This was pretty much terrible. I don't care how well-regarded it is.

And no, it has nothing to do with unlikable characters or a depressing setting. I've read books with both before and immensely enjoyed them. It also had nothing to do with me having had expected something totally different. It has happened before and I never mind so long as the book I'm reading is good.

But this "story" was just... BORING! Supposedly, there is this mystery of missing and dead people but I didn't care in the slightest. One flashback was worse than the one before. It all peetered out in the end anyway.

The only thing this story had was lots of sex, alcoholism, other drugs, profanity and more than one character treating others like shit (though the MC definitely was the worst).

I don't actually know if the author's writing style is always like this and if the profanity was to make the dialogues sound "real" or if it was meant to gloss over terrible prose. In any case, I rolled my eyes at it. Don't get me wrong: I swear a lot! So I'm not stuck up and don't want profanity in books. But not in order to make up for bad writing or bad characters.

No redeeming quality whatsoever in this slog. The first sentence is indeed very memorable and funny, but it raised expectations the author simply couldn't meet.

Overall, this book was a huge disappointment. It failed to engage me from the start and continued to be a bore throughout. The excessive use of vulgarity and the lack of a compelling plot or interesting characters made it a real struggle to get through. I would not recommend this book to anyone, unless they have a very specific taste for this kind of writing.

This is an extremely interesting piece. It is very typical of Banks as he doesn't adhere to just one genre and is completely Scottish. I truly enjoyed it, although it did take some time to grow on me.

It is a combination of a family saga and a mystery, revolving around a missing relative. Usually, this aspect can either make or break a book, and I've noticed other reviewers commenting on it, which got me thinking. On the news, we see youths fleeing from the police,引发 police chases and sometimes resulting in loss of life. What causes such a reaction? It's definitely not the standard response. There is clearly a history of changing attitudes towards authority and there are definitely negative experiences. And yet, these people started out as average in their life stories. What we are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg. Banks, in his own unique way, starts us at the base of the iceberg and through the narrative, explains the horrible result that is the tip of the iceberg. Once I understood what he was doing, I really relished the process.

Lots of themes are covered here and covered very well: love, death, family relationships, and the development of youth into adulthood. I adored the humour - that dark Glaswegian humour - as well as the honesty between classes. I was surprised to see how much small town culture and interactions mirrored those of Australian rural life. Class might still exist, but it's not uncommon for families from different classes to mix and marry, as is depicted in The Crow Road. All the interactions between the families felt very natural to me.

The title is also of great significance and is the common thread that ties everything together. Banks tells you this, but not always in an obvious way. Banks is also having a bit of fun at modern culture - Four Funerals and a Wedding could be an alternate title.

Beautifully written but I waited 200 pages for any sort of a cohesive story to get going.

Alas, it didn't. So, I gave up.

The question lingers: was there a plot?

Perhaps I needed to read another hundred pages for it to start to form.

But, sorry, my life is too short.

I yearned for a story that would grip me from the start, a narrative that would unfold in a captivating manner.

However, after investing so much time and effort into those 200 pages, I found myself still waiting for that spark, that moment when everything would come together and make sense.

Maybe I'm just impatient, but in this fast-paced world, I don't have the luxury of spending countless hours on a book that fails to engage me.

I hope that future books I pick up will offer a more immediate and satisfying reading experience.

The book is truly hilarious. Prentice attempts to make out in the back seat of the old Lagonda that collapses. There are also the religions and the non-religions. Those sessions of booze and dope, and those endless drives to nowhere.

However, somewhere within the history of the Scottish family are Deaths that make Prentice wonder, just as we all do when Death strikes us sometimes hard and unexpectedly.

Thrown into the mix is a murder that leads to another one and then to a suicide.

I think I was deeply saddened by the reason for the murder in the first place. Betrayal by a spouse always shocks and saddens so very much.

Of course, murder is never an acceptable alternative, but one never knows what mind-numbing hurt and sadness can drive a person to do.

Yes, it is a beautiful book, and best of all, I was introduced to the wonderful Iain Banks. His writing style is engaging and captivating, making this book a truly enjoyable read. I look forward to exploring more of his works in the future.

This book has one of the best opening lines that I have ever read. It immediately grabs your attention and makes you eager to find out what will happen next.

However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found that it just didn't manage to entertain me. I started to fear that the author loves to hear the sound of his own voice, as the narrative seemed to meander and take forever to come together.

In fact, I didn't even realize that it was a mystery until I was three-fourths of the way through. By that time, I was already losing interest.

Another issue I had was that I couldn't keep the characters straight. They all seemed to blend together, possibly because they weren't fully fleshed out. I had a hard time remembering who was who and what their motives were.

To make matters worse, the use of racist terms in the book soured the reading experience for me. It was completely unnecessary and offensive.

Overall, I was very disappointed with this book. Despite the promising opening, it failed to deliver on all fronts.

The Crow Road truly struck a profound nostalgic chord within me.

