Even though this is seen as a classic, I had never read it until this anniversary edition. I'm not a fan of what I call slow starting novels - this is one of them! The prose is good but I found it frustratingly boring at times, waiting for something to happen. I am glad that I read it but wouldn't read it again.

Despite his prolific output. I've never read anything by Iain Banks, so when Netgalley provided me with a free copy with no obligation for a review, I jumped at the chance to see what all the fuss was about.

To be fair, there's a reason why I've never read any of his work. There's something about Banks that just doesn't appeal to me and it took me a while to get round to reading a long novel that I wasn't convinced was going to be my kind of thing. So it was great to be pleasantly surprised by what turned out to be a gentle thriller/mystery with a focus on characterisation rather than twisty-turny plots.

Prentice' uncle Rory has disappeared and nobody knows what's happened to him. His father hints that Rory is still alive, but after a falling out over religion, Prentice no longer speaks to him to learn more about why he'd believe this. When his father is ironically killed by a lightning bolt when climbing a church, Prentice' family's secrets start to unravel and all is eventually revealed.

It's always good to read a book where you haven't got a clue whodunit until the big reveal and I really didn't see the resolution coming. I love strong, quirky characters and "The Crow Road" has those in spades. Whilst the book isn't fast paced, it's not slow moving either and although it's too long to read in one sitting, it's definitely a page turner.

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.

Fabulous stuff, what can I say about such an iconic writer-the opening is so well written it certainly makes you want to read on. A classic.

So glad I read this book. For some reason I thought it was a violent crime book so never read it or watched the TV series. I now aim to try and find the series to watch. Did find the flicking back and forward in time hard to follow, but otherwise enjoyed the book more than I expected to.

Interesting story that keeps you involved. Recommended.

i am sorry this is just beyond me I like Iain banks but i cannot get my ahead round this

What a joy to rerear this wonderful book! I loved it, the descriptions, black humour, it really tugs you in. His best book I think.

This was a very well crafted story, so descriptive I could feel the surroundings and hear perfectly how the dialogue would play out. I didn’t feel the storyline itself was right for me, but others could get much enjoyment from it I’m sure.

I admit to reading some of this between my fingers. His finest book in my opinion, and one that keeps you hooked through every nuance, from page to page to the end.

This book has a famously good first line: 'It was the day my grandmother exploded.' November 2017 marked the 25th anniversary of publication of The Crow Road, and it seemed to me about time that I read this seminal work by acclaimed writer Iain Banks.

As I began reading this novel, I enjoyed some of the dark humour about Prentis McHoan and his family and I was interested in how the story would develop. I think one of the writer's strengths is his descriptive writing of Scotland's scenery, including stringing place-names like telling familiar and precious beads on a rosary. And I thought Banks succeeded in narrating the book authentically as a young-for-his-years student.

But this is a relentlessly long book. The author's imagination and word count is given free rein in a novel that looks at relationships, physics, sex, space, drunkenness, religion, death, family and everything in between. This could have been exhilarating but for me it became tedious. To begin with I imagined that Banks was pricking the pomposity and moral certainties of young Prentis - eg. I loved that he has Prentis call his snood a Mobius scarf, every single time - but when other points of view were presented, such as those of Kenneth or Lewis, in many ways a similar world-view emerged, to the extent that I struggled to tell characters apart. A world-view where you can despise the 'upper classes' in knee-jerk fashion even when your characters are privileged enough to, for example, travel the world courtesy of a trust fund. The passions of the characters seem to be applauded or denigrated on the basis of the given character rather than their passion.

A main theme of the book is religion. Banks is contemptuous of faith, calling it cowardice several times. Perhaps I should mention here that I became a Christian when I was some years older than Prentis and cowardice has nothing to do with it, in my experience. The writer sets up straw men and arguments, so as to be able to refute Christianity, and so that Prentis can come to see faith as 'superstitious'. I read some atheist writing with interest but I didn't find this strand well-written, intelligent or remotely open-minded.

Finally, I found it pretty dull that Banks wrote, interminably, about getting drunk, about taking soft drugs, and in particular about the sexual stirrings of his male characters. Early on I began to imagine The Crow Road as some sort of book-dog. The kind of dog that dry-humps your leg, at every single encounter.

2 stars for a novel that showed promise but was roughly twice as long as it needed to be.

I received this ebook free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Small confession, this is quite possibly my favourite book.. I even called the family cat Prentice...The trials of the McHoan family have been something I've revisted many times, and it never fails to delight. From the opening line, through the mobius scarf and the amazing Ashley, it's like an old friend.

Crow Road is a great read and a really touching account of the confusing time of adolescence and family life which could have been written this year as relevant now as it was when first released

I was unable to get into this book, I think the prose is very good, but somehow its just too uninvolving for me. I know that Iain Banks' books have a strong following, and have tried to read them once or twice in the past, but haven't ever managed to finish one. I think it's just not my style of book. But thanks to net galley for letting me try.

first glanced at this book many years ago. Reading it for the second time, I realised that although I enjoy this author's work, I didn't particularly relate to this book. In the main because of the ending. It's well written.

Gave up on this after the first few chapters. Couldn't see where it was going and didn't enjoy reading it because of the use of 'scottish' language.

Having read The Wasp Factory several years ago, loving it and saying to myself I need to read more of that Iain Banks guy, I was thrilled when NetGalley sent me the 25th Anniversary edition of The Crow Road to read. I loved this book as much, if not more than, The Wasp Factory purely because the character of Prentice was just written so brilliantly. The writing is darkly witty, with a famous opening line of 'It was the day my grandmother exploded.' you would expect nothing less, but also subtly poignant and beautiful in places too. I won't say anything on the plot because if I did I would give too much away but I highly recommend this book.

A veritable classic tale, ages very well with a compelling coming of age story.

This book was archived before I had a chance to read it.

Another great read,it's about the Mchoan family in the early 1980s,sometimes I got confused with the family,and going back in time,but still a good read.

'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.' Prentice McHoan has returned to the bosom of his complex but enduring Scottish family. Full of questions about the McHoan past, present and future, he is also deeply preoccupied: mainly with death, sex, drink, God and illegal substances
I love the author’s books & have the majority in either hardback or paperback so when I had the opportunity to have this book on my kindle I couldn’t resist. A modern classic that I can read again the characterisation is so very very good & the plot keeps you riveted. Some may say it’s now slightly dated but it gives you a true reflection of life a quarter of a century ago

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read