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olliefern's review against another edition
2.0
This should have really been called Porky Dies because it owes much of its spirit to the 80s Canadian B-Movie "Porky's", with its gang of boys who only think of getting some action with girls, teasing each other, playing pranks and generally being obnoxious teens. Like Porky's, it even has an italian teenager who is the renowned "stud" of the group, though the novel distinguishes itself from the film by being set in an Irish Catholic boarding school rather than 1950s North America.
Skippy drops dead at the start of the novel, soon after arriving at a popular donut shop with his extremely obese and intelligent roommate, Ruprecht van Doren. The rest of the novel is a flashback of Skippy's life, loves, fears and adventures in Seabrook College. Other characters weave into this thread, like van Doren himself and his obsession with String Theory (clumsily cut-and-pasted into the novel from whatever research Murray did); the history teacher Howard "the Coward" and his midlife crisis; the drug addicted and dangerous school bully Carl; the beautiful and popular Lori from the girls-only school next door; and the old, dogmatic school priest who carries a few sex crimes on his shoulders.
I would have given up on this book at the start if this weren't my boyfriend's choice for our bookclub. I persevered through padded pages, teen humour that didn't cut a smile (though its obnoxiousness reminded me of my youth), and subplots that promised much but delivered little. Its small reward came towards the end, with Howard "the Coward" discovering Skippy's connection to the 1st World War and how he could use it to reach his bored students. It was surprisingly touching.
Looking around the internet, I'm surprised at how much people have loved this novel. I've missed something; maybe I'm too far from the teen I was once.
Skippy drops dead at the start of the novel, soon after arriving at a popular donut shop with his extremely obese and intelligent roommate, Ruprecht van Doren. The rest of the novel is a flashback of Skippy's life, loves, fears and adventures in Seabrook College. Other characters weave into this thread, like van Doren himself and his obsession with String Theory (clumsily cut-and-pasted into the novel from whatever research Murray did); the history teacher Howard "the Coward" and his midlife crisis; the drug addicted and dangerous school bully Carl; the beautiful and popular Lori from the girls-only school next door; and the old, dogmatic school priest who carries a few sex crimes on his shoulders.
I would have given up on this book at the start if this weren't my boyfriend's choice for our bookclub. I persevered through padded pages, teen humour that didn't cut a smile (though its obnoxiousness reminded me of my youth), and subplots that promised much but delivered little. Its small reward came towards the end, with Howard "the Coward" discovering Skippy's connection to the 1st World War and how he could use it to reach his bored students. It was surprisingly touching.
Looking around the internet, I'm surprised at how much people have loved this novel. I've missed something; maybe I'm too far from the teen I was once.
pennny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sloatsj's review against another edition
Not bad, well written, but I found it tedious and gave up shortly after page 400. It had its funny moments but I had zero emotional or intellectual investment in it and I have better things to read in my short time on the planet.
hatseflats's review against another edition
5.0
Although a rather long read at 661 pages, Skippy Dies had a pace that read like a much thinner volume. The fact the story is told from multiple points of view, and from both the young students at the boarding school as well as the staff who teach them, made the story telling never boring. I also very much enjoyed the author's sense of humour. There were many times throughout the story where I found myself laughing out loud. And, yet, the story was able to also maintain a sense of pathos. As someone who is now in his retirement years, I really enjoyed reading how Paul Murray compares and contrasts the various levels of maturity within the main characters of the book. His portrayals were spot on in so many ways. In short, this was a book I really didn't want to end. I give 5-stars sparingly, but I couldn't help give anything less for Skippy Dies. I look forward to seeing what Mr Murray comes up with next.
mrsfligs's review against another edition
5.0
THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION
Set at Seabrooke College (a Catholic boarding school in Dublin), Skippy Dies revolves around the death of Daniel “Skippy” Juster. It isn’t a murder mystery per se (after all, Skippy dies, on the floor of a donut shop, in the first few pages of the book.) Yet it is a mystery. Just exactly WHY does Skippy die?
The first part of the book takes place before Skippy’s death and introduces us to Skippy and his life at Seabrooke, where Skippy is one of a group of boarders. As the story develops, we get to know life at Seabrooke and get glimpses into the realities of Skippy’s life. (The boy is bearing many burdens that he keeps well hidden.) Then, just as we begin to grasp things, Skippy dies and aftermath of his death changes the lives of everyone around him—forcing them to look deep within to find their role in his death and the answers they need to keep on living.
My Thoughts
This book was brilliant! It was my only 5 star read from 2011, and I just can’t describe to you why this book just rocked my world. However, I will do my best to give you sense of why this book works on so many levels.
