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judyward's review
3.0
I'm somewhat puzzled why this book was on the Washington Post's Best Books of 2008 list. It's a macabre comedy sprinkled with some great dialogue. However, the book is rather uneven. I enjoyed the first half much more than the second half. Aaron McCloud is a 32 year old, divorced, creative writing teacher in New York City. After a failed relationshp that existed only in his own mind, he retreats to Ireland to spend time with his Aunt Kelly who lives in an isolated cottage by the sea in County Kerry. His plan is take isolated walks by the sea and through the heather and brood about his broken heart (bruised ego), but nothing turns out the way he plans. He's adopted by a huge pig who turns up at the oddest times, a body is discovered in the garden (rooted up by the pig), and there are three prime suspects--one of whom is his aunt. And then events begin to spirl out of control.
livstie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This is one of the most boring books I have ever read.
All the reviews made it sound like the kind of book I would normally go for: quaint Irish village, quirky characters, murder mystery. What's not to love? Well, as it turns out, not much.
Firstly, there really is not much sense that you're even in Ireland. There was a lot of description of the sea and the cliff where the main house is (some would say too much) and a lot of time is spent on how the Irish turn a phrase but it was not an immersive sort of book.
Secondly, the quirky characters are just poorly fleshed out ideas. There was glimmers of promise in the characters and their motives, but what you end up with is people with vague drives until the last two pages and then all of sudden it's like they're completely different people. The worst part is that not only does everyone just "change" at the end but a million loose threads are dropped and forgotten. I realize this is the first book in the series but no book should be this open ended.
Which brings my to my third point: the murder mystery. The whole plot is kicked off when a body is found and the majority of the story is the main character trying to figure out "who done it" from a cast of three other characters. It got to the point that the only reason I was reading (okay, okay I was skimming) this book was to find out who did it and lo and behold this wonderful story worked it's magic again and YOU NEVER FIND OUT WHO DID IT
And the cherry on top: the main character is a very annoying, emotionally underdeveloped, middle aged man.
This book is an exorbitant waste of time and I do not recommend it.
All the reviews made it sound like the kind of book I would normally go for: quaint Irish village, quirky characters, murder mystery. What's not to love? Well, as it turns out, not much.
Firstly, there really is not much sense that you're even in Ireland. There was a lot of description of the sea and the cliff where the main house is (some would say too much) and a lot of time is spent on how the Irish turn a phrase but it was not an immersive sort of book.
Secondly, the quirky characters are just poorly fleshed out ideas. There was glimmers of promise in the characters and their motives, but what you end up with is people with vague drives until the last two pages and then all of sudden it's like they're completely different people. The worst part is that not only does everyone just "change" at the end but a million loose threads are dropped and forgotten. I realize this is the first book in the series but no book should be this open ended.
Which brings my to my third point: the murder mystery. The whole plot is kicked off when a body is found and the majority of the story is the main character trying to figure out "who done it" from a cast of three other characters. It got to the point that the only reason I was reading (okay, okay I was skimming) this book was to find out who did it and lo and behold this wonderful story worked it's magic again and
And the cherry on top: the main character is a very annoying, emotionally underdeveloped, middle aged man.
This book is an exorbitant waste of time and I do not recommend it.
photopoppy's review
1.0
I am very glad that this was a short book, so that it did not take too much time to read. He could easily have cut out about half of the book and not changed the story.
Aaron was a whiny character, who mostly just needed someone to smack him upside the head and explain that the world really isn't about him and maybe he should stuff his ego.
The last couple of chapters validated my dislike of Aaron, because evidently, the author didn't like any of his characters any better than I did.
Which is really too bad. I would have liked to know who actually killed Declan and why. And why on earth no-one had dug him up sooner, seeing as how he'd been buried in a GARDEN. And why both Kitty and Lolly were evidently completely insane.
I respectfully submit that the next time the author is tired of his own characters and story and wishes the quickest exit possible from his own creation, instead of rewriting it to make it more enjoyable, he try one of these plot devices:
"Suddenly, an out of control lorry crashed into the living room, killing all four of them instantly. Declan sat in the corner and grinned. The End"
"Suddenly, pirates landed on the beach and sacked the town. The End."
Or "Suddenly, Vikings landed on the beach and sacked the town. The End."
Aaron was a whiny character, who mostly just needed someone to smack him upside the head and explain that the world really isn't about him and maybe he should stuff his ego.
The last couple of chapters validated my dislike of Aaron, because evidently, the author didn't like any of his characters any better than I did.
Which is really too bad. I would have liked to know who actually killed Declan and why. And why on earth no-one had dug him up sooner, seeing as how he'd been buried in a GARDEN. And why both Kitty and Lolly were evidently completely insane.
I respectfully submit that the next time the author is tired of his own characters and story and wishes the quickest exit possible from his own creation, instead of rewriting it to make it more enjoyable, he try one of these plot devices:
"Suddenly, an out of control lorry crashed into the living room, killing all four of them instantly. Declan sat in the corner and grinned. The End"
"Suddenly, pirates landed on the beach and sacked the town. The End."
Or "Suddenly, Vikings landed on the beach and sacked the town. The End."
appalonia's review
3.0
Professor Aaron McCloud, recently jilted in love, travels to the family home in Western Ireland to visit his aunt Kitty. He ends up stranded outside town with a pig following him down the road. This was a strange novel, not much about anything particularly. The writing was very good, but the narrative seemed endless at times. There were many flashes of humor but overall this book came off to me as a very literary farcical novel. The romantic resolutions at the end didn't seem realistic.
rachelgertrude's review
4.0
This book was enjoyable for its comic irony and the timing of its prose. The author writes his characters philosophically, laughing at them at the same time.
The poor protagonist tries so hard to find a chance to roam by the seaside to mourn his lost love with tragic abandon, but gets swept into a murder mystery by a troublesome pig. Meanwhile, a man keeps telling him that the sea is after him and wants him dead.
If you want to laugh and be satisfied, read this book.
The poor protagonist tries so hard to find a chance to roam by the seaside to mourn his lost love with tragic abandon, but gets swept into a murder mystery by a troublesome pig. Meanwhile, a man keeps telling him that the sea is after him and wants him dead.
If you want to laugh and be satisfied, read this book.
quietjenn's review
2.0
What an odd little book. I got it because the second book in the trilogy sounds right up my alley and was recently on kindle sale, but being the completest (and pig fan) that I am, I wanted to read the first so I checked it out on Overdrive. It's ... okay? Not nearly the comic romp I was promised - although there were definitely funny bits - and weirdly unresolved and just extremely, er, quirky? I dunno. I hope the second one is more enjoyable.
kathykekmrs's review
2.0
This book is a farce. I am not sure if it was meant to be a mystery or a spoof on the genre, but it is confusing.
Aaron McCloud, a writer from New York goes to Ireland to visit his Aunt Kitty.On his way to her house a pig follows him and so he has to get a ride from a man with a truck willing to haul a pig. His aunt claims she knows the pig's owner, but Lolly McKeever will not take the pig. Soon a skeleton shows up and the action of dressing and burying the body take place along with clueless police officers. There is no definite decision in who killed the dead man,though everyone had cause.
Aaron McCloud, a writer from New York goes to Ireland to visit his Aunt Kitty.On his way to her house a pig follows him and so he has to get a ride from a man with a truck willing to haul a pig. His aunt claims she knows the pig's owner, but Lolly McKeever will not take the pig. Soon a skeleton shows up and the action of dressing and burying the body take place along with clueless police officers. There is no definite decision in who killed the dead man,though everyone had cause.
thereadingsparrow's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0