Helpful Score: 7
Since I loved Haddon's earlier book (Curious Incident . . . ), I was initially very eager to read this one. But, when I read the discription, I lost interest--it sounds depressing and sort of boring. Well, I was wrong. After this book languished on my TBR pile for some time, I finally picked it up and was very pleasantly surprised. This book is funny and enjoyable. I really recommend it.
Helpful Score: 6
This author has a terrific sense of humor. Written from the perspective of each character, I cared about all the characters. I was hesitant about reading this because I liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time so much and didn't think a second book could live up to that one. This one did. I enjoyed it immensely and parts of it are laugh-out-loud funny.
Helpful Score: 4
This book started out so funny. Poor George, but ya know, I think almost anyone can identify with him. "Hey, there's a spot. What if it's poison ivy?" or "Hey, that mole looks a little weird. What if it's cancerous?". Oh, you know you do it too. We all do. We are all crazy, deep down inside.
Having said that, George and Ray are the only characters in this book I really liked. Jamie was okay, but the rest were utterly self-centered or unlikeable.
BUT. The story is funny. The ending is "meh" at best, but getting there is a great ride. It's definitely worth a read, but don't go in thinking it's going to be as deep or wonderful as A Curious Dog in the Nite Time. It's not. It doesn't suck, it's no... err... dog.
Having said that, George and Ray are the only characters in this book I really liked. Jamie was okay, but the rest were utterly self-centered or unlikeable.
BUT. The story is funny. The ending is "meh" at best, but getting there is a great ride. It's definitely worth a read, but don't go in thinking it's going to be as deep or wonderful as A Curious Dog in the Nite Time. It's not. It doesn't suck, it's no... err... dog.
Helpful Score: 3
This is a book revolving around two very serious mental illnesses--anxiety and depression so you'd expect it to be well depressing. Instead, I found myself laughing out loud. Haddon draws his characters very sensitively.
Helpful Score: 2
HILARIOUS!!! I was so sorry when it ended. If you love British humor, this is your cup of tea.
Helpful Score: 2
Bored at reading the same old authors this one is different, creative and funny. If you like to laugh at life at it's most messy moments - you'll enjoy this Haddon book.
Helpful Score: 1
A beautifully constructed farce which is still about recognizably human people.
Helpful Score: 1
I chuckled through the entire book -- if you like your humour dark and British, this is definitely the book for you! Zany, off-beat and vibrant -- I loved this book!
Helpful Score: 1
I laughed out loud in some parts of this book--seems to say a lot of things we might think, but don't say! Just an interesting, honest book about an unperfect family--enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 1
Gee, maybe something's wrong with my sense of humor. I found this book depressing even though I loved "The Curious Incident...".
Helpful Score: 1
Haddon has great fun with the Hall family. George is retired, depressed and convinced that his eczema is cancer. Poor George suffers a breakdown, but who in the family can support him and help him through it? Wife Jean is having an affair, daughter Katie is waffling about getting married for the 2nd time and son Jamie needs to rethink his relationship with boyfriend Tony. We get perspectives from each flawed character as the book careens towards Katie's on-again off-again wedding.
A book about love and life with hilariously believable characters. Write more books for adults, Mark! We love 'em!
A book about love and life with hilariously believable characters. Write more books for adults, Mark! We love 'em!
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting novel, by the author of "The curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which delves into "messy" situations involving one family as they prepare for a wedding. The characters are very believable and may bear a resemblance to people the reader knows in his own family.
Helpful Score: 1
Very worthwhile to read.
Author has a lot to say about the class system in England. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud parts. It will make you think a lot about family and the ones you love...and don't.
Author has a lot to say about the class system in England. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud parts. It will make you think a lot about family and the ones you love...and don't.
Helpful Score: 1
outrageously fummy and entertaining!!
I did not care for this book at all!!!! Very depressing and the main character is a whiney, annoying man with an extremely dysfunctional family!
I admit that at the start of this book, I wasn't overly thrilled with it. Maybe it was somewhat due to British slang and terms (which I had to define by context, rather than knowing what it all meant). By mid-way through the book, though, it was hard to put it down. I was worried for George myself, but in a humorous way. I think this author has a great way of writing to capture most readers........ because most of us have had at least some of those crazy thoughts that George has had. George has that kind of Charlie Brown appeal. I'd highly recommend this book.
I thoroughly loved this book and found myself laughing out loud, and I am not easily amused.
Fun read! Whimsical and serious all at the same time. My husband and I took turns reading this to each other and couldn't predict or wait until we found out what happened next. You could imagine hearing this story from a friend.
I did not expect to like this book but I did. The writer captures middle age angst and the inner workings of a insane mind perfectly. The humor is subtle English humor. The characters fill out well.
One reviewer called this book 'painful and funny'. Probably the best description I could give it without a lot of adjectives that make no sense. Everyone in this family has issues-mental health, breaking up with a boyfriend, not sure if you love the person you're marrying, and just to round it off, Mom is having a raging affair with one of dad's old co-workers. There are some truly funny moments, and it makes you realize that your family is not nearly as crazy (I hope).
This is another winner from Mark Haddon. I love his plot lines and characterizations. I will read anything he writes!
I wish my husband enjoyed reading, as he has two autistic boys. This book is a story of a boy who is most probably autistic, high functioning, and his feelings about life. I read it some time ago, so don't recall the exact plot, but I wouldn't want to give it away anyway. I recommend this book for any sensitive reader.
This abridged audio version of A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon is difficult to get into at first, mainly because the characters aren't all that likeable. However, you quickly become absorbed into the head of the family with all their quirks and idiosyncracies.
from The Washington Post...At 61, George Hall is settling down to a comfortable retirement. When his tempestuous daughter, Katie, announces that she is getting married to the deeply inappropriate Ray, the Hall family is thrown into a tizzy. Unnoticed in the uproar, George discovers a sinister lesion on his hip, and quietly begins to lose his mind.As parents and children fall apart and come together, Haddon paints a disturbing yet amusing portrait of a dignified man trying to go insane politely.
from The Washington Post...At 61, George Hall is settling down to a comfortable retirement. When his tempestuous daughter, Katie, announces that she is getting married to the deeply inappropriate Ray, the Hall family is thrown into a tizzy. Unnoticed in the uproar, George discovers a sinister lesion on his hip, and quietly begins to lose his mind.As parents and children fall apart and come together, Haddon paints a disturbing yet amusing portrait of a dignified man trying to go insane politely.