Perhaps the reason the book came together for me is that the author manages to combine tragedy and comedy in a way that has you moving from snorts of laughter (just try not to laugh when cynical Dennis explains the “real” meaning of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken or Mario discusses his lucky condom) to tears of anguish (Ruprecht’s reaction to Skippy’s death just broke my heart in a million pieces). To me, Murray managed to get the world of the 14-year-old boy spot-on—with its sense of possibility and innocence mixed with the first dawnings of harsh reality and heartbreak. The boys at Seabrooke College will tug at your heartstrings while also making you turn away in disgust.
Balancing out the life of the boys is the experiences of their teacher, Howard Fallon (who was once a Seabrooke boy himself). In some ways, Howard represents the future of the boys we’re coming to know—the harshness of the “real” world where you might get the girl but then grow tired of her annoying habits and the sheer dreariness of living day after day with the same person. Add in a past you cannot seem to shake and the horror of ruthless, ambitious men like The Automator, and you wonder if perhaps Skippy is the lucky one to depart life so early.
This book captured what it feels like to be on the cusp of the “real” world while also reminding us of what the real world feels like when you’ve been in it for a while. The charm of the boys and their exploits captured my imagination and heart. Like Ruprecht, I mourned for Skippy. In many ways, Skippy represents the death of innocence. As the aftermath of his death leaves the main characters grasping for meaning and a way out of the darkness that his death reveals, I found myself journeying with them.
I’m struggling to capture for you what the book is like as it is often a big sprawling mess of a thing that may require some time to fall into its rhythms. When I first started it, I was unsure about it … if I was “getting” it. But Murray does a brilliant job of weaving a rich and multi-colored tapestry of a story. At first, all the threads feels disconnected and loose, but as the story develops, it comes together in a tightly woven, connected whole and it is breath-taking.
About the Narration
I listened to this book on audio and I’m so glad I did as I’m convinced that the brilliance of the narration is what put this over the top for me. This was the first time I listened to an audiobook that was narrated by multiple readers. (There is a primary narrator who “reads” the book and then different voices for each of the primary characters.) It was like listening to a play in many ways. By having a wide range of Irish actors and actresses play the various roles, the book came alive for me in a way that an audiobook hasn’t quite done before. The voice for The Automator was dead-on, and I came to love Dennis and Ruprecht’s voices as well. The sultry voice of Ms. McIntyre (the teacher who captures Howard’s imagination) was filled with all kinds of flirty knowingness that made you see exactly why he was enchanted by her. Whoever cast the book was a genius. For a long listen (20+ hours), I think it might have gotten to be too much if it was just one reader. Yet I found myself mesmerized by the book. I couldn’t wait to get back to it. This is one book where I would definitely recommend the audio experience if you can get it. It elevated a brilliant novel into something more special.
Set at Seabrooke College (a Catholic boarding school in Dublin), Skippy Dies revolves around the death of Daniel “Skippy” Juster. It isn’t a murder mystery per se (after all, Skippy dies, on the floor of a donut shop, in the first few pages of the book.) Yet it is a mystery. Just exactly WHY does Skippy die?
The first part of the book takes place before Skippy’s death and introduces us to Skippy and his life at Seabrooke, where Skippy is one of a group of boarders. As the story develops, we get to know life at Seabrooke and get glimpses into the realities of Skippy’s life. (The boy is bearing many burdens that he keeps well hidden.) Then, just as we begin to grasp things, Skippy dies and aftermath of his death changes the lives of everyone around him—forcing them to look deep within to find their role in his death and the answers they need to keep on living.
My Thoughts
This book was brilliant! It was my only 5 star read from 2011, and I just can’t describe to you why this book just rocked my world. However, I will do my best to give you sense of why this book works on so many levels.
Perhaps the reason the book came together for me is that the author manages to combine tragedy and comedy in a way that has you moving from snorts of laughter (just try not to laugh when cynical Dennis explains the “real” meaning of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken or Mario discusses his lucky condom) to tears of anguish (Ruprecht’s reaction to Skippy’s death just broke my heart in a million pieces). To me, Murray managed to get the world of the 14-year-old boy spot-on—with its sense of possibility and innocence mixed with the first dawnings of harsh reality and heartbreak. The boys at Seabrooke College will tug at your heartstrings while also making you turn away in disgust.
Balancing out the life of the boys is the experiences of their teacher, Howard Fallon (who was once a Seabrooke boy himself). In some ways, Howard represents the future of the boys we’re coming to know—the harshness of the “real” world where you might get the girl but then grow tired of her annoying habits and the sheer dreariness of living day after day with the same person. Add in a past you cannot seem to shake and the horror of ruthless, ambitious men like The Automator, and you wonder if perhaps Skippy is the lucky one to depart life so early.
This book captured what it feels like to be on the cusp of the “real” world while also reminding us of what the real world feels like when you’ve been in it for a while. The charm of the boys and their exploits captured my imagination and heart. Like Ruprecht, I mourned for Skippy. In many ways, Skippy represents the death of innocence. As the aftermath of his death leaves the main characters grasping for meaning and a way out of the darkness that his death reveals, I found myself journeying with them.
