If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things- Jon McGregor

[kelby_lake]

I was intrigued by the title which promises some sort of shattering event(s). All I get is random paragraphs about people throwing up behind takeaways. I couldn't finish it it was that irritating. I flicked through in desperation, trying to find a part where something coherent happens. My search was fruitless.

[Walter]

The reviews on amazon describe the book as two interwoven narratives -- one containing glimpses of the lives of many ordinary people who have all witnessed a horrible event one day, the other being the story of one girl with an unwanted pregnancy -- which gradually converge toward the end, when the horrible event is revealed and the story becomes clear. It sounds like you missed the ending in your search. Reading on might make it all worth it.

If you do finish the book, I'll be glad to hear your final reaction because I have been thinking of buying it.

[kelby_lake]

The glimpses of the ordinary people get irritating- and it's not that short a book. Perhaps I might have been more motivated had it been shorter

[Walter]

The glimpses of the ordinary people get irritating- and it's not that short a book. Perhaps I might have been more motivated had it been shorter
I was looking at it at Borders again today and gave it the p69 test. That put me into a doctor's office in the life of a man who was being diagnosed as seriously ill but had not told his wife. As an individual segment I thought that was quite readable and well done. But I do have the impression that individual segments of different people's lives do follow one another with no separation, which can make for challenging reading. And if the individual segments are not that interesting, then I can easily imagine the book is a challenge to continue with. I may try it some day, although it is not a high priority at the moment. Many thanks for your response.

[TheFifthElement]

I absolutely love this book. I guess you love the style or you don't but for me it worked like poetry, a beautifully interwoven storyline involving ordinary people, all of which are 'not speaking of remarkable things'. The passage involving the man with the damaged hands and his daughter, when they talk about angels, brings me to tears. A lovely novel, beautifully written (in my opinion!).

[kelby_lake]

a quote from a Keane song? Is that from new album?

[TheFifthElement]

Yes! The final track Love is the end, a bit draggy but nice.