Friday Flashback: Rec. #27: A Spot of Bother

I decided to start doing Friday Flashbacks in case you missed some early posts the first time around. You're busy; I understand.

What: A Spot of Bother is Mark Haddon's follow-up novel to the hugely successful The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Haddon broadens his scope to examine the inner workings of an entire family. We meet:
George, who is having a very polite mental breakdown;
Jean, who is quite enjoying her affair, thank you;
Katie, who is getting remarried;
Ray, the fiance whom nobody likes;
and Jamie, who neglects to invite his boyfriend to the wedding.

The result is quietly and consistently hilarious.

Representative quote: "The secret of contentment, George felt, lay in ignoring many things completely."

Bonus representative quote: "How did Ray do it? One moment he was dominating a room the way a lorry would. Next minute he was down a hole and asking you for help. Why couldn't he suffer in a way they could all enjoy from a safe distance?"

You might not like it if: These people are quiet and British, and that annoys you.

How to get it: Pretty easy to find, and --- bonus! --- most editions have excellent cover art. Also, the French made a film (Une Petite Zone de Turbulences) based on the book, so you can give that a try.

[Originally posted 1/26/11.]