- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books (Jan 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140233903
- ISBN-13: 978-0140233902
- Product Dimensions: 19.9 x 12.9 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,275,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (Vintage Booker)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In Roddy Doyle's Booker Prize-winning novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, an Irish lad named Paddy rampages through the streets of Barrytown with a pack of like-minded hooligans, playing cowboys and Indians, etching their names in wet concrete and setting fires. Roddy Doyle has captured the sensations and speech patterns of preadolescents with consummate skill, and managed to do so without resorting to sentimentality. Paddy Clarke and his friends are not bad boys; they're just a little bit restless. They're always taking sides, bullying each other and secretly wishing they didn't have to. All they want is for something--anything--to happen.
Throughout the novel, Paddy teeters on the nervous verge of adolescence. In one scene, Paddy tries to make his little brother's hot water bottle explode, but gives up after stomping on it just one time: "I jumped on Sinbad's bottle. Nothing happened. I didn't do it again. Sometimes when nothing happened it was really getting ready to happen." Paddy Clarke senses that his world is about to change forever--and not necessarily for the better. When he realizes that his parents' marriage is falling apart, Paddy stays up all night listening, half-believing that his vigil will ward off further fighting. It doesn't work, but it is sweet and sad that he believes it might. Paddy's logic may be fuzzy, but his heart is in the right place. --Jill Marquis --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Winner of the 1993 Booker Prize
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had only read one Roddy Doyle short story before picking up 'Paddy Clarke...', and now I'm addicted. Doyle manages to write so convincingly from the perspective of a ten-year-old that it's impossible to put this book down. It isn't just the language (and the use of native terms is only a small stumbling block), but he also captures the mannerisms and thoughts so accurately. What results is a book that reminds you of your own childhood, the fun things, the scary things and the incomprehensible things. Paddy's bewilderment at grown-ups behaviour is explained through the application of child's logic - he is forever asking "Why?", and never gets an answer.
The book has some hilarious moments, but never tries to be a comedy. It also has some tragic moments, which are treated lightly because of Paddy's minimal grasp of the adult world. He has many flaws which are obvious to the reader but hidden from his own view.
Possibly the best book I have ever read.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a unique book, which describes with great detail the world around a young irish boy, and how he perceives it. Full of heart warming humour, family hardships and his realtionships with other people. Roddy Doyle has done something very unique with this book, we are understanding the world in which we live as a young boy. We go through the rigours of childhood such as games, school, friends and ofcourse mischief. The book is not continuous and the author jumps from school to playing with his friends quite suddenly, this may be found to some to be difficult to understand, however throughout the story there is one thing which remains constant and that is how he learns more about the world around him and we see relationships develop. This book has only been given four stars due to the sometimes unexpected stark changes in story, however the ability of the book to actually put you in the mind of the boy is something many other authors are unable to achieve. You will find it hard to put down as you become gradually more engrossed with the boys life and his constantly changing opinions of the world.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this book rather hard going to read as it seems to me very disjointed and doesn't flow well. The insights into childhood are great and the dialogue is cracking on the whole but somehow the lack of plot means that the book just doesn't get going. My least favourite of the Barrytown triolgy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Strangely threatening
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle is an unusual, highly original account of life in a Northern Ireland Catholic household. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Philip Spires
An enchanting read
I found this book on the shelf of a youth hostel in Latvia, years ago. It had been left there by one of the past hostel goers and I thought the title was intriguing. Read more
Published 5 months ago by ch.adamant
'Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha'- heartwarming and heartbreaking all in one.
`Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha' follows the trials and tribulations of a 10 year old boy in 1968 from Barrytown. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Joanna_B
Ten-year-olds don't make good authors.
I'm sure the author accurately represents the thought patterns of a ten-year-old boy; however, there is a reason why ten-year-olds don't write books. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Constantly Rosy
Good but not great
I expected to love this book, but I didn't. Whilst I enjoyed it enough I found that the lack of speech marks frustrated me, as did the disjointed structure of the book and the vast... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Nicola F (Nic)
Poignant...yet humorous, Ireland...yet anywhere, nineteen...
This review is from: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (Paperback)
Written from the perspective of a 10 year old boy, Doyle's writing throughout the book is in short bursts, talking about... Read more
Written from the perspective of a 10 year old boy, Doyle's writing throughout the book is in short bursts, talking about... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Helen Simpson
Not bad but can be annoying...
A good book in many ways and enjoyable- provided you get used to Doyle's structure. The lack of speech marks and chapters may annoy some, but overall quite a good reflection of a... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Dan
Report on Book
Description on your relevant web page was" words to the effect -"good condition paper back " not quite true ;outside cover quite grubby. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Paul Whelpton
Misled on Delivery
Seller stated that postage would be free and that it would be next day delivery. However I was charged for delivery and it was standard delivery.
Published 20 months ago by Book Reader
You open the book with no expectations and close it with desire for...
You open the book with no expectations and close it with desire for more!
'Paddy Clarke HA HA HA' by Roddy Doyle
Unaware of the author Roddy Doyle and his... Read more
'Paddy Clarke HA HA HA' by Roddy Doyle
Unaware of the author Roddy Doyle and his... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by kerry Sainsbury
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