This is my third Jonathan Coe novel, and he's quickly moving up my list of favorite novelists. His books are just flat-out fun to read. They're well written with clean prose, interesting characters (though sometimes they end up being caricatures), and plot, plot, plot. He's quite good at spinning things off in many directions and tying them up neatly at the end.

The House of Sleep alternates its chapters; according to the author's note, the odd-numbered chapters are set mainly in 1983-1984 and the even-numbered ones in the last two weeks of June 1996. It's very easy to follow, and the slow reveal of the way the past affects current events keeps you totally engrossed in the story.

Coe can really be funny too. There's a bit near the end of the book where he shows just how important good copy-editing is that had me roaring with laughter.

I recommend Coe's books, and I'm looking forward to my next one. I have a reread of The Winshaw Legacy to do next and then I'm probably going to tackle The Closed Circle.