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maybeicanjustbenell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Paul Murray never misses
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Violence
elsadicriscienzo's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
erickibler4's review against another edition
5.0
Skippy dies on the first page. Hell, he dies in the title, so I'm not spoiling anything.
The novel takes place in the fictional Seabrook College for Boys, a Catholic middle/high school. The school's denizens include Daniel "Skippy" Juster, his roommate Ruprecht Van Doren, and a large cast of drug abusers, fart lighters, dweebs, school bullies, victims, priests, and burned out teachers.
Skippy, the ostensible main character, is a hapless young man awash in a soup of depression, unknown trauma, and adolescent hormones. Skippy is a bit of a cipher, and is buffeted about mercilessly by forces larger than himself. But after his passing, he comes to mean different things to the other characters. Ruprecht is a would be scientist obsessed with M-Theory. He is searching, in his tinfoil hatted, shambolic way, for a way to break through the barriers into other dimensions. Carl is an unstable thug with a drug habit; he's a loaded gun waiting to go off. Howard is the school's history teacher, who has never quite grown up, and who desperately needs a catalyst to find his better self. Lori is a student at neighboring St. Brigid's, hovering between the dangerous Carl and the more wholesome Skippy. All of these characters are lost, and it is how their arcs connect that make this book what it is: a glorious exploration of youth, age, existential despair, and the way in which we tentatively carve out a meaning for our lives in an absurd universe.
I find Murray to be a more focused disciple of Thomas Pynchon in the way he brings together sophomoric hijinks, occasional stream-of-consciousness passages, and arcane detours into science, history, and mysticism. Unlike in Pynchon's books, Murray's story reveals itself to be surprisingly linear. Plot threads are ultimately resolved in ways that will satisfy old-school novel readers, even though Murray borrows techniques from Pynchon and Joyce.
The last pages are especially thrilling, as the various characters' stories come together. This is the best book I've read in 2012 so far (May 20). Highly recommended.
The novel takes place in the fictional Seabrook College for Boys, a Catholic middle/high school. The school's denizens include Daniel "Skippy" Juster, his roommate Ruprecht Van Doren, and a large cast of drug abusers, fart lighters, dweebs, school bullies, victims, priests, and burned out teachers.
Skippy, the ostensible main character, is a hapless young man awash in a soup of depression, unknown trauma, and adolescent hormones. Skippy is a bit of a cipher, and is buffeted about mercilessly by forces larger than himself. But after his passing, he comes to mean different things to the other characters. Ruprecht is a would be scientist obsessed with M-Theory. He is searching, in his tinfoil hatted, shambolic way, for a way to break through the barriers into other dimensions. Carl is an unstable thug with a drug habit; he's a loaded gun waiting to go off. Howard is the school's history teacher, who has never quite grown up, and who desperately needs a catalyst to find his better self. Lori is a student at neighboring St. Brigid's, hovering between the dangerous Carl and the more wholesome Skippy. All of these characters are lost, and it is how their arcs connect that make this book what it is: a glorious exploration of youth, age, existential despair, and the way in which we tentatively carve out a meaning for our lives in an absurd universe.
I find Murray to be a more focused disciple of Thomas Pynchon in the way he brings together sophomoric hijinks, occasional stream-of-consciousness passages, and arcane detours into science, history, and mysticism. Unlike in Pynchon's books, Murray's story reveals itself to be surprisingly linear. Plot threads are ultimately resolved in ways that will satisfy old-school novel readers, even though Murray borrows techniques from Pynchon and Joyce.
The last pages are especially thrilling, as the various characters' stories come together. This is the best book I've read in 2012 so far (May 20). Highly recommended.
ribbonreuben's review against another edition
2.0
I remember liking this book when I first read it in college, but man, it was not an enjoyable second read. Or, maybe, I guess, a positive spin is that Murray has an excellent command of his characters' points of view, but... I think I could do without ever reading another word of Fr Green or Carl's thoughts, you know? I had to force myself to finish the book, which is never a good sign.
rehexen's review against another edition
4.0
It's Donnie Darko in a South Dublin boarding school, but is rhythmical and self-aware enough to be an enjoyable read throughout. Lots of great swinging between very distinct narrators and perspectives, and a very fine sense of humour. The cast of characters is extensive and all are well-defined and memorable. The best thing about Skippy Dies is that it reminded me that books can still stir up strong feelings in me. I can wholeheartedly recommend it, but it's a pretty big read, so be sure that you have a lot of time on your hands before you commit to this one.
maraa's review against another edition
4.0
A coming of age story (and more) that’s thoughtful, terrible, and tragic with letter-perfect metaphors and descriptions. A lot happens but it all fits and is woven fairly well. Good characters and humor (yes, humor) throughout. Trigger warning.
astronad's review against another edition
2.0
2.5, I'm not even angry about it, more sad.
I cannot fault the writing. The writing is good, the characters well developed and rounded, the flow and language great, the story solid.
However, if there is a more pessimistic book I have yet to read it (as far as I remember). I would give it points for realism but it's realism is entirely one sided to the worst parts of society. Children are abused, the abusers get away with it, the greedy get rewarded, the weak suffer, the world turns, just another day in a life, move along nothing to see here. Sick.
I didn't like any of the characters. Note, they are well written, but in such a way that they are all either terrible people or boring. What they all have in common is their strong sense of individuality, that is to say, every one of them is selfish. There is no sense of community aside from when they are working as a collective to cover up a scandal. If there is a lesson to be learned I have missed it entirely.
Additionally, many reviews talk about the humor of this book. While I didn't find anything funny about it I did find large chunks of it horrific. What a let down, ESPECIALLY after reading Demon Copperhead.
Also CW: Sexual Abuse, Heavy Drug Use
I cannot fault the writing. The writing is good, the characters well developed and rounded, the flow and language great, the story solid.
However, if there is a more pessimistic book I have yet to read it (as far as I remember). I would give it points for realism but it's realism is entirely one sided to the worst parts of society. Children are abused, the abusers get away with it, the greedy get rewarded, the weak suffer, the world turns, just another day in a life, move along nothing to see here. Sick.
I didn't like any of the characters. Note, they are well written, but in such a way that they are all either terrible people or boring. What they all have in common is their strong sense of individuality, that is to say, every one of them is selfish. There is no sense of community aside from when they are working as a collective to cover up a scandal. If there is a lesson to be learned I have missed it entirely.
Additionally, many reviews talk about the humor of this book. While I didn't find anything funny about it I did find large chunks of it horrific. What a let down, ESPECIALLY after reading Demon Copperhead.
Also CW: Sexual Abuse, Heavy Drug Use
nickysbooks78's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0