The Talk of the Town

by Ardal O'Hanlon | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0340693096 Global Overview for this book
Registered by shovelmonkey1 of Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on 11/21/2011
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13 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by shovelmonkey1 from Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, November 21, 2011
Bought from the Lancaster Oxfam bookshop (a great place to forage for books on a lunch hour). This book is on the 1001 books to read before you die list. I'll get to it soon and send it on it's way into the world.

Journal Entry 2 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Sunday, November 27, 2011
So young Dougal from Father Ted has gone and written a book now has he? Well lets see, what's it all about then?

Patrick Scully, the wee bollox, is living life at large up above in Dublin and is trying to make his own way in the world. A typical story you might think a young man finding his feet, making new friends and trying to shrug off the mantle of a small town boy by moving to the big city. People left behind in small town Castlecock include young Joe, sister Val, the mentally unstable and infinitely suspicious Mammy and that pointy eared bollox Plunkett McKenna, all of whom don't really have that much to do with the story when alls said and done. Patrick was a promising youth - football star, spelling bee genius - but the demise of his Da, the local Guarda Patrick Scully Senior has sent him cantering off down the wrong path and there is no turning back now.

This book rang a lot of bells for me - from both Catholic and Prody bell towers in fact. A long time ago I moved to Ireland to work. I won't mention the town which was to be my home for a while but it bears some uncanny similarities to Castlecock, home of Patrick Scully, and it was characterised by a rocky outcrop topped by a historic monastery to which hoards of Americans flocked seeking a little bit of heritage. Located about half way between Dublin and Cork, both cities were regarded as hubs of the modern civilisation and also brightly illuminated devils traps, established not as centres of trade, commerce or learning but rather as places where the local youth were lead astray... straight on a path to the devil. If you wanted to make a break for freedom and get either above to Dublin or below to Cork then you'd have to get on the bus which ran erratically about once every three days. Apart from that if you didn't have a car or a tractor then you were fucked. And trapped.

The town had one high street which was populated by a small supermarket, a tourist information office (selling the kind of celtic themed nonsense that Patrick Scully steals in the book), a butcher, two turf accountants, an ill-founded Indian restaurant and about 28 pubs. My local was both the main pub in the town and also the undertakers. If you approached the building heading south, the sign on the gable said "Feeghan's Public House". The gable on the north bound approach said "Feeghan's the Undertakers". Sometimes people dropped down dead at the bar and were carried straight upstairs to be laid out. My neighbours were a local farmer who had a "special crop" and fancied himself as a Druid. Occasionally he'd turn up in his robes and get blind drunk in a corner. Other locals included a man who lived in a horse box and a man who'd fallen off the cliffs of Moher while inebriated and miraculously survived.

Based on my own personal experiences of the Emerald Isle I'd say that this book is the most truthful representation of small town Ireland I've ever read. It is also well written, vibrant, acute, accurate and will have you quietly grinning to yourself from the turn of the first page. I wonder how many Hail Marys Ardal O'Hanlon had to do after this was published?

This review is taken from my goodreads.com review page.

This book is now waiting to go travelling as part of a bookray.

Journal Entry 3 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (12/1/2011 UTC) at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now travelling as a bookray - first stop Derbyshire!
shovelmonkey1 - HOST
4evagreen - UK/UK
kingfan30 - UK/UK
pinkydinky - UK/EU
mysteriousmummy - UK/EU
EmgeeNL- EU/EU
lydoula - EU/EU
booksieboo - EU/EU
Icila - EU/Intl
hawksgirl - US/US<--------TRAVELLING HERE!
biibsw - CAN/ Intl
J4shaw - Aus/NZ
sfogs - NZ/...

Please try to keep this bookray moving in good time and always pm the next person on the list to ensure that they actually still wish to read this book by the time it gets to their turn. Hope you all enjoy it!
Thanks

Journal Entry 4 by 4evagreen at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 5, 2011
Many thanks shovelmonkey for starting this ring with me. Book was waiting for mewhen I got in from work having arrived safe and sound. Will read once I have finished my present book. Also many thanks for the Crimbo card it was first for the season.

