Paul Kirk is a librarian and one of his town's quirkier residents. In a childhood home lacking parents (his mother dying of MS and his father an alcoholic) Paul had imagined himself a member of the neighboring family. Now in his late twenties, Paul vicariously participates in the households of his community. His peeping-Tom proclivities express his awkward need for social bonding. Then Paul meets Bronwyn, a counselor who is lovely, independent and blind. She has inherited her Aunt Phyllis' house and is newly arrived in town. When Paul first sees Bronwyn at church, he knows he wants to be part of her life. As the mystery of Aunt Phyllis unfolds, Bronwyn and Paul become more deeply involved as they learn about Phyllis' secrets and how they relate to Bronwyn and her past, but Paul's peeping ways may ruin it all. About the Author: Born of Irish parents, John Patrick Doyle grew up in London. At the age of 14, entranced by brochures picturing bikini-clad women jogging on Australian dunes, he encouraged his family to emigrate to a sunnier land. He left school at 15 and worked for a telephone company in Sydney, then a warehouse and a bookstore. Having scraped together an education, at 30 he moved to the U.S. and worked as a law librarian in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Lexington, Virginia. In 2011, he discontinued paid employment, attracted by the lonely, grinding life of a full-time writer. He and his wife, Mary, have 6 children (3 each), 5 grandchildren and 2 cats.
Boiled Peanuts - A Peeping Tom Goes Nuts Over A Blind Girl
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Leonard-Wibberley-Strength Wit and Writing
18 Jun 2011
By Wilfried F. Voss
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Paul Kirk thinks of himself as a badly baked loaf of bread, crusty on the outside and underdone inside, and even though still young at age he deems it too late to get back in the oven. But he hopes, seeing Bronwyn, a blind girl who newly arrived in town, will make him a whole loaf.
His mother died of MS when he was eleven. His father is a drunkard, still alive, if you can call it that. Early in his childhood, deprived of parents every other kid in his neighborhood enjoyed, he would press his face against the window of his room, watching the neighboring couple and imagining his life with them. Adopting them as his parents felt like warm, buttered toast.
Later, as an adult, he continues his voyeuristic adventures, which keeps him up-to-date on everything around town, but, eventually, might get him into trouble. Despite his faults, Paul acts well, living on noodles and a dream, a dream called Bronwyn. But he also realizes, telling Bronwyn he is a peeping tom is like tossing a two-headed coin and betting on tails.
Add to this scenario a good portion of mystery in form of Bronwyn's aunt Phyllis' diary, spanning from her childhood into adult life and revealing shocking details that will change Bronwyn's life forever.
With "Boiled Peanuts" Irish-born author John Patrick Doyle challenges the secret voyeur in all of us. Is peeping on your neighbors wrong? Aren't we all voyeuristic, peeping into somebody else's life by reading a book describing not only their life but also their most private secrets? Or to reverse the point of view, doesn't peeping on your neighbors have the same level of excitement and satisfaction like reading a good book?
"Boiled Peanuts" is written with a great portion of (apolitical) Leonard-Wibberley-strength wit and observing and writing skills. I thoroughly enjoyed peeping on Paul Kirk's life, joining him during his peeping endeavors, and being involved in a mystery hunt. Reading "Boiled Peanuts" was a feast filled with joy and excitement. It is definitely a 5 Star read!
- Wilfried F. Voss, Editor FrogenYozurt Online Magazine
His mother died of MS when he was eleven. His father is a drunkard, still alive, if you can call it that. Early in his childhood, deprived of parents every other kid in his neighborhood enjoyed, he would press his face against the window of his room, watching the neighboring couple and imagining his life with them. Adopting them as his parents felt like warm, buttered toast.
Later, as an adult, he continues his voyeuristic adventures, which keeps him up-to-date on everything around town, but, eventually, might get him into trouble. Despite his faults, Paul acts well, living on noodles and a dream, a dream called Bronwyn. But he also realizes, telling Bronwyn he is a peeping tom is like tossing a two-headed coin and betting on tails.
Add to this scenario a good portion of mystery in form of Bronwyn's aunt Phyllis' diary, spanning from her childhood into adult life and revealing shocking details that will change Bronwyn's life forever.
With "Boiled Peanuts" Irish-born author John Patrick Doyle challenges the secret voyeur in all of us. Is peeping on your neighbors wrong? Aren't we all voyeuristic, peeping into somebody else's life by reading a book describing not only their life but also their most private secrets? Or to reverse the point of view, doesn't peeping on your neighbors have the same level of excitement and satisfaction like reading a good book?
"Boiled Peanuts" is written with a great portion of (apolitical) Leonard-Wibberley-strength wit and observing and writing skills. I thoroughly enjoyed peeping on Paul Kirk's life, joining him during his peeping endeavors, and being involved in a mystery hunt. Reading "Boiled Peanuts" was a feast filled with joy and excitement. It is definitely a 5 Star read!
- Wilfried F. Voss, Editor FrogenYozurt Online Magazine
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky, Offbeat, Excellent Novel
22 Aug 2011
By Cambell Shaw
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Boiled Peanuts is a wonderful first novel for author John Patrick Doyle.
The setting is an everyman's hometown, with an offbeat set of characters, that are brought to life in a colorful and playful style.
The characters all have unusual traits, family ties, and family secrets... theirs are just a bit more out-there.
The excitement and suspense continue to build from the first colorful ladder climb, to the final undiscovered secrets and climactic encounters.
A vivid tale of Americana, though, definitely not for the closed minded.
Worth a read, but make sure you have extra time, as you may not want to put it down.
I will be looking forward to Mr. Doyle's next book. Well done!
The setting is an everyman's hometown, with an offbeat set of characters, that are brought to life in a colorful and playful style.
The characters all have unusual traits, family ties, and family secrets... theirs are just a bit more out-there.
The excitement and suspense continue to build from the first colorful ladder climb, to the final undiscovered secrets and climactic encounters.
A vivid tale of Americana, though, definitely not for the closed minded.
Worth a read, but make sure you have extra time, as you may not want to put it down.
I will be looking forward to Mr. Doyle's next book. Well done!
4.0 out of 5 stars
An unlikely protagonist
28 Aug 2011
By Susan Quilty
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Boiled Peanuts has an unlikely protagonist: Paul Kirk, a neurotic, peeping Tom librarian who is a bit out of touch with the real world. I found myself rooting for Paul, despite his flaws (and some cringe-worthy decisions). I wanted him to make friends, get the girl and overcome his deep personal insecurities.
As the story unfolds, Paul stumbles into many seemingly unrelated situations. However, the small town setting continues to bring the cast of characters together, and eventually the events culminate in a way that ties up all the loose ends.
While the story is moved forward through the mystery of Aunt Phyllis and the increasing threats from the town bad guy, it was Paul's strangely passive, yet invasive involvement that made me want to keep reading. Paul makes for a dubious hero, but one that is endearing in his own way.
As the story unfolds, Paul stumbles into many seemingly unrelated situations. However, the small town setting continues to bring the cast of characters together, and eventually the events culminate in a way that ties up all the loose ends.
While the story is moved forward through the mystery of Aunt Phyllis and the increasing threats from the town bad guy, it was Paul's strangely passive, yet invasive involvement that made me want to keep reading. Paul makes for a dubious hero, but one that is endearing in his own way.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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