Reviews
"Surprising and deeply moving....the set-up ensures that there will be revelations, twists and shifts in the family dynamic....sustaining suspense....while enriching the developing relationships among people....organic rather than contrived, the characters convincing throughout, the tone compassionate and the writing wise. A novel to savor." --Kirkus, starred review "[Haddon is] a master craftsman" -- The Independent "With writing as elegant and truthful as this, readers will wish to keep their copies close at hand to savour again." -- The Daily Mail "[Haddon] writes like a dream. Never showy, but often lyrically descriptive, he takes the reader with him to the core of this crazy family. Secondly, he has a true understanding of the human heart." --Spectator "It's every bit as charmingly idiosyncratic as his brilliant The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." -- The Daily Mirror Praise for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time "A triumph of empathy." - The New Yorker "Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." - The Boston Globe "Moving . . . wonderfully vivid . . . Mr. Haddon writes with such sympathy, such understanding." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Haddon's book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different 'mystery': the thoughts and feelings we share even with those very different from us." - Entertainment Weekly "Funny, sad and totally convincing." - Time Praise for A Spot of Bother "So astute, so gently funny, so touching, that you get caught up in the fate of the well-meaning, if slightly imprudent, Hall family." - USA Today "Snaps, crackles and pops with humor and pathos as Haddon depicts family members driving one another crazy . . . sparklingly written with short, punchy chapters . . . Haddon deftly pulls this off with what we can now hail as his trademark tenderness." - Los Angeles Times "A nonstop pleasure." - People "Superbly entertaining . . . Haddon's particular genius, however, lies in the unobtrusive way he makes us identify with his characters . . . fine craftsmanship." - The Washington Post Book World "Totally brilliant . . . [Haddon is]so wondrously articulate, so rigorous in thinking through his characters' mind-sets, that A Spot of Bother serves as a fine example of why novels exit." - The New York Times Book Review, "Surprising and deeply moving....the set-up ensures that there will be revelations, twists and shifts in the family dynamic....sustaining suspense....while enriching the developing relationships among people....organic rather than contrived, the characters convincing throughout, the tone compassionate and the writing wise. A novel to savor." --Kirkus Praise for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time "A triumph of empathy." - The New Yorker "Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." - The Boston Globe "Moving . . . wonderfully vivid . . . Mr. Haddon writes with such sympathy, such understanding." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Haddon's book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different 'mystery': the thoughts and feelings we share even with those very different from us." - Entertainment Weekly "Funny, sad and totally convincing." - Time Praise for A Spot of Bother "So astute, so gently funny, so touching, that you get caught up in the fate of the well-meaning, if slightly imprudent, Hall family." - USA Today "Snaps, crackles and pops with humor and pathos as Haddon depicts family members driving one another crazy . . . sparklingly written with short, punchy chapters . . . Haddon deftly pulls this off with what we can now hail as his trademark tenderness." - Los Angeles Times "A nonstop pleasure." - People "Superbly entertaining . . . Haddon's particular genius, however, lies in the unobtrusive way he makes us identify with his characters . . . fine craftsmanship." - The Washington Post Book World "Totally brilliant . . . [Haddon is]so wondrously articulate, so rigorous in thinking through his characters' mind-sets, that A Spot of Bother serves as a fine example of why novels exit." - The New York Times Book Review, ""The story unfolds from all eight characters' points of view, a tricky strategy that pays off, letting Haddon dig convincingly into all of the failures, worries and weaknesses that they can't leave behind" --Entertainment Weekly "Particularly fresh and true" --O Magazine "A beautiful and authentic portrait of a blended family and the secrets, grudges and desires that keep its members apart" --Real Simple "Amusing and poignant as it explores a family's fumbling attempts at connection" --Whole Living "Surprising and deeply moving....the set-up ensures that there will be revelations, twists and shifts in the family dynamic....sustaining suspense....while enriching the developing relationships among people....organic rather than contrived, the characters convincing throughout, the tone compassionate and the writing wise. A novel to savor." --Kirkus, starred review "[Haddon] is almost unrivalled at the notoriously tricky task of giving an authentic voice to children, and his ability to pinpoint the comic aspects of the everyday scenarios." --Sunday Times "A masterly evocation of two dysfunctional, yet outwardly respectable families." --Sunday Express "Mark Haddon is terrifyingly talented." --Times (UK) "A serious, lyrical, complex novel....beautiful" --The Herald "Hugely enjoyable, sympathetic novel would make perfect reading for those setting out on holiday" --The Observer "[Haddon is] a master craftsman" -- The Independent "With writing as elegant and truthful as this, readers will wish to keep their copies close at hand to savour again." -- The Daily Mail "[Haddon] writes like a dream. Never showy, but often lyrically descriptive, he takes the reader with him to the core of this crazy family. Secondly, he has a true understanding of the human heart." --Spectator "It's every bit as charmingly idiosyncratic as his brilliant The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." -- The Daily Mirror "Engaging....From the first page in which the train carrying Dominic and Angela''s family "unzips the fields", there is a vigor to Haddon''s prose which carries you along. I read it twice, both times with enjoyment." --The Independent Praise for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time "A triumph of empathy." - The New Yorker "Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." - The Boston Globe "Moving . . . wonderfully vivid . . . Mr. Haddon writes with such sympathy, such understanding." