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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Matt Thorne of the Literary Review says this is Banks's most accomplished novel since The Crow Road and I must agree. Once again Banks transports his readers into the complex world of a sprawling Scottish family, and I loved it. A great tale, expertly told, with lots of dry humour to make the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Whilst perhaps not his best book, Iain Banks goes back to a trusted vein of families that have secrets and dyfunctionality (similar to the Business and Crow road). The backdrop to the main character's story of self-discovery is not that convincing, but if you have enjoyed his other books, it...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“kept me guessing
graham r wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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“& i thought MY family was weird....”
Lynsey M wrote this review Monday, August 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Banks is back on form with this one. Very similar in style and story 'type' to The Crow Road. Wealthy family with hidden secrets that the main character attempts to get to the bottom of. I personally didn't find the twist at the end a surprise, I'd seen it coming quite a long way before. That doesnt mean I didnt enjoy the journey getting there, quite the contrary. A great read full of Banks' usual meanderings and observations on society, family and life.”
Tim P wrote this review Sunday, June 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“An excellent book in the mold of THE CROW ROAD.”
Steven T wrote this review Sunday, May 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Whilst perhaps not his best book, Iain Banks goes back to a trusted vein of families that have secrets and dyfunctionality (similar to the Business and Crow road). The backdrop to the main character's story of self-discovery is not that convincing, but if you have enjoyed his other books, it will not be so much of a disappointment, as a slight nagging feeling that he could have done it better
Cullum A wrote this review Monday, April 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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“Another outstanding novel.”
booktoad wrote this review Wednesday, January 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love books that make you think. Alban, part of the family that created the world renouned game Empire!, has been off roaming the world for some time, trying to find himself and sort out his feelings for Sophie his cousin. When Fielding invites him to come back for the big family meeting about selling Empire!, Alban decides to see what is left of family feelings. Good book, very funny and subtle. Banks writes fantasy too, so I am going to look for more by him.”
Carol R wrote this review Tuesday, November 4 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Matt Thorne of the Literary Review says this is Banks's most accomplished novel since The Crow Road and I must agree. Once again Banks transports his readers into the complex world of a sprawling Scottish family, and I loved it. A great tale, expertly told, with lots of dry humour to make the bitter medicine (what is the point of everything? is there a point?) go down smoothly.”
mjacobs wrote this review Thursday, October 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting story about Alban McGill, who has recently stopped working for the family business and not doing much at all now. The business is his (dead) mother's family's business, who make popular board- and computer games.
JudithAnn wrote this review Sunday, September 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
He is tracked down by his cousin Fielding to help influence the other members of their family to vote against the take-over of the firm by an American company, at the General Meeting at their grandmother's Scottish estate, in a few month's time.
Most of the story deals with Alban and his love for another cousin, Sophie. The story jumps back and forward to the past and "now", which is sometimes hard to follow. It is strange that in a (very) few situations the perspective is not from Alban's point of view, but from someone else.
In all a good read.”
“Not bad. Definitely better than some of Banks' efforts, but not his best. The Crow Road still easily stands as his best novel. In this, he is trying to re-hash some of the thematic lines from The Crow Road (A man pines after a girl he won't end up with and has to be disabused of his longing for her; the return to a family) in what might even be guessed is a search for what made The Crow Road so good. It's a pity. Banks has achieved better than this in his novels before without trying to re-hash old themes. It's still worth a read, though.”
Nik U wrote this review Saturday, June 21 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
