Enthusiastic quotations from the reviews published in well-known newspapers about this book encouraged me to pick it up from shelf. As it turned out, unnecessarily. For me, these reviews were much too over-praised. I had massive impression that whole story can be hardly related to 'real' life occurrence. I did really liked none of the characters, nobody to cheer it on or feel common with. Their constantly made me angry. Their passive, grey attitude and nonsense decisions. Maybe it just not my thing and my negative judgement follows that I don't like this kind of personality neither in real nor in fictional people. For the ones that haven't read "The Bed" I'll be brief. If you also torment yourself by reading this kind of books, why to do that? I'm really in two minds about this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed the concept of the story, and the humour. On the other hand, I struggled to 'get the point'. Mal is an incredibly difficult child who turns into an incredibly selfish man, when things don't really go his way, he gives up. He gives up big style - on his 25th Birthday he goes to bed, and doesn't get up again.Twenty years later, Mal is dying. His younger (unnamed) brother lies by his side, with two broken legs and tells the story of how Mal ended up so huge (100 stone) and in bed. With flashes of humour and sadness, this should have been an excellent read, but it lacked a certain something for me. I can't put my finger on what though. Maybe it was the Mother, who I'd like to have strangled, and who I held totally responsible for Mal's behaviour.A strange story, well written, but strange.
What do You think about Cama (2010)?
Thought it was ok. Would have been much better (less boring)if written through Mal's eyes.
—leeleebaca
Couldn't get into it, and life is too short to read bad books. Returned to library!
—andreabee
