Just Like Blanche DuBois, I cannot countenance "deliberate cruelty," which is exactly what Kathy Foley's purported review of Twenty Major's book was, a cheap drive-by job done on a blogger chumley who she includes in her blogroll. You've already read it so there's no need for me to link it. Who wants to belong to a blogging community that savages its own? The truth is that if I hadn't liked Twenty's novel, then I would have remained quiet about it here. There have been several books and films that I have chosen not to post about because I didn't want to write a bad review. The world is full of people waiting to shit on you, there's no need to voluntarily pile it on a friend.
Thankfully, I thoroughly enjoyed Twenty Major's first novel "The Order of the Phoenix Park" and urge you to buy a copy for yourself and one for a friend. He injects a liberal dose of humor into the noir/detective plot so that in many respects the result is Philip Marlowe coupled with the Three Stooges. The narrative hinges around a sinister plot to brainwash first Dubliners and then the rest of Ireland involving mobile phone ring tones and folk music. Twenty's boyhood friend is murdered and then he can't understand why the city embraces folk music over all other superior music genres in preparation for the free Folkapalooza concert in Phoenix Park. Along with Jimmy the Bollix, Stinking Pete, Dirty Dave, Lucky Luciano and Ron the barman, Twenty drinks many pints while saving the nation. That's all I say about the plot so that I don't spoil it for you.
If you're a regular reader of his daily blog, you already know what you're in for when you pick up the novel. Twenty elevates the use of profane invective to an art form. He weaves a wealth of pop cultural references in the novel that are like a delicious in-joke to the reader. I can only imagine how many shades of red this book would turn Damien Rice after Twenty's ignominious characterization. Hee.
It's a fun page-turner that is also as much of a love letter to Dublin as anything Joyce wrote. There is boundless affection for the spaces and masses of the modern Irish metropolis. I can anticipate Twenty's novel being added to the literary pub tours that the city famously hosts. Not that Ron would want his pub on the list.
Twenty's novel was a satisfying read, delivering what I had hoped for and then some.
I look forward to reading his next one.
March out and buy a copy.
Thankfully, I thoroughly enjoyed Twenty Major's first novel "The Order of the Phoenix Park" and urge you to buy a copy for yourself and one for a friend. He injects a liberal dose of humor into the noir/detective plot so that in many respects the result is Philip Marlowe coupled with the Three Stooges. The narrative hinges around a sinister plot to brainwash first Dubliners and then the rest of Ireland involving mobile phone ring tones and folk music. Twenty's boyhood friend is murdered and then he can't understand why the city embraces folk music over all other superior music genres in preparation for the free Folkapalooza concert in Phoenix Park. Along with Jimmy the Bollix, Stinking Pete, Dirty Dave, Lucky Luciano and Ron the barman, Twenty drinks many pints while saving the nation. That's all I say about the plot so that I don't spoil it for you.
If you're a regular reader of his daily blog, you already know what you're in for when you pick up the novel. Twenty elevates the use of profane invective to an art form. He weaves a wealth of pop cultural references in the novel that are like a delicious in-joke to the reader. I can only imagine how many shades of red this book would turn Damien Rice after Twenty's ignominious characterization. Hee.
It's a fun page-turner that is also as much of a love letter to Dublin as anything Joyce wrote. There is boundless affection for the spaces and masses of the modern Irish metropolis. I can anticipate Twenty's novel being added to the literary pub tours that the city famously hosts. Not that Ron would want his pub on the list.
Twenty's novel was a satisfying read, delivering what I had hoped for and then some.
I look forward to reading his next one.
March out and buy a copy.
8 comments:
Nice balanced piece Medbh. Now, as a puppy owner and all round squeeee person, I feel you should read the following...
http://dailycoyoteinfo.blogspot.com/
Thanks for that, Medbh. The polar opposite of the review I saw! And compared favourably with Joyce - this I must read....
That Charlie's a cutie, FMC. How about her idea of having people pay to read her blog? I thought you could only get people to shell out for porn.
Nick, I think Twenty got an unfair treatment for the book because his blog is so popular. He's not trying to be Shakespeare or Joyce; it's hardboiled fiction and an extension of the characters on the daily blog. I hope he makes the bestseller's list.
I'm bookmarking this page......just in case I need to refer it to you at some other point....
Porn is so pedestrian, coyote puppies and cats however, well, that's entertainment.
I agree totally. I thought it was a cracker of a book. I can't say the bits I liked the best without giving the plot away but the plot was meaty and satisfying, well-paced and funny - what's not to love?
I know what you're thinking, Manuel. No need to worry.
FMC, our dog Isis kind of looked like a coyote. It's easy to understand why she took him in.
Sam right you are. There were inspired plot twists but you don't want to ruin it for anyone else.
Bought it back in April, finally got to read it on holidays, laughed so much that I had tears streaming down my face. Europeans on the train asked that I would be thrown off, for I was disturbing their sleep. My non-blogger partner was intrigued to the point of robbing the book the moment I had finished. At the first few pages he kept looking up at me as if I was bonkers to be reading something so full of filthy metaphors. By the end of it he was looking up from the book with disbelief and glee that someone could make him react so strongly to their ability to create such strong visuals from their writing. Mahoosive thumbs up from both of us, and a new follower for Twenty.
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