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Haddon's book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different 'mystery': the thoughts and feelings we share even with those very different from us." - Entertainment Weekly "Funny, sad and totally convincing." - Time Praise for A Spot of Bother "So astute, so gently funny, so touching, that you get caught up in the fate of the well-meaning, if slightly imprudent, Hall family." - USA Today "Snaps, crackles and pops with humor and pathos as Haddon depicts family members driving one another crazy . . . sparklingly written with short, punchy chapters . . . Haddon deftly pulls this off with what we can now hail as his trademark tenderness." - Los Angeles Times "A nonstop pleasure." - People "Superbly entertaining . . . Haddon's particular genius, however, lies in the unobtrusive way he makes us identify with his characters . . . fine craftsmanship." - The Washington Post Book World "Totally brilliant . . . [Haddon is]so wondrously articulate, so rigorous in thinking through his characters' mind-sets, that A Spot of Bother serves as a fine example of why novels exit." - The New York Times Book Review, Praise for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time "A triumph of empathy." - The New Yorker "Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." - The Boston Globe "Moving . . . wonderfully vivid . . . Mr. Haddon writes with such sympathy, such understanding." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Haddon's book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different 'mystery': the thoughts and feelings we share even with those very different from us." - Entertainment Weekly "Funny, sad and totally convincing." - Time Praise for A Spot of Bother "So astute, so gently funny, so touching, that you get caught up in the fate of the well-meaning, if slightly imprudent, Hall family." - USA Today "Snaps, crackles and pops with humor and pathos as Haddon depicts family members driving one another crazy . . . sparklingly written with short, punchy chapters . . . Haddon deftly pulls this off with what we can now hail as his trademark tenderness." - Los Angeles Times "A nonstop pleasure." - People "Superbly entertaining . . . Haddon's particular genius, however, lies in the unobtrusive way he makes us identify with his characters . . . fine craftsmanship." - The Washington Post Book World "Totally brilliant . . . [Haddon is]so wondrously articulate, so rigorous in thinking through his characters' mind-sets, that A Spot of Bother serves as a fine example of why novels exit." - The New York Times Book Review, "In this absorbing, Virginia Woolf-esque novel by the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time , an extended family gathers for a week in the English countryside. Perfect (or not) for that holiday with the in-laws." --People ""The story unfolds from all eight characters' points of view, a tricky strategy that pays off, letting Haddon dig convincingly into all of the failures, worries and weaknesses that they can't leave behind" --Entertainment Weekly "Particularly fresh and true" --O Magazine "A beautiful and authentic portrait of a blended family and the secrets, grudges and desires that keep its members apart" --Real Simple "Amusing and poignant as it explores a family's fumbling attempts at connection" --Whole Living "Surprising and deeply moving....the set-up ensures that there will be revelations, twists and shifts in the family dynamic....sustaining suspense....while enriching the developing relationships among people....organic rather than contrived, the characters convincing throughout, the tone compassionate and the writing wise. A novel to savor." --Kirkus, starred review "[Haddon] is almost unrivalled at the notoriously tricky task of giving an authentic voice to children, and his ability to pinpoint the comic aspects of the everyday scenarios." --Sunday Times "A masterly evocation of two dysfunctional, yet outwardly respectable families." --Sunday Express "Mark Haddon is terrifyingly talented." --Times (UK) "A serious, lyrical, complex novel....beautiful" --The Herald "Hugely enjoyable, sympathetic novel would make perfect reading for those setting out on holiday" --The Observer "[Haddon is] a master craftsman" -- The Independent "With writing as elegant and truthful as this, readers will wish to keep their copies close at hand to savour again." -- The Daily Mail "[Haddon] writes like a dream. Never showy, but often lyrically descriptive, he takes the reader with him to the core of this crazy family. Secondly, he has a true understanding of the human heart." --Spectator "It's every bit as charmingly idiosyncratic as his brilliant The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." -- The Daily Mirror "Engaging....From the first page in which the train carrying Dominic and Angela''s family "unzips the fields", there is a vigor to Haddon''s prose which carries you along. I read it twice, both times with enjoyment." --The Independent Praise for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time "A triumph of empathy." - The New Yorker "Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." - The Boston Globe "Moving . . . wonderfully vivid . . . Mr. Haddon writes with such sympathy, such understanding." