THE STEEP APPROACH TO CARBADALE

TITLE: THE STEEP APPROACH TO CARBADALE
AUTHOR: IAIN BANKS
Date: 24/04/2009
Grade: 4
Details: Audio: 12 disks / 14 hours
Narrator: Peter Kenny
Library

Alban Wopuld has been avoiding his extended family for years. Now though the whole family is getting together at Garbadale to decided whether or not to sell the successful family firm to an American company and to celebrate the birthday of his grandmother. Reluctant, Alban decides to join in this reunion.
But, this return to the family forces Alban to deal with his past and the pain and secrets connected with it. There is the mystery of his mother's suicide, the reasons for which are obscure. And there is the matter of his first love, enjoyed with his cousin Sophie before they were brutally and almost completely separated by the family. The answer to the mystery and the reason for the separation will come as a huge shock to Alban, upsetting everything he thought he knew about his life.
This was an interesting and well written story, told by a good narrator who knew his way about the various accents.
The only thing that did get on my nerves at times was Alban's obsession with Sophie.