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A Spot of Bother | 
 enlarge | Author: Mark Haddon
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £7.98 (100%)
New (33) Used (174) from £0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  134 reviews
Sales Rank: 747
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.3
ISBN: 0099506920
EAN: 9780099506928
ASIN: 0099506920
Publication Date: June 7, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 129 more reviews...
 Laugh out loud book... loved it... December 5, 2008
This is the second time I have read this book and I loved it just as much as the first time I read it! This book has some real `laugh out loud' bits which made me think that this should really be made into a TV series or film.
The book is centred around George who is slowly losing his mind! What I enjoyed about the book was that you feel as though you actually got to know (and love) the characters. Haddon is very good at drawing out his characters, giving them all strong personalities, each character has their own strengths, weaknesses, and insecurities, as well as George there is his wife, Jean, and their two children; Katie and Jamie and their respective partners.
George thinks he has cancer which leads to depression, panic attacks, paranoia and possibly even a nervous breakdown. For me, some of the funniest moments were when George was dealing with his inner turmoil and had some rather strange moments. I loved the bit where he tried to run away on Katie's wedding morning and ended up in the ditch, even though you are laughing you do feel empathy for him and feel almost guilty for laughing.
The style of the book is very easy to read with some very short one page chapters which cleverly keep you reading right to the end when you just don't want it to finish....
 OK but not exactly brilliant November 25, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is alright to read if you are bored lying in bed with a cold and want a light and easy book. Some of the writing is quite good to an extent in terms of humour. On the other hand, I did not warm myself to the characters at all. For most of the novel they actually seemed quite unfriendly. This may be biased but I got the feeling that if they were real and I spoke to them, insults would be spewing from every nerve connection in their brains and they would give me that long, hard, cold 'are you a cretin or something' stare. The character of George I felt slightly sorry for; no wonder he is cutting himself with scissors considering the kind of family he has, even if he is a hypochondriac. Jean is the kind of woman you feel like telling to grow up and actually try talking to her husband about what is wrong with him from the very beginning instead of worrying over whether she will get time to sleep with her lover. Katie acts like a stroppy teenager for most of the story. I particularly didn't like Jamie as he comes across as self-absorbed and conceited and got the impression he looks down on his family (except for Katie perhaps). In my opinion, Ray seemed to be the only character who is genuinely kind because he means it. I would say Katie's family are too snobby for him. Not to mention too wrapped up in their own lives to care for anyone else.
On the whole, dislike the characters (although I will say towards the end they became a bit more likeable- I do understand that not everyone in the world is nicey nicey but the Haddon's depiction was a tad pessimistic). Writing is not too bad -quite funny in most parts, but is nowhere near as insightful and intelligent as the Curious Incident. As I said before, only read it if you have no other book by the bedside table.
 A spot is bothering them... November 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The painful anatomy of a family, with a funny side to it. And for those who, like me, have already read and appreciated `The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time', this is a very different book by the same author.
George, the father, has retired and seems content with his pressure-free life. His wife Jean is mightily distracted by some private matters and the organization of the wedding reception for their daughter Katie, who is getting married for the second time. Her parents disapprove of Ray, the future son-in-law and Katie herself is starting to have doubts. Does she want to marry Ray because she loves him or because he seems to be a very good and reliable provider for herself and her son Jacob? Meanwhile Jamie, Katie's brother, is having problems with his boyfriend Tony. His parents are aware of the relationship but an invitation to the wedding seems inappropriate given the fact that none of the other relatives/friends know about Jamie's homosexuality. Jamie himself is not sure whether he wants Tony to come to the wedding or not.
The buzz & fuzz of the wedding preparation go almost unnoticed by George, however, as he discovers a problem on his body. Almost simultaneously and by pure coincidence, an entirely different matter, of a different nature but very disturbing indeed, comes to light. Unbeknownst to all, he starts to slowly disintegrate psychologically.
Among the tragicity of some of the episodes, the author was able to combine the intricacies of the mind and soul of the Hall family, with an easy and accessible narrative. Many hilarious and funny moments dot this novel without lessening the emotional impact. Very well done.
Funny, real, preposterous. October 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a superb novel about a group of characters that might just be real but clearly are not. Haddon is able to write to produce a whole gamut of reactions, from amusement to stomach-churning. His characters fill a whole host of societal boxes: mentally ill, homosexual, single mother, adulteress. They are at the same time completely real and completely preposterous.
Don't approach this as a social commentary, nor as representing reality. Relax and be let yourself be taken along with their journey, through the many short chapters (encouraging you to read just one more, just another, until before you know it you're through). Forget also what else Haddon has written - this is not supposed to be set against his previous works, and comparison of such different works is unfair.
Clearly, judging by some reviews here, this book isn't for everybody; but I would have been happy if it had continued for a further 144 chapters.
Captivating.
 POOR September 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm sorry to say I couldn't get into this book. The writing is poor, the characters are forgetable and it all drags on...until I finally gave up reading it halfway through.
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