A review by frasersimons
Bad News by Edward St Aubyn

dark medium-paced

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

3.25

Another short and unsweet instalment. We see Patrick as a young man, basically only engaging in escapism as his father passes and he must collect the ashes. Unable to process, most of it is in a drug induced fugue state that illustrates that Patrick is Not Okay, he has some of the worst qualities of his father, and he hasn’t dealt with anything from the past. Possibly the abuse shown in book one continued a great deal more too, it’s eluded to. 

Still well written, but it can really only make one point and it does so quite a lot.