George Hall doesn't understand the modern obsession with talking about everything. 'The secret of contentment, George felt, lay in ignoring many things completely.' Some things in life, however, cannot be ignored. At fifty-seven, George is settling down to a comfortable retirement, building a shed in his garden, reading historical novels, listening to a bit of light jazz. Then Katie, his tempestuous daughter, announces that she is getting remarried, to Ray. Her family is not pleased - as her brother Jamie observes, Ray has 'strangler's hands'. Katie can't decide if she loves Ray, or loves the wonderful way he has with her son Jacob, and her mother Jean is a bit put out by all the planning and arguing the wedding has occasioned, which get in the way of her quite fulfilling late-life affair with one of her husband's former colleagues. And the tidy and pleasant life Jamie has created crumbles when he fails to invite his lover, Tony, to the dreaded nuptials. Unnoticed in the uproar, George discovers a sinister lesion on his hip, and quietly begins to lose his mind. The way these damaged people fall apart - and come together - as a family is the true subject of Mark Haddon's disturbing yet very funny portrait of a dignified man trying to go insane politely.

received a while ago and half way done. more on it when done.

thank you for including me. I very much enjoyed the book. Let's see, what do I think... I liked it. A lot. I wanted to shake George a few times. I'm glad he got through. I had my doubts at times. What bothered me was the reaction on the meds and alcohol. I really do not think that it's a common reaction. But at least he was very polite throughout the ordeal.

I also wanted to shake Jamie. But it was entirely expected that he reacted the way he did. Oh and I don't quite get what the fuss was about Ray... why the fam disliked him so much. I mean, I understand *why* but it's not something I sympathize very easily. He so had to prove his worth and ended up being aboslutely essential to the sanity of the family...

anyway, it's off to the next person.

it's going to Sweden for a quick read-through. Bon Voyage. :)

will send this book off for the "favorite book ring." the original book I sent is in the ring twice. bummer. But this on I love as well. so off it goes. :)

Thank you for sending the book, looking forward to get into it.

Das Buch geht leider ungelesen weiter, da ich sich noch andere Bücher bei mir stapeln und ich den Ring fließen lassen will.

The Book just arrived today.

I feel so bad, that I held the bokk such a long time. Now, it took me a week to get through this 500 pages full of humour and a family which is really an example for every family I know.
The style of writing of Mark Haddon is really enjoyable. The reader has the change to get to know every member of the family. And I really liekd the event of the wedding as a climax of the whole story.

The journey continues and I will send the book to Kanny74.

Received the book today as part of the Favourite Book ring. I'm looking forward to read it. "Very funny" sounds promising... ;)

At first, I had to force my way through it, but it got better at the second half. Then it developed to a kind of screwball-comedy. All in all it had its funny moments, but was too realistic for my reading-taste.

The book will continue its journey in the next days to urfin.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to urfin

Oh, another favourite book from the roundabout! :o)
Haven't had one here for a while...
I've read "The curios incident" some years ago, which was inventive, I thought, but also annoyed me at times. So, let's see, how this one does.

Started to read yesterday.
It was on my Mt. TBR for quite some time now. Also, I guess, there are still people behind me in the favourite-book-carroussel?

15.12. During the weekend I usually don't manage to read much anyway, and because this book is not so small, I took another one on my commute today. I'll continue with this one at the end of the week...

January 2010 I have decided to not finish it. Sorry.
I have read a book by this author, that must suffice for now. There are quite a few books waiting here to be read, one is another roundabout book.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending on, together with this one.

just received today - thanks!

just received today - thanks!

an amzon-customer sharing my view:
This book is funny and entertaining. But what more? Different than "The curious incident" it does not uncover deep thoughts or much reflected destinies. While heading towards the end of the story I found the author more hunting the punchline than intensifying the contemplation of his characters, let alone the little surprising end. I am disappointed, having been fascinated by Mark Haddon's first novel.

The book has continued travelling to trinibell today.

Oh, another favourite book, i presume.
;-)

Nachdem das Buch nun schon gut 2 Monate hier und sich auf meinem Mt. TBR einfach nicht nach oben arbeiten konnte (andere haben sich wieder und wieder vorgedrängelt ;-), wird es Zeit für die Weiterreise.
Die nächste Etappe führt direkt zu kik66, da inkling1 mitten in Umzugsvorbereitungen steckt und übersprungen werden möchte.

Well, this is fun - I have had this book some months ago - a friend
gave it to me since I liked 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' so much..

I started to read it but gave up after a while.. now I have it again so this book probably
wants me to read it :-))
Anyway - I'll give it a second chance!

I gave it a try (since I loved the "Curious Incident...").. but it was the same..

I just can't get into this book and I am not even smiling.. it is just annoying..
Sorry...

I pass it on to qantaqa at the meet-up tonight...

Another favourite book! I've already read this one and as far as I remember, I quite enjoyed it - though not as much as "The curious incident...".
So I guess the book can continue its journey right away.