Reviews

The Dead School by Patrick McCabe

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cmcglinchey1982's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Interesting read. The decline into insanity as a result of trying to conform to society's rules especially when the setting is catholic Ireland.

millymittens's review

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dark sad slow-paced

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

3.0

Kept waiting for something to happen and then when the ‘bigger moments’ did come around they were so briefly touched upon and written in such a dull way, with no enthusiasm that it felt like nothing happened. I think the only reason that I didn’t give up on this book is because I hate not finishing books in general

cazacat's review

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

teaselkie's review

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dark funny medium-paced

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

3.75

becka6131's review

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4.0

definitely the most depressing book i have read so far this year, e.g. 'dead babies and children' actually became a motif by the end of the book. in the hands of a lesser author this would have been piling on the heartache/tragedy etc. for the sake of it but i think McCabe's real achievement is that it doesn't feel like that at all - it genuinely does read like a modern tragedy.

aishlingoneill's review

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4.0

This book was very good but you really need to be in the right frame of mind for it because it's very depressing. I did have to break half way through and read something a bit lighter. But I stuck it out after and I'm glad I read it. I am now going on to read The Butcher Boy.