that had some good ideas and writing, but I found myself unconcerned about the ending because of the excessive junk you have to read through to get there.

wow, what a horrible book. It seems to be a chronicle of people peeing, pooping, vomiting, and bleeding, with a little bit of plot in between. oh and the people are mostly unlikable - the only likable, decent one was the guy the snotty family didn't want their awful daughter to marry. partway through I started just skimming through the pages and then I flipped to the end but I barely cared enough to do that. gross, disgusting, and full of cute little anecdotes about each person - yuk. it was like the author was a scatalogical five year old. read ANYTHING else.

I waited with great anticipation for Haddon's 2nd book, and it definitely fell short. It took me about 130 pages before I finally felt like I had the rhythm of the book and could actually laugh at the characters, but overall, it was not nearly what I had hoped for. Personally, it was a waste of time.

If you loved Jonathan Franzen's Corrections, you like this story but find it lite. If you hated the Corrections because of all the miserable characters, then you might might

not like this one, but just a little bit less. I loved the "Curious" book and was disappoimted in this. The characters were normal, and uninteresting.

This falls into the "disfunctional family" category, I suppose, but isn't that where we all live? I found it, at times, uproariously funny, sometimes terribly sad, occasionally scary, and always wonderfully written and involving. Looking forward to Haddon's next, which will probably be as unlike this, as this is to CURIOUS DOG.

If you've read my reviews of other books you'll know that I look at a book from several angles. The main view is entertainment. Was this book entertaining? This one is not. Another view is: Do I care to read more, am I drawn to find out what transpires? In other words, was I intrigued? I was not at all intrigued by this work. There are a few cool sentences but nothing worth the price of the book or the time it takes to read it. There were several places that could have been built up and made tense but they were approached in a nonchalant manner. Throughout the whole book the one character loses his mind. You'll lose your mind trying to finish this. I hope you save the receipt for this one.

I couldn't get even halfway thru this book. The characters had barely any life to them and I didn't care, or care to read, about any of them. I haven't read "The Curious Incident..." also by this author, but I don't think I want to after attemping this boring book.

After the well deserved success of Mark Haddon's "Curious Incident of the Dog", I looked forward to reading "A Spot of Bother". What a disaster. With a narrative that goes nowhere, and characters who engender little interest, this novel couldn't be more puerile. Mr. Haddon has hit the proverbial sophomore slump (even if this isn't actually his second novel). Here's hoping that the author isn't a one hit wonder.

Odd story, dealing with a family's forced fantastic journey from internal fixation to having to cope with external realities. I thought it was worth the read, though topics such as statutory rape were glossed over.

after reading the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, i was thrilled that mark haddon was writing a second novel. the curious incident was perfect. a spot of bother, on the other hand, is awful! i am such a reader and this book was painful to keep reading. i wanted to finish it in case it got better, but it never did. i recommend instead the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, written from the perspective of an autistic boy, but take my word, a spot of bother isn't worth the bother!

As so diligently discussed in previous reader reviews, this is some family!

I felt that the portrayal of George in particular was 'spot' on by depicting how a (in this case, erroneous) medical diagnosis can send one, over the top.

The detracting aspect of the book was the just-too-detailed 'gay' soap-opera betweeen Jamie and Tony.

Another Mark - Foley - stupidly, admittingly, has been cited for less overt faggetry.

Loved Curious Incident and have shared it with many friends. This effort, however, pales by comparison. I stayed with it thru to the end but was never able empathize with any of the characters. Don't waste your time on this, read his first book if you haven't yet, or wait for his next one.