A review by rj42
Bigot Hall by Steve Aylett

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

It is very hard to explain Aylett's work because there is nothing quite like it in the English language. Bigot Hall, like many of his books, is an exploration of language and an explosion of absurd humour which is barely housed by the trappings of a novel. Whole sentences and paragraphs are simply punchlines as our nameless narrator recounts the complexities of their supernatural family and the bizarre house in which they live. At times, it is the funniest thing you will ever have read and if you enjoy the author there are parts of this book that will simply be too much to read – I frequently found myself putting the book down to laugh. But as with much of Aylett's work, whole sections simply fall flat. It is this imperfection and sheer eccentricity that make him unique and that mean he is a cult writer who has never breached the mainstream: there is a certain type of reader who enjoys Aylett and you'll know within a few pages whether or not it's you. If you do, Bigot Hall is probably as 'accessible' as Aylett gets.