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Original Essays | December 12, 2009

Alexander McCall Smith: IMG The Courage of Others

0 comments By Alexander McCall Smith

I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War... Continue »
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The Crow Road

by Iain Banks

The Crow Road Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

From its bravura opening onwards, The Crow Road is justly regarded as an outstanding contemporary novel.

It was the day my grandmother exploded. I sat in the crematorium, listening to my Uncle Hamish quietly snoring in harmony to Bach's Mass in B Minor, and I reflected that it always seemed to be death that drew me back to Gallanach.

Prentice McHoan has returned to the bosom of his complex but enduring Scottish family. Full of questions about the McHoan past, present and future, he is also deeply preoccupied: mainly with death, sex, drink, God and illegal substances.

Review:

"Riveting...exhilarating...its pace, development, intensity and, above all, its hip and sexy humour never allow it to flag. With The Crow Road, Banks reinforces his credentials as one of the most able, energetic and stimulating writers we have in the UK." Time Out (UK)
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About the Author

Iain Banks came to widespread and controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, The Wasp Factory, in 1984. He has since gained enormous popular and critical acclaim for both his mainstream and his science fiction novels.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
mycrosquish, June 30, 2009 (view all comments by mycrosquish)
This is easily one of my favourite books. I loved Banks command of language, the unusual way that the mystery unfolds. This was the first of Banks' novels I read. I was been somewhat disappointed in the next of his I read - The Corporation in which I found his female lead character seriously unbelievable. This story, however, unfolds in this fun, creative way filled with interesting pieces from the lead character's past and wonderful development of the supporting cast. All in all a wonderful read.
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Michael Moy, May 12, 2009 (view all comments by Michael Moy)
If you like to be challenged as a reader this is the book for you. The writing is superb although perhaps a touch difficult to navigate for those of us on this side of the pond. The story unfolds mainly through extensive character studies and flashback. It all comes at you in glimpses and teases you to keep on reading. In this way it won't be for everyone, but if you stick with it for a few chapters the morsels become a meal.
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rodamu, November 28, 2008 (view all comments by rodamu)
A very difficult book to read with many characters involving many flashbacks. It may be difficult to care about the lead character enough to care what happens to him. I lost interest before reaching the end of the book.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780349103235
Author:
Banks, Iain
Publisher:
TIME WARNER BOOKS
Location:
N
Copyright:
1993
Edition Description:
NEW ED
Publication Date:
19930422
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Pages:
512
Dimensions:
197 x 127 in.
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