paddy clarke ha ha ha (Original 1993; 1994. Auflage)

I had to argue with myself about whether to give the book one or two stars. I settled on two because the details of childhood are so carefully "recorded." But this book has no plot, no suspense, and nothing at all to make me want to keep reading it. I quit about page 65. Just for the record, I read and enjoyed James Joyce's Ulysses. Nuff said. ( )

First impressions - Paddy came across as mischievous and for some reason, he doesn't like his brother, Sinbad. But he is actually a very sensitive boy. He can tell when his parents quarrel and he tries to will them not to quarrel. He keeps himself awake to make sure that they are not quarreling, and he tries to prevent them from quarreling. He reads a lot so he can impress his father and converse with him. Despite all his efforts, his parents still split up. He also left his gang. An interesting coming-of-age story, but it takes a while to warm up to the tale. ( )

Patrick Clarke is 10 years old and lives on the Barrytown estate in Dublin. He has a Da and a Ma and a brother Francis known as Sinbad as well as a couple of sisters but he doesn't really know them. Patrick is bright but not really bothered about school, he'd rather be playing with his friends and getting into mischief. However the dynamic at home is changing and Patrick is facing realities that he doesn't really want to.
I first read this book when it was originally published and like all Doyle's early works it was a laugh out loud joy. I've returned to it as it is one of the chosen books for our school reading project and I volunteered to start with this having fond memories. The memories are still as fond but this time I realised the darkness underneath the japes and I loved it even more. ( )

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. by Roddy Doyle (1994)

Irish boy's family memories of failing marriage