- Paperback: 390 pages
- Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd; Large Format Paperback edition (1 Jan 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0224079859
- ISBN-13: 978-0224079853
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15.6 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (176 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 924,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
A Spot of Bother
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More About the Author
Product Description
Tom Adair, Scotsman
"perfect medicine – easy to swallow, a touch formulaic, but nipping the nerve and hitting the truth"
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Julie Wheelwright, Scotland on Sunday
"simultaneously riotously funny, profoundly insightful and deeply poignant"
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The central character of 'A Spot Of Bother' is George Hall, a 57-year-old man from Peterborough, recently retired and a touch overwhelmed by his newly discovered wealth of free time. Other people we meet and follow are George's wife Jean, who is having an affair with one of George's ex-co-workers; their son Jamie, who is having relationship problems of his own; and their daughter Katie who is about to get married to Ray, a man none of the family are sure about and who Katie does not appear to be madly in love with. The book's narrative follows one character at a time, allowing the reader to see events from everyone's point of view.
Plot-wise, the book it pretty simple - Katie and Ray are to get married at George and Jean's home, and everything must be organised - Jamie has to patch things up with his boyfriend, Katie has to decide whether she really wants to get married ... and George catches Jean with her lover, fears he is dying of cancer and thus begins to go mad.
Haddon's genius is to occupy the minds of the different characters in an entirely believable (and readable) manner, from the doubts of Katie's impending marriage to Jamie's love for his partner to the madness of King George, the head of the family. It's a difficult book to put down once begun, and although a light read on some levels nonetheless satisfying - the stand-out sections being those eloquent yet terrifying descriptions of George's descent into madness.
Plot-wise, the book it pretty simple - Katie and Ray are to get married at George and Jean's home, and everything must be organised - Jamie has to patch things up with his boyfriend, Katie has to decide whether she really wants to get married ... and George catches Jean with her lover, fears he is dying of cancer and thus begins to go mad.
Haddon's genius is to occupy the minds of the different characters in an entirely believable (and readable) manner, from the doubts of Katie's impending marriage to Jamie's love for his partner to the madness of King George, the head of the family. It's a difficult book to put down once begun, and although a light read on some levels nonetheless satisfying - the stand-out sections being those eloquent yet terrifying descriptions of George's descent into madness.
104 of 109 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mark Haddon, damn him, has written a second novel which is better than the first. It isn't LIKE the first one, the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, so ignore the reviewers below who seem to think that like a brand name, an author's name should guarantee an identical experience every time. This time Haddon approaches a superficially ordinary family, perhaps like yours or mine, and goes into the little crises and difficulties which make family life so hard to bear. Dad may be an alcoholic, may be a hypochondriac, may be going mad.... you make your own decision as you read his narrative of the family going through weddings, arrivals and departures, illnesses and just day to day coping. But the style is distinctively, freshly, hilariously Haddon and very recognisable as the work of the same hand.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As one of many readers who admired The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time I was keen to read this book yet aprehensive that it would disappoint. Thankfully it did not and although the book seems initially to be completely different in theme and style both books share the authenticity of their characters, the realism of their domestic setting and the sympathetic yet humorous treatment of a medical condition, in this case depression. George Hall is politely going mad whilst trying not to inconvenience his family. His wife Jean has embarked on a reasonably satisfying affair with his old work colleague David, daughter Katie is about to marry unsuitable husband number two, Ray and they are all trying to deal sensitively with son Jamie who is having commitment issues with his long term boyfriend Tony. All this inevitably comes to a head on the day of the ill-fated wedding. This is a thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking book with George showing quiet heroism whilst coping with a very well mannered bout of mental illness. The plot is a little contrived, perhaps even slapstick at times yet despite this A Spot of Bother is ultimately very funny and confronts real issues and situations with which we can all empathise.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mark Haddon is FANTASTIC
I adore every book written by Mark Haddon and this one is no different. It's a story that can get you at times, but mostly it made me chuckle. Fantastic read!
Published 10 days ago by Sophie!
So much more than a family farce
I found this a real joy to read when I was laid up on the sofa for a couple of days with a bad cold last year. Light hearted, witty and easy reading was just what I needed. Read more
Published 14 days ago by "Dr Hutch"
Laughed and cried in equal measure
I loved this book! Like many other reviewers, I was apprehensive about whether it would live up to 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'. I needn't have been. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dr. L. K. Pickard
Warm and wise
I decided to re-read Mark Haddon's "A Spot of Bother" over the weekend. I first read it back in 2008 and felt that sufficient time had elapsed to enjoy it all over again. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ian Kirkpatrick
Brilliant
I bought this book as light reading to distract from my studies, and not having read 'The Curious Incident..' I wasn't sure what to expect. Read more
Published 3 months ago by miniaturephilosopher
Great Writing, Shame About the Storyline
The main positive feature of A Spot of Bother is that the author writes very well. The narrative is always written in an interesting way with an edge of wit. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Brett H
Good but not great
Didn't read his first novel but this one got a good review in a newspaper I was reading some time ago so I finally ordered it from here. Read more
Published 10 months ago by L. Stewart
An engaging and lively read...
Having read Mark Haddon's well-known novel 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime,' I decided to Kindle this and was delighted. Read more
Published 11 months ago by MA Robinson
I loved it, I didn't want it to end.
Mark Haddon is such a brilliant writer; no one can make the everyday crises of life as entertaining and readable as he can, and does, in this tale of a suburban man whose smoothly... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Book Critic
A Spot Of Reading
Not having read the much acclaimed Curious Incident, but having heard good things about it, I found myself clutching A Spot of Bother funnily enough, though I will say that amongst... Read more
Published 16 months ago by A. Trapnell
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