A fascinating tale woven from modern life and Greek myths, this was a really interesting story covering all of humanity within its pages

In a world where books seem to leap onto the bandwagon of whatever trend is popular at the moment, Haddon is an author to cherish. From the ground-breaking Curious Incident, to the hilarious Spot of Bother then this lyric tale of a young girl trapped with an obsessive father as she imagines her hero in the tales of her books, everything he writes is different. The plot jumps about and can be difficult to follow in parts but this is a beautifully written novel to savour slowly. Not an easy, or pleasant read in parts, but well worth the effort.

The Porpoise explores the complexities of a young girl’s tormented mind through her love of literature. Having escaped not a plane crash which killed her mother, Marina is brought up by an over-protective father who, whilst indulging her every whim, cannot bear to allow her to be a part of a society outside of the suffocating world in which she is cocooned. With the realisation of her father’s transgressions, Marina seeks the sanctuary of escape.