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Review 182:
March 2022

 A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon.

First Published: 2006

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 The Author.

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A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

This is an everyday story of a dysfunctional family trying to come to terms with various problems both personal and inter-personal; it was chosen by Rosie following a serendipitous discovery of the book whilst on Jury service. The book was chosen for the club after a first read through, a second read through was less convincing.

On a closer read the characters are less convincing some being self-indulgent, some over-blown, of them all Jamie was the most believable because he was the most ordinary.

The reaction in the book club was generally but not universally negative. What the book did do was to highlight individual prejudices and biases, the “isms” of life. And whilst the book was not very effective at dealing with mental health issues, it did spark off a debate amongst members on that topic.

One member’s family experience of depression made the book feel quite real. Also, the treatment of “gay” issues revealed how our attitudes change over time.

Other comments made during the review:

  • Easy read
  • Characters changed and one’s reaction to the characters changed.
  • There was too much bad language.
  • The book denigrated mental illness.
  • Far too much sex

Overall it felt like a 1970s sitcom, and possibly had been written with potential television royalties blinkering the author.

AABC Rating: 2.9
PC, 13th March 2022.


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