Hi Ladies,
We had a cozy group of 7 at October’s meeting to discuss Mark Haddon’s second novel A Spot of Bother…a pleasurable read with good jokes and funny situations. While we agreed the novel read more like a tv script for a soap opera, the book was entertaining and the writing sprinkled with British-isms was comical. The plot revolves around George’s recent retirement, his wife’s infidelity and the family’s response to daughter Katie’s proposed wedding to Ray.
Although the story was a bit dark at times (George’s fear of dying, his drinking and pill-taking habits, his self mutilation when he thinks he has cancer), this romantic comedy keeps you laughing. I wouldn’t call this book literature, but we all enjoyed a diversion from our usual fare.
As in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Haddon plunges into the heart and head of his characters. We felt the characters were very realistic, and the story an honest representation of family social dynamics. “Any of us might be George Hall or his wife, Jean, or his adult children, Katie and Jamie. We have felt what they feel, thought their thoughts, glimpsed their faces in our own bathroom mirrors.” Mark Haddon’s genius at understanding the strengths and frailties of human nature may be a result of driving a school bus and teaching In a school for autistic children early on in his career. Whatever the reason – he is great at exposing the triumphs and pitfalls of relationships that bind families together.
Unlike The Curious Incident… with the very endearing autistic15-year old Christopher, it was difficult to like the characters in this novel – George, a hypochondriac father emotionally detached from just about everyone and losing his mind, daughter Katie unsure of herself, Jean a mother bored with her marriage to George and having an extramarital affair with her husband’s associate David, Jamie not at all comfortable with his homosexuality, etc. – what a cast of pathetic players! This book made you want to laugh and/or cry.
November’s book: Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
Next meeting Wednesday, November 14 @ 7:30pm at:
Jan Kopf’s home
276 Atherton Ave.
Atherton, CA 94027
Phone: 650-327-5354 or Tahoe14605@aol.com
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