I've just recently re-read this and I'd forgotten how creepy Mark is in it. It's a book full of very interesting relationships, and I felt a bit like an anthropologist reading it as the lives described are so different to mine. It's on a few wishlists, so should be sending it travelling soon.

Set free at the Old Gang meet up. Happy reading!

Picked up at old gang meet up. Thanks Bookfrogster!

I enjoyed this book but found one of the plot lines annoyingly far fetched. A shame because it is such a powerful realist novel otherwise and I really felt for the characters (except for super creepy Mark, every parent's nightmare, and the subject of the offending far fetched plot line). I got the feeling, reading this, that I wasn't quite clever enough to totally get the authors message/intention, however, I still got a lot out of it.

Released at Old Gang meet up.