A Spot of Bother
British author Mark Haddon's second adult novel is darkly comedic.
The story of a dignified old man who is quietly losing his mind and his very special family is a pleasure to read: it is hilarious, inspiring and entirely human.
What could possibly follow up the first best-selling novel of Canadian author Mark Haddon "Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time"? After entering the mind of a teenager with the Asperger syndrome, the author proposes a journey in the world of a dignified man going insane.
A Spot of Bother
George Hall, a recent retiree, is the main character of British author Mark Haddon's second adult-novel. The unobtrusive man enjoys long afternoon sunshine while gardening, which he finds a relaxing and rewarding hobby. One day he observes a lesion on his hip and immediately concludes that he has skin cancer. George starts losing his mind -- convinced that nothing can be done for him. The old man's family is also falling apart. His wife, Jean, is cheating on him with one of his former colleagues. Their daughter, Katie, can't make up her mind on whether she is in love with her fiancé who she is supposed to marry in less than a month. Both George and Jean disapprove of Katie's future husband who they find inappropriate for their daughter. Their homosexual son, Jamie, has just been dumped by his boyfriend, after he failed to invite him to Katie's wedding. As Katie thinks of canceling her nuptials, George quietly begins to lose his mind.
Readers looking for the follow-up of "Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time" will be disappointed. Haddon's second adult-novel is very different from the previous novel. Haddon's latest novel is the portrait of a dysfunctional Canadian family. The story is written at a third-person viewpoint, moving between the perspectives of all members of the Hall family. It is darker, as the story explores the themes of relationships and family problems.
Through the 368 page-turner novel, Haddon describes the ups and downs of the life of these four people and how they will come together as a family to support the patriarch in his struggles. It is not too heavy because it is written with humour and absurdity. Those who appreciate Haddon's tone will laugh a lot. Haddon's second novel is a pleasure to read: hilarious, inspiring and entirely human.
***
A Spot of Bother
On this website, you'll find an interactive game that allows readers to read a randomly paragraphs or two.
Take the 'Mark Haddon virtual tour' on the United Kingdom official website for a Spot of Bother.
The author's official website presents Haddon's art and life.
***
Mark Haddon's first novel, 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' was a huge success. The book is sold in no less than 15 countries. The author won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize Overall Best First Book.
Haddon published his first book of poetry, "The Talking Horse and the Sad Girl and the Village Under the Sea", in 2005.
Related Article: The Dog in the Night-Time -Bestseller
