Jude: Level 1?

i was wondering if anyone had an opinion on this book, my mind is divided. it was very funny but maybe there was a bit too much bitterness on the authors part

Good question. Personally, I also think Jude: Level 1 is very funny. But is there too much bitterness on the author's part? Hmmm...

Well, for what it's worth, I don't think the author is particularly bitter at all. One of the things I like about the book is how the author has found ways for us to laugh about those aspects of Ireland's recent history which are usually the cause of bitterness (priests raping children on an industrial scale, and being protected by the church hierarchy; government corruption, in particular Fianna Fáil corruption in the Haughey era, and the way that corruption distorted the planning process and thus wrecked huge areas of Ireland's cities, so that tens of thousands of people had to bring up kids in places with no facilities, not even schools, or shops; etc etc).

Of course, I am the author, so I might be biased. But I really don't think it's a bitter book, given the subject matter.

Interesting response though, and you're the reader, so I've got to respect your take on the book. Which bits made you think "...maybe there was a bit too much bitterness on the author's part"?

-Julian Gough

London, Galway & Berlin
"The novel reinvented while you wait."
http://www.juliangough.com/

Sigh. I suppose I should have written that as Jude: Level 1, and my name as Julian Gough, but

A) It feels weird putting your own name in double brackets, and

B) I'm writing this on a German keyboard, and square brackets aren't on the keyboard and are really difficult to find (same goes for angle brackets, which makes writing html a right bugger on a German machine).

Jesus man i meant no offence. Maybe bitter was a bad word to chose. and not only did i think it was funny its verging on brilliance. i guess what i meant was you captured us a bit too well, something which no ones ever had the balls to do. i just felt a bit sad at the end is all. but fair enough its part one maybe jude will give up his search for the sluttish one and go back to the sexy scientist in Galway.
i really did like it i just thought you got a bit angrier since Juno & Juliet and who could f**king blame you what with bertie getting in again. did you know their building a f**king road through the Tara valley and the cops in dublin kicked another poor bastard to death in the cells a few weeks ago and covered it up, your in germany i'm stuck here so ther's no need to preach. anyway dont be meen i paid 20euro for the signed hardback, and i read your article in prospect
PS Toasted Heretic would kick the f**k out of u2. anyday

No, you're right Sean, it's an angrier book. And maybe bitter is the right word for it. The writer is often not the best judge of the book.

Fair play to you for coughing up for the signed hardback. I'll try and make it worth your while. Maybe win the Nobel, and push the prices up. Just hang on in there till I'm 89.

"You captured us a bit too well" is high praise. I'll sleep happy tonight in old east Berlin...

Hi Julian, where can I get a signed first edition?

i hope you do sleep well because in my opinion your one of the best we've got. Juno & juliet is up high in my opinion. i was hasty with my first message only because i was mad for someones opinion. you think tipp is a whole try kilkenny. and it was worth every penny cant wait for two & three

i got mine on amazon

i started reading it again last night taking into consideration what you said and i think i get it now. lately i'm reading lots of hardcore missery books and i wasnt in the right place to laugh at the horrors of ireland.
so

...sorry i hit the wrong key. anyway this time i'm treating it more like a really good episode of the simpsons and i'm smirking to myself a lot more. thanks for responding it was real cool of you

there's an interview on youtube with julian gough if anyone's interested. i'll try to add a link to part one...

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=bA4aWVlVN48