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debumere's review against another edition
2.0
This book is tough.
This book is perfect for people who have this glamorized idea of Northern Ireland during The Troubles. It's like when I read a thriller about 'shit goin' down in the hood', the Bronx or Harlem, I have this instant expectation and visual. I blame the media for giving me unrealistic ideas.
I can't warm to any of the characters at all, I want to punch Chuckie and I want to punch Jake too. Especially Jake, the miserable get.
And Chuckie...comparing his Mammy to a drooling slug in her bed. That's no way to talk about your mother. May God forgive him and pardon him.
I'd also rather not read a fictional book, set in Northern Ireland, for the rest of my life. After being forced to read 'Across the Barricades' in 1st Year at boarding school in England, the Teacher obviously had this romanticized view of children coming over from war-torn Northern Ireland, having been tormented and who were fleeing for a better life.
Apaz the very same teacher only ever made people read that book when someone from N.I was in the class.
Thanks Robert, but I think we need to stick to 300 pages or less and bigger font.
FYI (In case someone feels like suing me) It's not the author's fault obviously, I mean the reviews are quite good apart from mine. I'm picky, fussy, fickle and tire easily. I am part of the disposable society - I want instant gratification.
This book is perfect for people who have this glamorized idea of Northern Ireland during The Troubles. It's like when I read a thriller about 'shit goin' down in the hood', the Bronx or Harlem, I have this instant expectation and visual. I blame the media for giving me unrealistic ideas.
I can't warm to any of the characters at all, I want to punch Chuckie and I want to punch Jake too. Especially Jake, the miserable get.
And Chuckie...comparing his Mammy to a drooling slug in her bed. That's no way to talk about your mother. May God forgive him and pardon him.
I'd also rather not read a fictional book, set in Northern Ireland, for the rest of my life. After being forced to read 'Across the Barricades' in 1st Year at boarding school in England, the Teacher obviously had this romanticized view of children coming over from war-torn Northern Ireland, having been tormented and who were fleeing for a better life.
Apaz the very same teacher only ever made people read that book when someone from N.I was in the class.
Thanks Robert, but I think we need to stick to 300 pages or less and bigger font.
FYI (In case someone feels like suing me) It's not the author's fault obviously, I mean the reviews are quite good apart from mine. I'm picky, fussy, fickle and tire easily. I am part of the disposable society - I want instant gratification.
dissendiumnox's review against another edition
4.0
4,5/5
How does one live in a city scarred by religious riots and terrorist attacks ? Well, just about like anybody else. In Belfast, in the 1990’s, Chuckie, Jake and their group of weird friends are going on about their lives, finding and losing jobs, talking about sex and boobs, breaking up and mending up with girlfriends. Anything but being catholic or Protestant. And yet, that’s everywhere. Bombs and tags and threats and death. On the tv, on the radio, on the corner of their street.
It is a surprising novel, full of a dark, absurd and sometimes childish humour. Even though it is sometimes moving and deadly serious, it puts a smile on a face, you care for these morons, who reminded me of the people in a Simon Pegg movie like Hot Fuzz. Incredibly touching, I couldn’t help but root for them all as they failed and won little victories at life. It was SO good because it is everything you want in a book. Fun, crazy, social, moving, touching, sometimes cruel and too real. It hits close to home somehow.
I would recommend this novel without much doubt. I did not give it a higher grade because awkwardly it nearly became a favorite but not quite. I can’t explain it, because I guess this is not something you can explain. Maybe there wasn’t enough poetry in there ? I don’t know, and I don’t really care. Not every Book has to be a favorite.
How does one live in a city scarred by religious riots and terrorist attacks ? Well, just about like anybody else. In Belfast, in the 1990’s, Chuckie, Jake and their group of weird friends are going on about their lives, finding and losing jobs, talking about sex and boobs, breaking up and mending up with girlfriends. Anything but being catholic or Protestant. And yet, that’s everywhere. Bombs and tags and threats and death. On the tv, on the radio, on the corner of their street.
It is a surprising novel, full of a dark, absurd and sometimes childish humour. Even though it is sometimes moving and deadly serious, it puts a smile on a face, you care for these morons, who reminded me of the people in a Simon Pegg movie like Hot Fuzz. Incredibly touching, I couldn’t help but root for them all as they failed and won little victories at life. It was SO good because it is everything you want in a book. Fun, crazy, social, moving, touching, sometimes cruel and too real. It hits close to home somehow.
I would recommend this novel without much doubt. I did not give it a higher grade because awkwardly it nearly became a favorite but not quite. I can’t explain it, because I guess this is not something you can explain. Maybe there wasn’t enough poetry in there ? I don’t know, and I don’t really care. Not every Book has to be a favorite.
pardonmywritings's review against another edition
3.0
Eureka Street tells the story of overweight and Protestant Chuckie, who becomes wealthy through dubious schemes, and Catholic thug Jake who is looking for love. Despite the visceral violence, the humour in this is highly enjoyable.
lavienrose's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't wait to read this book from the moment I first heard of it. I really wanted to learn more about Irish troubles in the 90s and relationships between protestants and catholics. Turns out this book doesn't really show these topics- it'just a bunch of characters being annoying and acting nonsense. I mean, there are some really interesting parts, but the way characters develop doesn't make any sense. you don't even understand why the main characters are friends- you just assume they are because the writer says so. Plus, the ending. I saw it coming but...no.
things I liked: 11th chapter, the teenager storyline, some things Jake thinks/ says/ does.
things I really liked: the way Belfast is described. very suggestive.
things I liked: 11th chapter, the teenager storyline, some things Jake thinks/ says/ does.
things I really liked: the way Belfast is described. very suggestive.
gempoole's review against another edition
4.0
This book is really long - about 150 pages too long. It can feel a little bit jumbled at times, like it’s struggling to define itself and settle on a point to explain. However, I think that may be the point? it tackles issues of identity through politics, gender, sexuality, religion and at the end of the day we’re just people. You see the graphic horrors of the troubles through the eyes of ordinary people from all walks of life but it can feel a little slow at times. I liked how real of felt though, Irish literature seems to have a way of creating real and honest characters.
em_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
There's the surface story in this book, a darkly cynical farce about guys drinking and sleazing their way around the city, making money through shady means and giving each other a hard time. I don't think I'd like any of them very much if I were to meet them, but I can't help rooting for them because they don't seem to like themselves very much either.
And then occasionally it hits you in the gut with how it's also a war story. Like, oh, did the characters mention bombs going off and riots in the street? Let me spell out what that actually entails.
But more than that, it's a city story. (A city I don't know at all. I can only imagine how many cultural nuances and references I missed.) And I love those.
And then occasionally it hits you in the gut with how it's also a war story. Like, oh, did the characters mention bombs going off and riots in the street? Let me spell out what that actually entails.
But more than that, it's a city story. (A city I don't know at all. I can only imagine how many cultural nuances and references I missed.) And I love those.
crtney's review against another edition
3.0
Almost four stars. It was fun and interesting stepping back into the streets of Belfast and there were aspects of the book that I found so truthful and beautiful that it was a little stunning. I completely detested Chuckie's trip to America--the author's America that was made up, it would seem, from watching too many episodes of Law & Order and other police dramas. In fact, the poor quality of the depiction of America causes doubts in my mind of the author's version of Belfast as well. Still, I did enjoy it. There is quite a bit a swearing in the book and I found that rather distracting through the first half.
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