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Haddon's book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different 'mystery': the thoughts and feelings we share even with those very different from us." - Entertainment Weekly "Funny, sad and totally convincing." - Time Praise for A Spot of Bother "So astute, so gently funny, so touching, that you get caught up in the fate of the well-meaning, if slightly imprudent, Hall family." - USA Today "Snaps, crackles and pops with humor and pathos as Haddon depicts family members driving one another crazy . . . sparklingly written with short, punchy chapters . . . Haddon deftly pulls this off with what we can now hail as his trademark tenderness." - Los Angeles Times "A nonstop pleasure." - People "Superbly entertaining . . . Haddon's particular genius, however, lies in the unobtrusive way he makes us identify with his characters . . . fine craftsmanship." - The Washington Post Book World "Totally brilliant . . . [Haddon is]so wondrously articulate, so rigorous in thinking through his characters' mind-sets, that A Spot of Bother serves as a fine example of why novels exit." - The New York Times Book Review, "A beautiful and authentic portrait of a blended family and the secrets, grudges and desires that keep its members apart" --Real Simple "Amusing and poignant as it explores a family's fumbling attempts at connection" --Whole Living "Surprising and deeply moving....the set-up ensures that there will be revelations, twists and shifts in the family dynamic....sustaining suspense....while enriching the developing relationships among people....organic rather than contrived, the characters convincing throughout, the tone compassionate and the writing wise. A novel to savor." --Kirkus, starred review "[Haddon] is almost unrivalled at the notoriously tricky task of giving an authentic voice to children, and his ability to pinpoint the comic aspects of the everyday scenarios." --Sunday Times "A masterly evocation of two dysfunctional, yet outwardly respectable families." --Sunday Express "Mark Haddon is terrifyingly talented." --Times (UK) "A serious, lyrical, complex novel....beautiful" --The Herald "Hugely enjoyable, sympathetic novel would make perfect reading for those setting out on holiday" --The Observer "[Haddon is] a master craftsman" -- The Independent "With writing as elegant and truthful as this, readers will wish to keep their copies close at hand to savour again." -- The Daily Mail "[Haddon] writes like a dream. Never showy, but often lyrically descriptive, he takes the reader with him to the core of this crazy family. Secondly, he has a true understanding of the human heart." --Spectator "It's every bit as charmingly idiosyncratic as his brilliant The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." -- The Daily Mirror "Engaging....From the first page in which the train carrying Dominic and Angela''s family "unzips the fields", there is a vigor to Haddon''s prose which carries you along. I read it twice, both times with enjoyment." --The Independent Praise for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time "A triumph of empathy." - The New Yorker "Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." - The Boston Globe "Moving . . . wonderfully vivid . . . Mr. Haddon writes with such sympathy, such understanding." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Haddon's book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different 'mystery': the thoughts and feelings we share even with those very different from us." - Entertainment Weekly "Funny, sad and totally convincing." - Time Praise for A Spot of Bother "So astute, so gently funny, so touching, that you get caught up in the fate of the well-meaning, if slightly imprudent, Hall family." - USA Today "Snaps, crackles and pops with humor and pathos as Haddon depicts family members driving one another crazy . . . sparklingly written with short, punchy chapters . . . Haddon deftly pulls this off with what we can now hail as his trademark tenderness." - Los Angeles Times "A nonstop pleasure." - People "Superbly entertaining . . . Haddon's particular genius, however, lies in the unobtrusive way he makes us identify with his characters . . . fine craftsmanship." - The Washington Post Book World "Totally brilliant . . . [Haddon is]so wondrously articulate, so rigorous in thinking through his characters' mind-sets, that A Spot of Bother serves as a fine example of why novels exit." - The New York Times Book Review, "Surprising and deeply moving....the set-up ensures that there will be revelations, twists and shifts in the family dynamic....sustaining suspense....while enriching the developing relationships among people....organic rather than contrived, the characters convincing throughout, the tone compassionate and the writing wise. A novel to savor." --Kirkus, starred review Praise for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time "A triumph of empathy." - The New Yorker "Gloriously eccentric and wonderfully intelligent." - The Boston Globe "Moving . . . wonderfully vivid . . . Mr. Haddon writes with such sympathy, such understanding." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Haddon's book illuminates the way one mind works so precisely, so humanely, that it reads like both an acutely observed case study and an artful exploration of a different 'mystery': the thoughts and feelings we share even with those very different from us." - Entertainment Weekly "Funny, sad and totally convincing." - Time Praise for A Spot of Bother "So astute, so gently funny, so touching, that you get caught up in the fate of the well-meaning, if slightly imprudent, Hall family." - USA Today "Snaps, crackles and pops with humor and pathos as Haddon depicts family members driving one another crazy . . . sparklingly written with short, punchy chapters . . . Haddon deftly pulls this off with what we can now hail as his trademark tenderness." - Los Angeles Times "A nonstop pleasure." - People "Superbly entertaining . . . Haddon's particular genius, however, lies in the unobtrusive way he makes us identify with his characters . . . fine craftsmanship." - The Washington Post Book World "Totally brilliant . . . [Haddon is]so wondrously articulate, so rigorous in thinking through his characters' mind-sets, that A Spot of Bother serves as a fine example of why novels exit." - The New York Times Book Review
