A Bit of Bother (A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon)

Member Name: blackviolets

Product:	A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon
Date:	17/05/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: interesting read

Disadvantages: maybe just a one off read

A Spot of Bother is the second novel by Mark Haddon, best known for the success of his first adult novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime. That book also featured aspects of somebody with mental health issues.

In this story we read about a man, George Hall, of 61 years who has retired recently from his job making playground equipment. After noticing a skin lesion on his hip he mistakes it for cancer and so begins his downward spiral into a mental state of hypochondria.

Whilst this is happening nobody else seems to notice, but then there is a wedding being planned. Katie, George and Jeans daughter, is set on marrying Ray. Who unfortunetly for him, is a bit too working class for her parents liking. Despite him being caring and loving towards both their daughter and their grandchild Jacob, they can't help but disapprove.

Alongside is Jamie, who George is still trying to come to terms with the fact that he is gay. Making it come across that he now as nothing what so ever in common with his only son. And then there's the fact that he saw his wife in bed with his supposed friend David Symmonds.

So all in all, there is a lot to contend with. The stress of everyday life gets all too much for him and so disbelieving the fact that his doctor has told him the 'cancer' is in fact eczema, he arms himself with a pair of scissors and a road of blood and hysteria from all people involved occurs.

The book in general is quite detailed. Some of the chapters are quite short and you get to see the insight for how each character is coping and dealing with things with the run up to the wedding. The way it comes about with Katie realising that she does actually love Ray afterall. Simultaneously with Jamies' situation with his current boyfriend Tony, who left when Jamie was clearly none too enthusiastic about him going to the wedding.

I picked up this book in the first place because I did really enjoy The Curious Incident... very much. That's not to say this was disappointing, it just didn't hit the mark for me. The characters, although likeable enough, are not overly interesting to read about. Although the relationship between Katie and Jamie as brother and sister, I quite liked.

You can sympathise with Georges scenario howver, in the way he deals with everything going on and in some cases how he does actually ask for help. Although doing it in a roundabout kind of way.

It was a good read but overall I think this more of a one off book for me. Meaning that I doubt I'll be reading it again, for a while at least. You can get this for just over £5 on Amazon and a lot of shops still have it in stock at the moment as well.

Summary: .