If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

John McGregor

This is his first novel. It is poetic, beautifully written and Doreen loved it. It is about London and its people. A terrible event affects a small group, but you only find out the details at the end. Highly recommended.
Doreen 3/8/03

This gave me a lot of trouble I had to draw a diagram of where everyone was in the street in case it was important (it wasn't ). The unexpected ending kept me awake.
Gill 14/9/03

The basic theme of this book is that terrible things happen but life goes on. The detailed stories seem a deliberate device to underline how complex simple lives can be. Interesting characters. Recommended.
Andrew 19/10/03

A story set in one street. It is frustrating trying to remember who lives where in the street until you realise it doesn't matter.

At the beginning, the reader knows that something dreadful has happened but not what or to whom. This is a first novel and sometimes read like one as occasionally it needed editing to tighten up the plot. Overall, though, Jean liked it.
Jean 21/12/03

It felt like a lot of short stories, all overlapping. Although the end was moving, the book was overall not enjoyed.
Seán 7/2/04

Fresh, different unusual. About finding interest in ordinary people as some artists do (Lucien Freud). A small scale tragedy. The twins stuff is contrived.
Jane 18/4/04

I enjoyed the slow accretion of information.
Bob 18/4/04

Wendy was disappointed - probably expected too much of it. Starts with a good description of a city. Found it rather banal. Lots of lovely ideas that didn't come to fruition.
Wendy 11/9/05

The frames have gone all funny - click to make it good.