Jon McGregor

Poor plot. A girl goes missing. And that’s that. Wonderful depiction of village life, but too many people to remember. But I seriously cannot understand why it received glowing reviews and a Costa award. Seemed a bit Emperors New Clothes. In one section I found 18 sentences running beginning with the word ‘she’, only for the 19th to be ‘he’. I also found two sentences that seemed to repeat itself.

I normally love experimental literature, but the extreme form of the narrative make Even the Dogs too hard for me to follow. I may try again later.

As this book doesn't make sense without reading another book I think it's one 'for disposal' I usually light the fire with those books

Mesmerizing. His writing is thoughtful and contained, the repetition creates a contemplative rhythm. There's a great subtlety in the exploration of small town community and trauma and change. As I sometimes do, unfairly perhaps because I don't know him at all, I thought to myself, Kiarostami would have liked this book. It's not for everyone, certainly not those who were lead to expect a mystery with a conclusion.