- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Penguin USA (P); Reissue edition (Mar 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140260021
- ISBN-13: 978-0140260021
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.7 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,658,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Van
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Product Description
Book Description
'A hilarious and hugely affectionate novel' Independent on Sunday
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Shortlisted for the 1991 Booker Prize, and set in a Dublin suburb during the 1990 World Cup, this completes a trilogy which began with "The Commitments" and "The Snapper". Jimmy Rabbite Sr seeks refuge from the vicissitudes of unemployment by joining a friend in running a fish-and-chip van.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is my fourth Roddy Doyle book and although I would recommend anything he writes, this is by far the best I have read so far. It struck me that anyone who likes the UK series "The Royle Family" would love this book. The central character is a beer-loving layabout who sees the Van Project as a big game, which he eventually tires of. The Rise and Fall of these entrepreneurs is about the funniest thing I have ever read. I guess there are some people who won't like it, but I hope I don't get invited to one of their "dinner parties". I can't recommend this enough.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When Jimmy Rabbitte's best friend Bimbo is made "redundant" at the Dublin company where he has worked for many years, he is devastated. Jimmy, who is also unemployed, offers a shoulder for Bimbo to cry on, and both agree that they will not work at McDonald's, no matter what. When Bimbo finds a dilapidated "chipper van," which they can fix up and then use to sell food at major football games, rock concerts, beaches, and other gatherings (though not horse shows because "those blokes only eat caviar"), the two go into business together, with Bimbo in charge, since he is the one who bought the van. Ignoring the health requirements and the required licenses, they drive to large gatherings all summer, sell their fish and chips and sausages, and then return home with their money.
Working together in a marginal business creates problems for the two "best friends." Hot-tempered Jimmy resents the fact that he has to take orders from Bimbo. Bimbo resents the fact that Jimmy is not patient with customers, and that he does not work as hard as he might. Bimbo's wife and Jimmy do not get along,and Bimbo is caught in the middle. And when the health inspector arrives, their friendship itself is at stake.
Set in roiling north Dublin, where humor and family togetherness are the keys to surviving the tumult of the neighborhood, the novel depicts real, working-class Dubliners leading real, hard-scrabble lives, often centered around the pub and sports. Dialogue and dialect make these characters come alive, and the relationship between Jimmy and Bimbo is depicted honestly. The third novel in Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy, this is by far the most fully developed, with well drawn, well-developed characters, a vibrant setting, dialogue which ranges from hilarious to furious and sometimes even tender, and a plot with which everyone can identify.
Doyle has become a novelist in the course of writing these three books, rather than simply the creator of brilliant dialogue illustrating sketchy stories, as we see in the first two novels. His writing acquires greater depth here, and his roots in this neighborhood and his identification with it are obvious. The three novels, taken together, show the evolution of one of Ireland's fine modern novelists and presage Doyle's international success and his Booker Award for Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha in 1993, just two years after this novel was published. n Mary Whipple
Working together in a marginal business creates problems for the two "best friends." Hot-tempered Jimmy resents the fact that he has to take orders from Bimbo. Bimbo resents the fact that Jimmy is not patient with customers, and that he does not work as hard as he might. Bimbo's wife and Jimmy do not get along,and Bimbo is caught in the middle. And when the health inspector arrives, their friendship itself is at stake.
Set in roiling north Dublin, where humor and family togetherness are the keys to surviving the tumult of the neighborhood, the novel depicts real, working-class Dubliners leading real, hard-scrabble lives, often centered around the pub and sports. Dialogue and dialect make these characters come alive, and the relationship between Jimmy and Bimbo is depicted honestly. The third novel in Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy, this is by far the most fully developed, with well drawn, well-developed characters, a vibrant setting, dialogue which ranges from hilarious to furious and sometimes even tender, and a plot with which everyone can identify.
Doyle has become a novelist in the course of writing these three books, rather than simply the creator of brilliant dialogue illustrating sketchy stories, as we see in the first two novels. His writing acquires greater depth here, and his roots in this neighborhood and his identification with it are obvious. The three novels, taken together, show the evolution of one of Ireland's fine modern novelists and presage Doyle's international success and his Booker Award for Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha in 1993, just two years after this novel was published. n Mary Whipple
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is the story of how life long friends Bimbo and Jimmy Senior, both having become unemployed, try to make a living by starting in business with a fish & chip van. The dialogue in the book is so well written that within a few pages you can almost hear the thick Dublin accents of the characters in your head as you read the book. The story is a humorous exploration of how the main characters relationship changes over time when confronted with being business partners as well as drinking partners. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good laugh, but not keen on the language
Very simple story, I did find some of it quite funny, but I am very uncomfortable with the foul language
Published 1 month ago by Mr. D. P. Moulton
does exactly what it says on the tin
this is my 1st roddy doyle read its funny not hilarious but hey its a book i suppose your not meant to laugth your head off lol. Read more
Published 15 months ago by sharp shane
20 Years on and still superb
I first read this book, the third in the Barrytown trilogy, when it came out and loved it to bits. Since then it has become, along with my PG Wodehouse books, a read and reread... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Clady Lad
Despite initial reservations on the writing style, I do recommend
The Van is the third instalment of the Barrytown Trilogy and Roddy Doyle's ninth book to date. I was not familiar
with his previous work and was recommended this book when... Read more
with his previous work and was recommended this book when... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Effy241
Classic Irish Tale
Full of laughs and with a perfect ending, I recommend this quick read - once you get around the lingo!
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by T. L. Roache
the van
i read 1st three pages of book the language was terrible i threw it in bin
Published on 24 July 2009 by lmax
The Van
Roddy Doyle has a writing style so unique, you don't even need the authors name on the book. His style just can't be copied. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2004 by Ms. C. M. Hough
it's da bom
This is the first book i have ever finished reading it's hilarouis.If you really hate reading and your asked to read a book or you just fancy trying to read a book and finish it... Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2004 by Ross Leslie
DO NOT READ ON A FULL BLADDER !
This is the funniest Roddy Doyle book that I have ever read.It is a wonderful story of male friendship that captures the Irish sense of humour brilliantly. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2001
The Van is a story about two friends and a van.
The Van is a story about two friends and their wacky adventure selling fish out of a van. Given the basic plot one would expect the van to be a very funny book. Well, yes and no. Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2000
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