Set at the beginning of the 1990's in Scotland, 'The Crow Road' centers around Prentice McHoan and all the different dynamics within his family, past and present. Prentice is a history student, bright but unsure of many things, an aspect that many young people of his age can relate to. He is estranged from his father over issues of theism, both fond and jealous of his elder and successful brother Lewis, suffering from unrequited love and constantly wondering about the mystery of his Uncle's sudden disappearance eight years ago. There are other supporting characters, such as Ashley, one of his old school chums. The banter between them is both amusing and revealing. To be honest, at first I didn't really 'get' what 'The Crow Road' was all about, I wasn't sure what Ian Banks was trying to say but I definitely grew to enjoy the book after a few chapters, depsite the non-linear plot which I occassionally found confusing. Banks is certainly a talented writer, bringing the settings and characters to life with vivid and skillful prose. His humanist and secular views are conveyed in various guises, but he does not ram them down the reader's throat like Philip Pullman did with 'His Dark Materials'. Not a classic but although I didn't 'get' it 'The Crow Road' still proved to be an enjoyable and worthy read. 7.5/10 (Contains strong language and sex)
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