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ros1806's review against another edition
5.0
Donnie MacNamara lives in 1980s Ireland. He wants to be an actor, his family want him to work on the farm.
He thinks he can make it, no-one else does.
He sets off for Tinseltown and, on the way, meets Abe Nelson, a disgraced actor, who takes him under his wing, against his better judgement.
The story is sad, funny and altogether joyful. Loved it, especially for showing the many facets of the human psyche.
#Pigeonhole
He thinks he can make it, no-one else does.
He sets off for Tinseltown and, on the way, meets Abe Nelson, a disgraced actor, who takes him under his wing, against his better judgement.
The story is sad, funny and altogether joyful. Loved it, especially for showing the many facets of the human psyche.
#Pigeonhole
kristin_boren's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fun, quick read and a really lovely debut novel. Donnie is unrelentingly optimistic and fun to follow around. If you'd enjoy reading about a hopeful Irish character blundering their way through Hollywood in the 80s/90s this is the one for you. Donnie is from a small Irish town and after a surprise inheritance decides to chase his dreams of being an actor and brings his positive energy and unintentional manifesting to LA. This is silly, hopeful, and surprisingly sweet.
rebel_elleiance_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this novel. It was like watching “The Very Best Marigold Hotel, where you grin the entire way through because the characters are so nutty and likable?
It had so much awkward, hilarious charm. I screamed at the screen (mostly at poor Donnie’s awkward fumblings and innate charism, kindness, and wit), I smacked my forehead, I laughed so hard I cried, and then I cried genuinely happy tears.
I loved the character of Donnie, who no one can quite decide whether he is a bit touched or just different but who most like anyway. Is he a chancer or a charmer? I loved that even when no one else believed in Donnie, he believed in himself with just enough absence of self-awareness to be brave enough to put himself out there.
I loved the redemption story for Abe and I love Melanie’s character. Everyone had unique and developed backstories that helped advance the plot in an engaging way.
I want this novel turned into a movie! It would be perfect! Barry Keogh as Donnie, and John and Joan Cusack as Abe and Melanie.
I had two minor points of constructive criticism. The first is that Francis felt much more one dimensional as the villian compared to many of the other characters but I did love to hate him, so this is a minor point. The second bothered me enough to take me out of the book a few times. Some of the dialogue and thoughts attributed to the American and Canadian characters used slang not commonly used here. Having someone from the U.S. or Canada edit for North American english-language slang would be helpful.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sonny and Skye Productions for the opportunity to read this fabulous debut novel in exchange for an honest review!
It had so much awkward, hilarious charm. I screamed at the screen (mostly at poor Donnie’s awkward fumblings and innate charism, kindness, and wit), I smacked my forehead, I laughed so hard I cried, and then I cried genuinely happy tears.
I loved the character of Donnie, who no one can quite decide whether he is a bit touched or just different but who most like anyway. Is he a chancer or a charmer? I loved that even when no one else believed in Donnie, he believed in himself with just enough absence of self-awareness to be brave enough to put himself out there.
I loved the redemption story for Abe and I love Melanie’s character. Everyone had unique and developed backstories that helped advance the plot in an engaging way.
I want this novel turned into a movie! It would be perfect! Barry Keogh as Donnie, and John and Joan Cusack as Abe and Melanie.
I had two minor points of constructive criticism. The first is that Francis felt much more one dimensional as the villian compared to many of the other characters but I did love to hate him, so this is a minor point. The second bothered me enough to take me out of the book a few times. Some of the dialogue and thoughts attributed to the American and Canadian characters used slang not commonly used here. Having someone from the U.S. or Canada edit for North American english-language slang would be helpful.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sonny and Skye Productions for the opportunity to read this fabulous debut novel in exchange for an honest review!