The Steep Approach to Garbadale Audiobook (Unabridged)

" I love discovering a new (to me) author who is prolific. Now looking forward to The Crow Road and others. I thought the characters were well drawn and I love Banks' wit. "

" A bit of a shaggy beast of a novel. Full of good things, the usual dry Banks wit, clear cut (I am being complimentary) characters, fumbling adolescent sex and adolescent lovelorn lollopings, some neat observations on the business world, a few great and memorbale scenes, a highly unusual use of the first person narrator (which is worth considering if you move a bit deeper), a focus on the specific dysfunctionality of one family standing in for all families, and a real page turner, easygoing confection of a book. The plot and themes showed at the seams, and wilted more than once. He seems to have been content with an unsuitable lens that renders everything a bit out of focus, and low budget. He would do better, Banks, to spend longer on reaching less people, and taking more time and care with his stuff, because he has it in him to do better than this. "

" Thoroughly enjoyed The Steep Approach to Garbadale. Iain M Banks is just a brilliant writer - that's all there is to it. "

" A solic Iain Banks novel. Compelling, with an intriquing plot - will he mess up his current relationship when he meets his first love, who obviously doesn't care about him any more? "

" Nice to read The Crow Road again, only shuffled about a bit. "

" Well Crow Road it ain't. But it's still pretty readable and on balance fairly involving. Certainly not his best, but not Canal Dreams either. "

" The black sheep of a family toymaking firm is called back to the matriarch's house to discuss a potential buy out by an American conglomerate. All the member of the family will be their especially his cousine (sic) with whom he had a relationship that caused a rift in all his relationhips. He is also seeking an explanation of his mother's apparent suicide. The plot line jerks from the present to the past in uneasy leaps and the seemingly innocuous relationship with his cousine darkens as does the obfuscation over his mother's death. All the family seem to want is his signature on the sell out documents and their previous behaviour to him is of no relevence. "

" This is by Iain Banks, sans the M. My favourite kind of Iain Banks. I hadn't read any of his work for a while - a part from The Crow Road, which I was re-reading. This has some similarities, in that it's a story of a Scottish family, set over a number of years. Banks brilliantly goes back and forth in time to let you in on their secrets, lies, loves and lusts. And as always, peppered with his wonderful sense of humour. "

" The plot twist really threw me, and I'm usually good about these things. For that, I give him massive applause. "

" enjoyed it, but it's thematically reminiscent of 'the crow road', and not quite as strong a story, i think. "

" Good book. Banks's dynamic range as a writer continues to astound me. I like this book, but there isn't anything about the story that will stick with me. "

" As might be expected this is a very well written book, however not much happens and despite the twist in the tail, I found it somehow unsatisfying. "

" Lots of characters and the plot cuts to different scenes but an entertaining read. "

" Everyday life is not so ordinary. Read this in less than a week. "

" Easy and enjoyable read but I was expecting more from Iain Banks. There was plenty of material to make the plot and ending deeper and richer. "

" I was a big fan of Complicity and The Crow Road, but haven't read anything by him in years. He loves writing about families' dirty secrets, and is a great character writer. I'm back on board. I may need to re-read those earlier two and add some more to the stack! Any recommendations? "

" alright, a bit boring, not much happened really. Not one of his better books "

" I like reading Banks' mainstream novels, as they always remind me why I should write more mainstream fiction. This was an enjoyable glimpse into a family, though the big reveal at the end kind of made me roll my eyes. But the writing was silky as always, which is a joy to read. "

" The only other Iain Banks I've read to date was 'The Wasp', which I quite enjoyed despite (or because of?) its very very disturbing nature. This followed suit - explorations of a dysfunctional extended family with a crazy twist at the end. "

" So far I'm liking it... :) It was a good book. not fabulous, but good enough to read. three stars says it all. "

" I heartily enjoyed this book, is the first Iain Banks I've read and it certainly won't be the last "

" Almost as good as The Crow Road and the kicker at the end left me utterly gobsmacked - never saw that coming! "

" my 2nd Iain Banks - I did enjoy this one thought I have to say not as much as Crow Road. I did like how he went back and forth in time to explain the family history and dynamics, it gave a lot of depth to the various characters. the twist at the end was definitely a surprise. well worth a read. "

" While not as good as 'The Crow Road,' it's better than awful 'A Song of Stone,' with which it shares certain themes; to say more would be a major spoiler alert. Yes, the anti-American rant was clearly authorial voice breaking throgh as well. "

" The M in Mr. Banks is misplaced here. There was no sci fi. That's alright, it was a pleasant read as (spoiler) stories of incest go. "

" Banks-by-numbers. Clumsy and embarrassing. I felt like I'd wasted an afternoon afterwards. "

" An interesting character sketch but a bit rambling in terms of plot. I'm much more impressed with Iain Banks' science fiction than his literary fiction. "

" This was fun to read, and well written but not a really great book. "