Scan barcode
ineedmorecoffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, it’s been on my to read list before it was even released! Set in a familiar-to-me Belfast, I was struck by how othered Sean felt in the university area and the academic crowd, and similarly alone in West Belfast back where he grew up. At home nowhere, realising you’ll have to change somehow, watching your old friends move away. A book worth reading.
Moderate: Drug abuse, Violence, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse
yilliun's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What does it mean to have a love/ hate relationship with where you’re from and how can you grow past that? This book explores these questions through the lens of Sean, who feels trapped by his past and unable to break the cycles that keep him trapped. It took me about 70 pages or so to become really interested in the story. I think Mairead entering the picture represented a turning point for both myself as the reader and Sean. I enjoyed the nonlinear path of Sean’s life and I think it made him a more realistic character to me. You would think he’s on the right track then Finty and Ryan pull him right back again into old patterns.
Adjusting to the Irish slang used throughout the book took some getting used to, and I do think that contributed to how I struggled to get into the story itself. I think you also need to go into this book with the knowledge of what The Troubles represent in Northern Ireland even to the present day.
Adjusting to the Irish slang used throughout the book took some getting used to, and I do think that contributed to how I struggled to get into the story itself. I think you also need to go into this book with the knowledge of what The Troubles represent in Northern Ireland even to the present day.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
reads_eats_explores's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Drawing on personal experiences in Close to Home, Magee delves into a poignant exploration of toxic masculinity amidst the cross-generational trauma of the Troubles and events closer to home.
Our narrator, Sean, is the first in his family to go to university, an undertaking he thought would lead him to a new life full of prospects and far from the kind he witnessed growing up in Twinbrook, a predominately working class, Republican area of West Belfast.
Sean's dream falls away as he graduates in a post-crash era, and void of prospects, he returns home and falls in with a rather iffy crowd he has known since childhood.
Sean is from a single parent household. His Da vanished a long time ago. His poor Ma struggled, scrimped and worked two jobs to provides for her kids. And Sean feels people look down on him for this, even though they don't know him; they know his language his accent, and he feels hemmed in by it.
Sean knows he needs to be putting more effort into sorting his life out, but alongside his housemate, Ryan living the party life is much more appealing, for a while anyway. But these parties lead to trouble, the missing work and losing your job trouble, the punching a fella at a house party and ending up in court receiving a community service order kinda trouble.
Things go from bad to worse as Sean loses his job, the flat is about to be repossessed, and he’s forced to move in with his long suffering Ma. While back at home, he learns or perhaps revisits some family traumas, which makes him take a long hard look at why he and his brothers lead the lifestyles they do.
Bleak at times, with some potentially triggering subjects tackled, but the narrative is strewn with deadpan humour to balance it out. 4⭐
Our narrator, Sean, is the first in his family to go to university, an undertaking he thought would lead him to a new life full of prospects and far from the kind he witnessed growing up in Twinbrook, a predominately working class, Republican area of West Belfast.
Sean's dream falls away as he graduates in a post-crash era, and void of prospects, he returns home and falls in with a rather iffy crowd he has known since childhood.
Sean is from a single parent household. His Da vanished a long time ago. His poor Ma struggled, scrimped and worked two jobs to provides for her kids. And Sean feels people look down on him for this, even though they don't know him; they know his language his accent, and he feels hemmed in by it.
Sean knows he needs to be putting more effort into sorting his life out, but alongside his housemate, Ryan living the party life is much more appealing, for a while anyway. But these parties lead to trouble, the missing work and losing your job trouble, the punching a fella at a house party and ending up in court receiving a community service order kinda trouble.
Things go from bad to worse as Sean loses his job, the flat is about to be repossessed, and he’s forced to move in with his long suffering Ma. While back at home, he learns or perhaps revisits some family traumas, which makes him take a long hard look at why he and his brothers lead the lifestyles they do.
Bleak at times, with some potentially triggering subjects tackled, but the narrative is strewn with deadpan humour to balance it out. 4⭐
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
More...