I Commitments

I was going to attempt to write this review in the working class Dublin slang that Roddy Doyle’s colourful characters use, but, ya know, Jaysis, I’d come o’ looking like a fuckin’ eejit. I’m one of the few people on the planet who’s never seen the Alan Parker movie, and when I was in London last fall Leggi tutto

Back in the day (I always wanted to use that in one of my reviews) my buddies and I from the old neighborhood had a dream. Besides wanting to be starting shortstops for our favorite baseball teams (Red Sox for me) we wanted to reach fame and fortune through music. There was only one hitch: none of u Leggi tutto

“Ladies an’ gentlemen, let’s hear it for- Yes, Yes, Yes the commitments.- the Commitments- ladies an’ gentlemen.- the hardest workin band in the world- The commitment-bringing soul to Dublin, bringing the people’s music to the people- Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, The Commitments.” The last time I was readi Leggi tutto

I read Doyle's The Woman Who Walked Into Doors a few weeks ago and found it both a harrowing account of one woman's life, as well as a subversive insight to suburban Irish culture. I was expecting more of the same with his other writing and was, sadly, a little disappointed. The novel follows the fo Leggi tutto

This is a very early novel by one of my favorite Irish authors, Roddy Doyle. It is part of his focus on contemporary Dublin life. It is bawdy, funny, touching, profane, surprising and thought-provoking. Doyle’s writing style pulls you into a Dublin pub and doesn’t make it easy for you to sort things Leggi tutto

In the grim north side of Dublin Jimmy decides to put together a band to play soul music from the 60s. His mates think he's mental. They say, But that kind of stuff is sung by... black people. Ain't it? And we're just scummy white kids, ain't we? But Jimmy has a reply to that : Do you not get it, lad Leggi tutto

I went into this book knowing nothing about it, not having seen the movie, certainly not having seen the musical and not being familiar with the Irish institution that is Roddy Doyle. Initially I thought there was a mistake and I somehow obtained the screenplay for the film rather than the novel. Doy Leggi tutto