Tag Archives: Mark Haddon

Leaving Home by Mark Haddon is the author’s memoir about his parents and growing up in Northampton in the 1970s. It is a lavishly illustrated book – Haddon is a talented artist as well as an author – which has the feel of a slightly chaotic scrapbook. Told in short episodes in non-chronological order, he dissects his repressed family life and the emotional neglect he suffered alongside his younger sister, Fiona, with devastating effect. He repeatedly apologises for what he describes as a catastrophically poor memory, yet movingly conveys the psychological profiles of his parents and the lasting impact of his upbringing on his physical and mental health up to the present day. Haddon is best known for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and his memoir is just as deeply empathetic and unique in format. Many thanks to Random House Vintage Books for sending me a review copy via NetGalley (although I would recommend reading this in hard copy if possible to fully appreciate the illustrations). Continue reading →