Game On... Nobbs is always a great read - intelligent, observant and funny. Cupid's Dart is a well crafted book, highly readable and very touching. Even when Nobbs plays a trick with his readers, we forgive him because of the sheer joys he sends our way. This is his best since Going Gently. I do have a couple of slight criticisms. The characters are extremes of each other, so at first appear a bit stereotypical until we get to know them. Secondly, the book is written though the voice and thoughts of Alan. The Alan character is staid, repressed, boring, unloved and humourless - everything that Nobbs is not. So when Alan does come out of his shell because of Ange, and stops being staid, repressed, boring, unloved and humourless the narrator appears a bit self anaytical. These are just minor faults - Cupid's Dart is a joy to read, much too short, and very funny.
