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Most Helpful Reviews
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Liked It “another interesting story from mj hyland. story about a boy growing up in ireland - his struggles with his family, friends and school.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “warning: extreme cruelty to animals near the beginning of the book.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“A provocative coming-of-age story of a young Irish boy who appears to be crippled by his lonliness, his man-sized physicality, and his curious intelligence. Well told and no wonder a Booker Literary winner.”
She wrote this review Sunday, October 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“warning: extreme cruelty to animals near the beginning of the book. ”
Kyri F wrote this review Tuesday, September 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“another interesting story from mj hyland. story about a boy growing up in ireland - his struggles with his family, friends and school.”
Kari H wrote this review Monday, August 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Beautifully written through the eyes of a boy in transition from childhood to adolescence. Often uncomfortable, as his changes and realisations are. Hugely evocative , a portrait of Irish culture, playful at times and observes the dysfunction of a family vividly. A human tale.”
Anna s wrote this review Thursday, July 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Beautifully written story in the eyes of a teenage boy.
Lyndal G wrote this review Monday, March 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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“I find this book a bit boring and i dont really enjoy reading. The storyline was flat and the setting was dull. It is also quite disturbing and depressing part that really make the reader regret buying the book. ;c”
Ridzwan wrote this review Saturday, April 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“the subject matter should depress you, but the author has a way of making even the darkest saddest moments somehow shine with humanity. highly recommend.”
Laura C wrote this review Wednesday, February 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book is extremely well-written and really puts the reader inside the narrator's head. But it's also disturbing and uncomfortable to read and I really didn't enjoy it.
emilysk wrote this review Monday, January 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The narrator, John, is an 11-year-old boy living in rural Ireland in the early 1970s with his parents and his grandmother. John is an early bloomer and looks much older than his actual age. He is obsessed with Ripley's Believe It or Not and believes that he is a human lie detector. He's a strange boy who doesn't really have any friends and seems over-involved with his parents. Eventually he does something bad that should trigger a profound change in the course of his life... but really it doesn't. ”
“Not a huge fan of this book. I honestly didnt get it. Cud anyone plz explain to me what it was all about? It's not like I was expecting some hardcore action,I'm all for books that are a bit on the philosophical side. But this I found to be utterly monotonous and well, storyless. I kept waiting for the twist that just never came.”
Nida P. wrote this review Tuesday, January 1 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
