Review of The Slap

The brattily misbehaving child that gets slapped is only the tip of the iceberg in this plethora of inconsiderate, rude, prejudiced and generally unlikeable people.

• The main character is infatuated by his (too young to legally have a beer) baby sitter, who compounds the problem by showing up to his birthday party - an inappropriate choice in an even more inappropriate relationship.

• The mother who brings piles of food and comments on how the Jews do it (Dessert? Something in boxes at any rate) so much better, and who converses with her family members in Greek in front of everyone.

• The friends who raise this abominable child and seem to feel that allowing him to do anything he wants is appropriate lest they stifle his self-expression.

• The cousin who shows up in a Land Rover and is worried about it being "jacked" in this neighbourhood.

There are other, more peripheral characters that I haven't yet come to know in any depth, but somehow I doubt that to know them will lead me to love them.