Journal Entry 5 by 4evagreen at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 16, 2011
This book tells the story of Patrick Sculley, an Irish lad moving from a small village where he knew everyone and everyone knew him to the city of Dublin where he was anonymous like so many others stuggling to make a mark in life.
Initially I liked Patrick, his was a character I could well imagine. He was stuck in a dead end job while many of his contemparies had gone onto college and unlike his best friend 'Balls' was not the most eloquent around strangers and with members of the opposite sex in particular, he was the sort of bloke that rather slipped through the cracks of society. I could relate with some of his experiences when he returned home to his family and village chiefly because of the similarities in my own life when I left home at 16.However, as the story progressed he became more and more dislikeable self-obsessed, homophobic, sexist, violent drunkard and ultimately self-pitying. He somehow believed that life owed him something rather than going out and grabbing it for himself. In truth the sort of person I dislike the most.
That said the story, for me, was always compelling and I certainly did not expect the way it ended. It is not a book that will live that long in the memory but as a comedian/celebrity's book it is one of the better ones that I have read.


Journal Entry 6 by 4evagreen at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Saturday, December 17, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (12/17/2011 UTC) at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to the next person in the ray. Hopefully the Christmas post will not delay it too much. Enjoy.

Journal Entry 7 by kingfan30 at Corby Glen, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Book is here safe and sound through the xmas post. I love Father Ted and in particular the character of Dougal, so am interested to see what this is like.

3 Jan 12 - I have only been to Ireland once and that was to Dublin, so my knowledge of small town Irish life is limited to what I have read in the past, and to be fair it does not appear too different to living in a small English village where everyone knows everyone and even the smallest scandal is spread like wild fire!

Patrick is not a likeable character by any means and I was thinking throughout this, just grow up and get a life! The way he was with Francesca was despicable, he seemed to forget he did the cheating first and as for stalking and reading her diary! I did like the fact we got to see her point of view though.

I knew from the beginning that this would not end well, but it kept my interest and I would be happy to read more by Ardal, although to be fair anything would have been better than the last read -Tristram Shandy!

Journal Entry 8 by kingfan30 at Bourne, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (1/4/2012 UTC) at Bourne, Lincolnshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to the next reader

Journal Entry 9 by pinkydinky at Melksham, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Friday, January 6, 2012
Thanks to Shovelmonkey1 for the ray and to Kingfan30 for sending it on. Will start once I have finished my current read.

Journal Entry 10 by pinkydinky at Melksham, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I liked the style that this book was written in. The fact that you had two perspectives on some situations made the book a better read than if it had been solely from the viewpoint of Patrick.
Patrick slowly spirals out of control as the book goes on. I also liked the way that very slowly his past, in particular the death of his father, is gradually revealed.
The ending was a surprise in some ways but also inevitable.

Journal Entry 11 by pinkydinky at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (1/18/2012 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to the next reader today.

Journal Entry 12 by mysteriousmummy at Shefford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Sorry for delayed journal will read and send on asap

Journal Entry 13 by mysteriousmummy at Shefford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, February 5, 2012
WARNING: Probably best not to read my thoughts until you've read the book and made up your own mind.


What a truely awful book if it hadn't been part of a bookring there is no way I would have persevered with it. The characters are one dimensional, unlikeable and badly described. I found it difficult to follow, confusing and disjointed and the less said about the ending the better. I am really shocked this is on the 1001 books list when there are so many better books out there that aren't. The only good thing about it was it is short.

Will pm the next recipient and send off as soon as possible.

Released 12 yrs ago (2/10/2012 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to the Netherlands

Journal Entry 15 by EmgeeNL at Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, February 16, 2012
The book arrived today. It's the first on the stack. The only thing is that I'm curently reading a very thick ring/ray book. So it may take me some weeks before I get to this one. I'll do my best to not keep it stalled for too long.

Journal Entry 16 by EmgeeNL at Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Monday, March 5, 2012
Just an update to let you know that I've started reading the book and pmed the next in line for their address.

Journal Entry 17 by EmgeeNL at Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I liked the book. The end is rather unnerving.

