review 1: I had mixed feelings about this book. The characters were beautifully drawn, particularly those of Jim, his sister, Fiona, and his parents. It was a very engaging read, like a cross between Frank McCourt and Roddy Doyle. It was odd though, with its strange, mystical, other-worldly passages. The book raised serious issues - child abuse, teenage pregnancy, depression - but they were dealt with glibly. I'd hesitate to recommend this to someone unless I knew them well. Not for everyone. review 2: Very engaging writer and well-told story. Really good sense of what it was like living in a blue collar neighborhood in Dublin in the '80s and the stresses of growing up there. Wonderful family dynamics and characters. A little slow-starting but it all proves necessary as ... morethe plot develops and he does a nice job of bringing things full circle at the ending. Recommend this and will look forward to more from this author. less
