Anna Aslanyan

A middle-aged man in crisis: How to Make a Bomb, by Rupert Thomson, reviewed

Travelling home from an academic conference, Philip Notman suddenly feels sick and disorientated. But it will take a long time for him to identify the cause, and possible cure

Rupert Thomson. [Credit: Getty Images] 
issue 25 May 2024
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  • How to Make a Bomb: A Novel

    Rupert Thomson

    Apollo, pp. 432, £20

Philip Notman is going through what looks like a midlife crisis. Travelling home from an academic conference, he feels sick and disoriented to the point where he is barely able to function. Back in London, he can’t quite explain to his wife Anya, or indeed to himself, what’s ailing him.

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