Where we agreed
8 ratings; average 3.31/5. Standard deviation: 0.66.
March 2026 selection
3.3/5
- Published
- 2009
- Genre
- Contemporary literary thriller
- Length
- 288 pages
- Participation
- 8 finished · 0 without a score
About the book
After his wife’s death, Bunny Munro drags his young son across southern England on a chaotic road trip, as grief, lust, guilt, and increasingly surreal threats close in around them.
Club summary
Club verdict
A bleak, grotesque spiral that split the club between fascinated and repelled.
The club landed in a "dark but readable" middle ground, with several members drawn in by the grotesque humor and relentless momentum while others recoiled from the vulgarity and repetition. Members were torn about if the attempt to shock landed or if it lacked a believability or relatability that would have made it more engaging. Even the harsher takes noted standout scenes and a compelling spiral, while the stronger reviews praised the surreal, philosophical edge and the book's unsparing portrait of addiction and self-destruction. Everyone in the club held some sympathy for Bunny Jr. and his experience as an innocent child, with members torn on if he would escape the trap laid by his father.
Club scorecard
Where we fought
Jacob went highest at 4/5; Eric went lowest at 2/5. Range: 2.0 stars.
8 ballots
Member ballots
JacobA disturbing but compelling descent into addiction, with Bunny's life unraveling in a chaotic "train wreck" that's hard to look away from, capped by a shocking ending.4/5
A disturbing but compelling descent into addiction, with Bunny's life unraveling in a chaotic "train wreck" that's hard to look away from, capped by a shocking ending.
No questionnaire answers recorded.
EdA grotesque yet darkly funny and absurd character study that never drags, with strong themes, memorable depravity, and an unflinching portrayal of a man beyond redemption.4/5
A grotesque yet darkly funny and absurd character study that never drags, with strong themes, memorable depravity, and an unflinching portrayal of a man beyond redemption.
No questionnaire answers recorded.
AlecInitially shocking and overtly sexist, but reveals itself as an immersive and well-written portrayal of a sex addict, with a particularly sympathetic depiction of the son.3.5/5
Initially shocking and overtly sexist, but reveals itself as an immersive and well-written portrayal of a sex addict, with a particularly sympathetic depiction of the son.
No questionnaire answers recorded.
MattAppreciated the surreal, almost philosophical angle, especially the "Bad Seed vs free will" question and how it ties into Bunny and his son.4/5
Appreciated the surreal, almost philosophical angle, especially the "Bad Seed vs free will" question and how it ties into Bunny and his son.
No questionnaire answers recorded.
OliverAn intentionally grotesque, unreliable descent that feels repetitive and overly shocking, yet is cleverly written and emotionally affecting for Bunny Junior.3/5
An intentionally grotesque, unreliable descent that feels repetitive and overly shocking, yet is cleverly written and emotionally affecting for Bunny Junior.
No questionnaire answers recorded.
NathanStruggled with the vulgar, repetitive first half but found value in Bunny's slow spiral and certain standout scenes, though the book was uneven overall.3/5
Struggled with the vulgar, repetitive first half but found value in Bunny's slow spiral and certain standout scenes, though the book was uneven overall.
No questionnaire answers recorded.
EricAn interesting but ultimately underwhelming and unresolved look at a deviant, which didn't leave a strong impression despite not being outright bad.2/5
An interesting but ultimately underwhelming and unresolved look at a deviant, which didn't leave a strong impression despite not being outright bad.
No questionnaire answers recorded.
JoshA rough and confusing start gives way to a gripping, car-crash-like descent, but the unpleasant protagonist and unsatisfying ending make it hard to fully recommend.3/5
A rough and confusing start gives way to a gripping, car-crash-like descent, but the unpleasant protagonist and unsatisfying ending make it hard to fully recommend.
No questionnaire answers recorded.