This is the latest in a series of occasional posts featuring books I read years ago about which I was wildly enthusiastic at the time, wanting to press a copy in as many hands as I could.
Iain Banks was one of those writers talented enough to excel in at least two genres. Not being an SF fan, I haven’t read many of his novels written under the name Iain M. Banks but The Crow Road, my favourite Banks novel, is as far from that genre as you can get, neatly demonstrating his versatility. It tells the story of the McHoan family through Prentice, home from Glasgow university to attend his grandmother’s funeral and faced with a host of family troubles.
First on the list is the widening rift between Prentice and his father closely followed by the unsolved mystery of his uncle Rory’s disappearance, his infatuation with the lovely Verity, not to mention a burgeoning sibling rivalry with his brother, Lewis. When his father dies in a freak accident, their differences still unresolved, Prentice knows it’s time to shape up. He learns to deal graciously, if painfully, with Lewis’s successful career and his happiness with Verity. When an old friend uncovers some leads about his uncle Rory, Prentice can’t resist following them no matter how shocking the outcome or how dangerous the path. Part thriller, part family saga, part coming-of age-novel, The Crow Road is one of Banks’ warmest and most accessible novels. It also has one of the funniest, most memorable opening lines I’ve read. You can check that out here.
It’s rare that I’m happy with a TV adaptation of a favourite novel but the BBC’s three-part miniseries stuck to the book so faithfully I even bought the DVD. Banks died in 2013, aged 59. Inevitably, writing this makes me wonder which direction his writing might have taken.
What about you, any blasts from the past you’d like to share?
You can find more posts like this here.
Unaccountably, this book has sat unread on our shelves for years. Time to dust it down and read it, apparently.
It’s a nice, easy, well-turned-out read. Hope you enjoy it!
If only I hadn’t gone and got 5 out from the library this morning. I never learn.
That’s a generous lending allowance.
Oh, is it? It’s 10 actually, and easily extended on request.
License to go wild!
My library lets you borrow 20!
I absolutely loved this when I read it (from the opening line!) and it sent me on an Iain Banks binge, although I didn’t completely keep up with him and like you I never read the SF novels. I agree – the adaptation was excellent! Really faithful but stood on it’s own too.
Wasn’t it great? I still have the DVD and may dig it out this winter.
As you know, I’m a huge Banks fan and this is one of my favourites. The TV series was great.
It’s an immensely satisfying read, isn’t it, and well done the BBC for sticking to the spirit of it so well.
One of my favourites too
A rare re-read for me
I read all of Banks output (minus the SF) when I was younger and loved him, but I’d be hard pressed to recall what any of his stories were about. This is a nice reminder.
You’re welcome! This one is my favourite by far.
This was an odd case of me reading the book because I knew the opening line! Luckily, it lived up to it. I haven’t had any luck with Banks since, though.
It’s a memorable opener, isn’t it. This is my favourite of his although I enjoyed several others.
I see what you mean about that opening line. It definitely makes me want to pick up the book.
Isn’t it brilliant? Certainly grabs your attention.
I’ve never read anything by him – I did try The Wasp Factory once but that didn’t last long. So I just wrote off Banks not appreciating there is a world of difference between the sci fi output and the more literary offerings.
I didn’t get on with The Wasp Factory at all. The Crow Road’s my favourite of his mainstream novels. I suspect some of the others might not stand up to a second reading.
I’m not sure that I’ve ever properly absorbed the idea that his M. made all the difference in signalling the nature of one of his books. Thanks for that!
You’re welcome! Essential knowledge during my bookselling days.