A Spot of Bother
by Mark Haddon
Published by Vintage Contemporaries
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Reviewed by Anne-Gigi Chan
George Hall is sixty-one and has recently started his retirement project of building a studio in his backyard where he plans to devote his time to painting. Meanwhile, his wife of thirty-five years, Jean, started a couple of part-time jobs after being a homemaker for all those years. They both have something to occupy their time, their grown children appear to be settled in their own lives and all seems well. That is until George discovers a malignant lesion on his hip, which is something he is unprepared and unwilling to share with his family.
To make matters worse, Katie, their self-centered and stubborn daughter, announces out of nowhere that she is marrying Ray. Yes, he is a good boyfriend and has done a great job helping Katie raise her son from her previous marriage, but as far as George and Jean are concerned, he is just not husband material, at least not for their daughter.
As the drama around Katie’s wedding preparations unfolds, George becomes more and more obsessed with the lesion on his hip. This is a story of a mild-mannered and dignified man’s attempt to lose his mind and politely go insane without bothering those around him.
The talent of Mark Haddon as a storyteller shines through again with this wonderful, and sometimes bittersweet, tale of a family torn apart and coming back together in the midst turmoil. Just as he did in the bestseller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, he has created unforgettable characters: ordinary people being caught in awkward circumstances. At times, it was like watching a train wreck, but Haddon managed to make it hilarious at the same time.
Armchair Interviews says: If you are ready for some dry, British humor, A Spot of Bother is the book for you.
Author’s Web site: http://www.markhaddon.com