Francie Brady - a small town boy with a bit of a wild imagination, a passion for comic books and John Wayne movies. Via a first person account (with little punctuation), Patrick gives us two stories, one imagined on top of another. This wonderful novel is in fact a stream of consciousness, flowing to-and-fro over the line of sanity. It is a world reflected through a best friend, an alcoholic father, a depressed mother and mean old neighbor Mrs. Nugent. There are priests, three-headed ladies in the market, fish, and so much more.
The novel is, in fact, a bit of a tough read. Definitely not one for the feint of heart. It evokes memories of Forrest Gump, but leaves a much darker aftertaste. The book is at times wonderfully funny, but never for too long. It breaks hearts, makes them, then breaks again. One shouldn't come anywhere near it if they are looking for sobriety. But then again, the music does sound much better this way. Through all the fog in his mind, the one thing that stands strong is
music. You can hear Francie singing in joy and in sorrow, all the way to the end, even in moments of the most severe lack of empathy.
But don't be fooled. His mind can be as sharp as a knife when you least expect it.
Indeed, Francie. The best laugh yet.“Oh now now he says that's all over you must forget all about that next week your solitary finishes how about that hmm? I felt like laughing in his face: How can your solitary finish? That's the best laugh yet.”
For a coming-of-age story, it really has so much to offer. It provokes a contemplation of empathy, social belonging, purpose, and pigs. It might not be the most enjoyable journey, but it is very much worth the shock.
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