The Crow Road 'One of the best opening lines of any novel' (Guardian)

Had an enormous impact on me the first time (I was 16), but very little the 2nd (I was 23).

“It was the day my grandmother exploded. I sat in the crematorium, listening to my Uncle Hamish quietly snoring in harmony to Bach’s Mass in B Minor, and I reflected that it always seemed to be death that drew me back to Gallanach.” Kann es einen besseren ersten Satz geben in einem Buch als diesen? Was für ein Einstieg in ein Buch, das eine rockige, nie sentimentale Liebeserklärung an Schottland, Whisky, Mädchen, explodierende Großmütter und Autos ist. Aber nicht nur der erste Satz ist brilliant, Banks schafft es diese für weitere gut 500 Seiten am Leben zu halten. Aber eine Warnung am Rande liebe Leser, einfach ist das Buch nicht in Englisch. Ganze Abschnitte im breitesten “Scots”, Zeitsprünge und die wechselnden Ich-Erzähler machen den Einsteig in das Buch etwas schwer. Die komplette Rezension findet ihr hier: http://bingereader.org/2015/01/26/1477/

The Crow Road behind with the immortal line "It was the day my grandmother exploded". Genius. The narrator is Prentice McHoan, a final year college student embroiled in the consideration of life, death, God, sex and family, in particular the long-missing Uncle Rory. The narrative, in true Banksian style, is not straightforward. Prentice provides a funny, moving and very winning voice as first person narrator as he navigates the pitfalls of relationships with a motley crew of friends and foes and family. But Banks also interjects sections in the third person, often switching between past and present as Prentice's quest to uncover family history unearths old events. It's cleverly and effectively done and give the narrative an enjoyable twist without feeling like a gimmick. The rambunctious McHoan family is the heart of the novel. From story-teller and patriarch Kenneth, a staunch atheist appalled by his son's Christianity to rich, landed uncle-by-marriage Fergus Urvill and his niece Fiona. The complex and spirited family relations make for an absorbing and very funny read. Banks isn't afraid to be silly at times and his characters'lighter antics carefully balance the darker aspects of the tale and the complex narrative style

Okay, first things first...the opening sentence; my favourite opening sentence ever. Beyond that. This has all of Bank's trademarks; wit, style a certain dark sensibility. But this book is gentler and less shocking than the wasp factory, a more relatable story than the bridge or the business; this middle of the road quality (taking a little of the shock, a little of the humour, a dash of the forbidden) is why i think this is his most effective non sci-fi book. Spectacular book. I love this book.