Reviews

Ağaca Tüneyen Sweeny by Armağan Ekici, Flann O'Brien

eagerfrank13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In the reviews for this book I've seen that most people don't have an idea about this book. Probably due to a lack of understanding of Irish mythology and culture of old. Many elements of the book are pastiches of the form of Irish mythos, such as the use of extended, dramatic simile to describe something or the weird behaviour of nature, magic and Catholicism. O' Brien had such a deep knowledge of Irish myths and their nonsense mechanics that it would be like gibberish to anyone unfamiliar. Not to spoil chunks of the book too much but the entire retelling of the story of King Sweeny is totally accurate and the backwards, tumbling over itself that Irish stories have inherent in their structure is not too dissimilar to the output of Orlick and the boys at the end of the book, revising, going back over, forgetting bits. It's an expression in 20th century literature of the idiosyncrasies of oral story telling done to great comic effect. None of what I've said has really made much sense but honestly, I love this book too much to not exalt it's virtues.

shaunaxx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

aoifer's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

orneryalways's review against another edition

Really tough for me to adjust to the dialect of Irish characters.  I would like to pick it up again someday after I’ve enjoyed a dark pint or two.  

vkealy's review against another edition

Just didn’t get into it. I’m picky. 

albon's review against another edition

1.0

2019 review:

i'm sure it's a classic for a reason, and that reason is probably that people are smarter than me, but in my opinion this wasn't interesting and there were no funny bits. if anything it just felt like proof that men in the 1930s could write literally any words in a completely random order and publishers were just like "ah. yes. genius". i know it's unfair to start drawing comparisons when you've just finished a really good book, but i'm gonna do it anyway: this book was first published in 1939. i just finished The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter yesterday, which was published in 1940. without having read anything else they've written, carson mccullers was a better writer when she was 23 than flann o'brien was at 28. women stay winning.

saneyossarian's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

1.5

nothingisreal420's review against another edition

I think I’m too dumb to fully grasp this book. The few parts I did understand grabbed my attention and held it until another of his transcripts appeared and it would lose me completely. I’ll come back to it eventually bjt for the moment it’ll stay dnf 

afvick's review against another edition

3.0

The edition of this I have was really uncomfortable to hold and I honestly think it ruined the book for me

the_lilypad's review against another edition

I don’t think I’m smart enough for this book. It’s so confusing. I have no idea what’s going on. And I hate the main character