I’m struggling to capture for you what the book is like as it is often a big sprawling mess of a thing that may require some time to fall into its rhythms. When I first started it, I was unsure about it … if I was “getting” it. But Murray does a brilliant job of weaving a rich and multi-colored tapestry of a story. At first, all the threads feels disconnected and loose, but as the story develops, it comes together in a tightly woven, connected whole and it is breath-taking.
About the Narration
I listened to this book on audio and I’m so glad I did as I’m convinced that the brilliance of the narration is what put this over the top for me. This was the first time I listened to an audiobook that was narrated by multiple readers. (There is a primary narrator who “reads” the book and then different voices for each of the primary characters.) It was like listening to a play in many ways. By having a wide range of Irish actors and actresses play the various roles, the book came alive for me in a way that an audiobook hasn’t quite done before. The voice for The Automator was dead-on, and I came to love Dennis and Ruprecht’s voices as well. The sultry voice of Ms. McIntyre (the teacher who captures Howard’s imagination) was filled with all kinds of flirty knowingness that made you see exactly why he was enchanted by her. Whoever cast the book was a genius. For a long listen (20+ hours), I think it might have gotten to be too much if it was just one reader. Yet I found myself mesmerized by the book. I couldn’t wait to get back to it. This is one book where I would definitely recommend the audio experience if you can get it. It elevated a brilliant novel into something more special.
juliaehill's review against another edition
4.0
An deliciously written modern-day tale of first love, boarding school antics, and WWI history mixed with string theory. Overall, a delightful read, though slowed down a bit toward the end.
jinnantonnix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ari__s's review against another edition
3.0
I was pleased to find that this book didn't drag on for me. I appreciated the author's efforts to capture the disorganized thinking and behavior of adolescents in even a third person narration, and still managed to keep the narration from becoming cumbersome. Instead, it held that gem quality of being slightly deranged, nonsensical, and deeply heartfelt - all qualities I would expect to find, particularly in such an in-depth and lengthy epic of adolescence. I felt compassion and supreme irritation toward each character uniquely, which is imperative for anyone reading about 14-year-olds (they're SUPPOSED to be annoying; if they're not then it's an unrealistic account). And that this novel wasn't confined to the painful, glorious growth of the youth, but incorporated the failings and successes of the adult characters as well, allowing key players to be multi-dimensional and real, contributed strongly to the overall story arch. I kept describing this book to people as 'Nick Hornby-esque', which I maintain is a fairly accurate comparison.
sharppointysticks's review against another edition
5.0
First, I will NEVER be able to think of Robert Frost the same way again... Second, there is a whole lot of stuff going on in this book but some how it manages to all tie together and work. I bought it on a whim when it was on sale. Glad I did, it was really good.
This part hit just a little too close to home though..
"I can't do this anymore...
What?
I'm so sorry Howard says in a strangulated voice
A some pre-conscience level she must already know what's coming because she feels like she's been punched in the stomach, there's no air in her lungs, she does not seem able to breathe new air in. Not now she thinks, not now. But the next thing he is babbling to her about Robert Graves and Halloween, wild horses and global warming. A substitute geography teacher who drinks cosmopolitans. It descends on Haley in a rain and before she unpick the sense of it the blood has drained from her face, her fingers buzz with lightness, and a part of her is thinking of feminism. A part of her is thinking of all the women who fought for their rights and feeling ashamed for letting them down because as the story of his infidelity unspools, she feels only an agonizing crumbling, a horrible, literal disintegration, as if she is turned into slush and cascading all over the floor.
He tells her that he does know how he feels, he doesn't know what he wants, and all she wants is for mop her up and gather her together as she was. She wants to plead and beg and cry so he will unsay what he's just said, hold her in his arms, tell her that nothing has changed, that everything is all right.
But of course that is not what happens."
This part hit just a little too close to home though..
"I can't do this anymore...
What?
I'm so sorry Howard says in a strangulated voice
A some pre-conscience level she must already know what's coming because she feels like she's been punched in the stomach, there's no air in her lungs, she does not seem able to breathe new air in. Not now she thinks, not now. But the next thing he is babbling to her about Robert Graves and Halloween, wild horses and global warming. A substitute geography teacher who drinks cosmopolitans. It descends on Haley in a rain and before she unpick the sense of it the blood has drained from her face, her fingers buzz with lightness, and a part of her is thinking of feminism. A part of her is thinking of all the women who fought for their rights and feeling ashamed for letting them down because as the story of his infidelity unspools, she feels only an agonizing crumbling, a horrible, literal disintegration, as if she is turned into slush and cascading all over the floor.
He tells her that he does know how he feels, he doesn't know what he wants, and all she wants is for mop her up and gather her together as she was. She wants to plead and beg and cry so he will unsay what he's just said, hold her in his arms, tell her that nothing has changed, that everything is all right.
But of course that is not what happens."