The book is ready to be mailed to Belgium.

Journal Entry 18 by EmgeeNL at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 23, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (3/21/2012 UTC) at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is on it's way to Belgium

Journal Entry 19 by lydoula at Ixelles / Elsene, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
it arrived today. thanx EmgeeNL for sending it and shovelmonkey1 for sharing it! :)

Journal Entry 20 by lydoula at Ixelles / Elsene, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Monday, April 9, 2012
I didn't like the book at all and i read it only because I was at this ring.

Journal Entry 21 by lydoula at Ixelles / Elsene, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Monday, April 9, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (4/9/2012 UTC) at Ixelles / Elsene, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium

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Off to Germany and to booksieboo.

Journal Entry 22 by booksieboo at Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The book arrived safely in Germany today; thanks for the quick delivery and the colouful stamps! :-)

Journal Entry 23 by booksieboo at Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, May 3, 2012
I've finally finished this book, having put it down several times and almost given up hope due to Patrick's disgusting language and attitude. The only thing that kept me going was the author's down-to-earth humour and his "way with words".
Like some other readers, if I hadn't signed up for this as a bookray, I wouldn't have had a good reason for reading it right to the end.
Thank you nonetheless for the opportunity to read it and form my own opinion.
I have the next reader's address and will be forwarding the book today or tomorrow.

Released 11 yrs ago (5/3/2012 UTC) at -- Per Post geschickt / Persönlich weitergegeben --, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to Icila in France.

Journal Entry 25 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The book arrived safely yesterday. Thanks a lot !

Journal Entry 26 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Not my cup of tea. As I have a huge TBR I w'll get it moving.
Thanks for sharing anyway.

Journal Entry 27 by wingIcilawing at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (6/29/2012 UTC) at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Washington.

Journal Entry 28 by hawksgirl at Washington, District of Columbia USA on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Picked it up today. I should start on it by next week.

Journal Entry 29 by hawksgirl at Washington, District of Columbia USA on Friday, July 27, 2012
I just finished this book yesterday. I got so absorbed at the end that I missed my train stop and had to go back. :\ I also enjoyed getting both Patrick and Francesca's side of the story, sad as it was. It was like watching a train wreck as Patrick's poor decisions spiraled further and further out of his control.

Journal Entry 30 by hawksgirl at Washington, District of Columbia USA on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (8/14/2012 UTC) at Washington, District of Columbia USA

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Mailed yesterday morning.

Journal Entry 31 by biisbsw at Endicott, New York USA on Monday, September 3, 2012
Safely here with me. Thanks for sending and including me in this! I will read as soon as I can.

Journal Entry 32 by biisbsw at Endicott, New York USA on Sunday, November 4, 2012
I've finished reading this an have obtained the next readers address so I should be able to get this out within the next few days.

Journal Entry 33 by biisbsw at Endicott, New York USA on Sunday, November 11, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (11/10/2012 UTC) at Endicott, New York USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy!

Journal Entry 34 by wingJ4Shawwing at Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Monday, November 26, 2012
This was waiting for my in my PO Box this afternoon.
Have 2 books before it, but should have it moving again soon enough.

Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 35 by wingJ4Shawwing at Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Thursday, January 3, 2013

Released 11 yrs ago (1/4/2013 UTC) at Darwin, Northern Territory Australia

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Packaging this up for the next reader in the ring - Sfogs, although it will be early next week when I actually get to the Post Office.

I found mysteriousmummy a very fair summary of the book's characters, although it has always been my opinion that that description pretty much sums up those from that part of the world. The place at the time the book was written would best be described as 'bleak' and I think the author captures this well.

On the whole, I enjoyed the book.

Journal Entry 36 by Sfogs at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Saturday, January 12, 2013
It's arrived safely in New Zealand!

Journal Entry 37 by Sfogs at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Not my sort of book at all. I just couldn't stand the main character, he was just a selfish bastard.
Though it's another one off the list.

Journal Entry 38 by Sfogs at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Thursday, February 7, 2013

Released 11 yrs ago (2/7/2013 UTC) at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand

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Off to the USA, Surprise!! :-)

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