The main narrator and protagonist, Prentice McHoan, who is approximately my age, vividly brings to life his youth during the 1980s and early 1990s. As he narrates his tale, he not only shares his personal experiences but also evokes the rich history, unique culture, and complex politics of those years.

Essentially a murder/mystery, The Crow Road offers a distinct take on crime fiction. It delves into the trials and tribulations of three generations of two related Scottish families living on the Western Coast of Scotland, providing a captivating snapshot of society from the 1940s to 1991. It explores popular issues such as religion, the first Gulf War, and the left wing and right wing debates within the families.

Published in 1992 and later adapted as a Television Drama in 1996, this is a remarkable novel. Iain Banks masterfully describes the generational differences, the era in which the book is set, the cultural norms, and the breathtaking beauty of the Western Coast of Scotland. Compared to his Culture series, this is a more mainstream and ambitious work. On the surface, it is almost an autobiographical portrayal of two related and close families, despite the underlying plot of family secrets and murder. I find it difficult to precisely categorize Banks' contemporary books into a specific genre. It is indeed a murder/mystery, but it is so much more. It is a truly good read that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Verdict:

A well-written, intricately composed tale of family, Scotland, and murder that unfortunately doesn't quite reach its full potential.

The Crow Road is my second encounter with Iain Banks. My first was The Wasp Factory, and I have to admit, it took me some time to recover from that intense experience. Horrible things occur (mostly to dogs) when Scottish authors and Gothic literature are combined. Shaken as I was, I had to recognize the excellence of The Wasp Factory as a work of literature. So, I approached The Crow Road with high hopes, expecting a similar level of quality but perhaps with a gentler tone. What can I say? I got what I expected, and it was kind of 'eh'. Maybe I should be careful what I wish for.

The blurb on the back of my book claims that 'Prentice McHoan has returned to the bosom of his complex but enduring Scottish family, full of questions about the McHoan past, present, and future.' I despise book blurbs, but I do feel sorry for the poor soul who had to come up with that. The Crow Road is a difficult book to summarize. Firstly, chronology means nothing in it. It may start with Prentice, but then it jumps to his dad as a kid, his aunt, his brother, or three years in the past. It gets complicated, and I recommend creating some sort of chart or family tree to keep track of the numerous characters and their relationships. Surprisingly, there are no actual acts of incest, even though people call themselves cousins. That's quite an achievement in a book about a family with so much... well, you know.

The story jumps around in time, and we learn about the childhoods and desires of all 57 people who are part of or connected to the McHoan family. Then, secrets start to emerge. Or rather, they just pop into view and sit there. There isn't much suspense. Prentice has a few shady hunches, and they're all correct. There's nothing to be done now. Tada! Let's go out for an Indian. Basically, you have a book about a family and a book about a murder, and they don't quite mesh well. Others may disagree, but for me, I didn't know how to approach The Crow Road. I didn't know what I was looking for or what I wanted from it, and the book didn't offer any guidance.

I can't help but compare it to The Wasp Factory. Both books are excellently written, but they have completely different feels. The Wasp Factory is short, tight, and intense, with an ending that packs a punch. The Crow Road, on the other hand, is complex and thoughtful. It's a book about people and family, but for some reason, a murder is thrown into the mix, which, in my opinion, throws the story off balance. Also, the ending, while exactly what I was expecting, wasn't what I wanted. I was hoping for a big reveal that would tie up all the loose ends of this far-reaching book, but no such luck. Things just sort of ended as they had been going.

Overall, my feeling towards this book is one of ambivalence. I enjoyed the read, I suppose. As I've said, Banks is an excellent writer, and even though not a lot of major events happened, there were enough little things going on to keep me turning the pages. There were some... erm... steamy bits to add a touch of sexiness (although that's something I can take or leave in a novel). I didn't really connect with the characters, though. Maybe that's my fault, or maybe it's because Prentice is a rather silly name. I'm not pointing fingers, just sharing my honest experience with The Crow Road. I found it to be a lively but ultimately pointless read. Initially, I was going to give it a 2, but I've since decided to bump it up to 3*. I'll continue to give Banks a try, though. Somewhere out there, he has the perfect book for me.

*The Crow Road received a ratings boost from an experience at work. I was working at the museum members' room, minding the door and reading The Crow Road when it was quiet. I've noticed that when I have a book with me, people love to talk to me about it. So, I wasn't surprised when a family walked in and the wife asked me how I was enjoying The Crow Road. I was (fortunately) complimentary, and she asked if I had seen the BBC mini-series. I was unaware of its existence and (unfortunately) said so. Well, it turns out I was talking to Valerie Edmond, who plays Ashley in the series. What a small world! That was a cool experience and earns The Crow Road an extra point.

**God bless, Mr Banks.

The best thing that has emerged from my decision to quit Facebook is undoubtedly the rekindling of my love for reading.

I'm not sure if I'm the only strange person who follows the snarky, funny, and poignant reviews of absolute strangers (who mostly have no idea I'm following their reviews) and then religiously hunt down their favorite books or be tempted to read a book they've reviewed - books that I'm certain I would never have even heard of in my own life if it weren't for Goodreads and the people I follow.

