Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bartendm 's review for:
A Star Called Henry
by Roddy Doyle
A well written book in a modern, distinctive style that deals with Irish poverty and the struggle for independence in the early 1900s. The fictional narrator, Henry Smart, is mythic, with a twist of magical realism, as Henry can remember and interact with others in his infancy, learn much in 2 days of schooling, and charm women and escape danger in his adult years in a larger than life manner. There is also the almost magical power of the wooden leg from his father, part of the legacy of violence and poverty he inherited. I knew nothing about this time period and although this is fiction, I came away with the grit, violence, power plays and lust for life that formed part of the fabric of the period. An intense read.