I read it a very long time ago, but I remember the first sentence of this book and the general charm.

Perhaps it's time to find this book and verify those 5 stars.

I have a vivid memory of that initial encounter with the book. The first sentence seemed to draw me in like a magnet, setting the stage for what was to come.

The overall charm of the story was captivating, leaving a lasting impression on me.

Now, after all these years, I feel a strong urge to locate that book once again.

I'm curious to see if it still holds the same allure and if it truly deserves those 5 stars that I might have awarded it back then.

It could be a wonderful journey of rediscovery, reliving the emotions and experiences that the book once evoked in me.

So, I'm determined to embark on this search and see where it leads.

Who knows what new insights and pleasures I might uncover along the way?

My sincere thanks go out to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this free e-book of the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Crow Road.

Prior to this, I had only read one book by Iain Banks, which was Raw Spirit, In Search of the Perfect Dram. However, The Crow Road has been a revelation. First published in 1992, it is contemporaneous with that time. It is a great panoply of a story, a lengthy and engaging tale that unfolds on a huge canvas, covering the trials and tribulations of the McHoan family. For the most part, it is narrated by Prentice McHoan, who has returned to the bosom of his Scottish family in Gallanach.

The opening line, “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…” is truly a riveting start to the story.

The Crow Road is warm, funny, enchanting, and poignant. Its scope is complex, as it tells the tale of the McHoan family – past, present, and future. It is a tale of unrequited love, a man preoccupied with death, sex, drink, God, and illegal substances. There are passages that had me shaking with laughter and stuck in my mind, making me laugh out loud hours after reading them. Yes, it’s that good! It also has a satisfying mystery that Prentice is determined to solve, with unexpected consequences.

Bearing in mind that The Crow Road was published twenty-five years ago, it still reads as a contemporary tale, despite the fact that any background events take place in the 80s and 90s.

The Crow Road is considered by many to be Banks’ finest novel, and I wholeheartedly agree. I loved it.

2006 Review: In the Noughties, there was a particular book that seemed to be on everyone's lips - either they were reading it or telling others to read it. When I look back at my reading during that decade, I wonder if this is the reason why I ended up reading so many books that I didn't rate highly. Maybe I was just following the latest trend, especially when it came to literary works recommended by certain types of people.

This particular book was supposed to be a darkly witty Scottish coming-of-age novel set in the early '90s. However, it just didn't manage to capture my attention. In fact, looking back, I'm not even sure if I read it properly. I remember classing it as a thriller back in 2005, which makes me question my own perception of the book.

It's possible that I was influenced by the hype surrounding the book and didn't give it a fair chance. Or maybe my expectations were too high. Either way, it's a book that I'm not particularly eager to re-read in the future. I gave it a score of 6 out of 12, which shows that it was an average read for me at best.

Family saga is a genre that often delves into profound themes such as grief, coming of age, religion, and the hidden secrets that families keep.

I first read this particular family saga many years ago and at that time, I thought it was an outstanding book. However, as I have grown older, my perception of it has changed. It's interesting to note that this book seems to be very much a product of its time. While people today will undoubtedly understand the historical context of the Berlin Wall and the Gulf War that serve as the backdrop, they may not fully appreciate references like those to Twin Peaks.

This book can be divided into two distinct halves. The first half is told from the perspectives of Prentice, Kenneth, and Rory across several different time periods. I found this part quite challenging as the narrative would shift from one time and perspective to another within a paragraph, and there was no clear indication of whose perspective it was. Since their voices seemed rather similar, it made it difficult for me to engage with this part. Perhaps if the author had given each character a more distinct voice, I would have enjoyed it more.

The second part is mainly from Prentice's perspective, and although the timeline still jumps around, it is much easier to read.

Overall, this was a substantial and interesting book, but upon re-reading, I would rate it 3 stars.