So for this passive recommendation, I have one person to thank. For introducing me to a narrative that was so charming, heartfelt, humorous, and intense in ways that you'd like to embrace at any mood or phase in life. I usually cringe at books labeled "intense" myself, but I know that this intensity comes from a gentle pressure while realizing that there's not much to life except all our ordinary realities of relationships, acknowledging that they still shape us and matter, for all their worth.

Reading has become a source of joy and discovery for me once again, and I'm grateful for the new perspectives and experiences it brings.

3.5 Stars.

I haven't read any of Banks' works except for The Wasp Factory, and that was a very long time ago. I found this particular book to be a very surprising read. For starters, I initially thought the book was set in Crow Road in Glasgow!

This is a coming-of-age story with a touch of mystery and a plethora of cultural references that really resonated with me. It is set in Argyll, which also struck a chord as it happens to be - ha! - my home. I believe it has been made into a TV series, and I can understand why. I would have loved to have seen it. In many ways, this is an idealistic book. The characters are not precisely stereotypes (intentionally so), but a number of them were more like walk-on 'types' rather than fully developed characters, if that makes sense. The twins, for example. It's also a class-ridden book, gently poking fun at Prentice and his gang, who are so quintessentially middle-class that it can sometimes be cringe-worthy. I wanted to read more about his grandmother, who has a rather explosive introduction at the beginning of the book (what a great opening line!). And I must admit, I could have done with a bit less of Kenneth and Rory. But on the other hand, where this book truly excels is in the complexity of the generational relationships and the sibling rivalry.

So, I really enjoyed this book. I think it would translate better to TV than as a book. And now, I'm going to seek out more of Iain Banks' works.

DNF, 1.5 stars.

Maybe one day I will return to this book, but it won't be anytime soon. I ceased reading because I realized that I was having such a hard time with it that I began to procrastinate. It's not necessarily a bad book; it's just not for me, at least not at this moment.

I came across this book from the series Good Omens and purchased a copy because the first line was truly interesting. Unfortunately, in my view, the first line is the most captivating line in the entire book (I stopped around the 50+% mark).

Literally nothing of significance occurred in this book.

Picture this: your good friend introduces you to someone who is supposed to be really cool. Your friend leaves the room, and this person starts to talk nonstop about their dull personal life that has nothing to do with you. You don't want to interrupt them because you're trying so hard to figure out what's good about them that your friend likes them so much. But the longer you listen, the less interesting you find it.

That's precisely how I felt while reading this book. I really couldn't care less about the characters and their lives. To be honest, I can't even recall all of their names; their personalities are just lacking.

Another aspect I didn't like was the switching between first and third-person narratives. My brain simply couldn't keep up each time. On top of that, one chapter is set in the present day, and the next one reverts to the past.

It would have been manageable if only one of them - either the narrative or the time - was constantly changing, but not both. It was just too chaotic, really.

But perhaps I simply had too high of an expectation.

The Crow Road by Iain Banks is a truly remarkable and dark tale that is more than worthy of every star you could bestow upon it.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of devouring several books by this talented author, most of which were recommended to me by my mother. However, this time around, it will be me who recommends this particular gem to her.

This book is a classic example of Banks' style, being dark and gritty. If you are already familiar with his work, you will instantly recognize the unique writing style that he employs. And for those who haven't yet delved into his books, it is definitely worth giving this one a try.

In a genre that often seems to be becoming dreary and repetitive, The Crow Road brings a fresh and exciting perspective. It injects new life into the dark, gritty, and sometimes depressing world of literature.

The story flows smoothly, although it can get a little confusing at times. But if you pay close attention, you will be able to keep up and fully enjoy the captivating narrative.

Wow. This book begins as a brilliantly humorous Starter For Ten-esque Scottish work filled with banter. It then expertly evolves into a complex web of crime, mystery, and family dramas.

It was truly thrilling, simultaneously strange, and very Caledonian. I was completely engrossed, like a firm, dry handshake.

I want to take this moment to give a shoutout to my amazing mother who, with her Scottishness, helped me understand the lingo at many points. Lol! But don't worry, this book is very accessible for non-Scottish speakers. A simple Google search will do the trick.

The narrative jumps around among the strange and seemingly cursed members of the McHoan, Urvill, and Watt families. It delves deep into the nitty-gritty of complex family life.

The setting is also stunning, great for a serious mystery. We should have predicted the Agatha Christie vibes just from the eerie Scottish setting.

We experience the hilarious adolescent experiences of sibling rivalry, university life, and flatmate dilemmas. The main concern is when Prentice has a relationship with his half-aunt, after having been with her daughter years ago, and then passes the aunt on to his stocky and cuboid flatmate, Gav. Then Banks takes us to the thrilling adult life, filled with fishing, adultery, and bothies full of rats and secrets, only to return to scenes of a rowdy group of young people (whom we just saw as teenagers and university students) being told fantastical stories like 'the earth was made by moonsters' by one of the equally bumbling adults.

Since so many people go down the crow road, I don't think I'll be visiting Argyll anytime soon.