Once, in Kilburn, married to the sugar-lipped Catherine and sharing his daughter Immy's passion for the enchanted kingdom of winterwood, Redmond Hatch was happy. But then infidelity, betrayal and the 'scary things' from which he would protect his daughter steal into the magic kingdom, and bad things begin to happen. Now Redmond - once little Red - prowls the barren outlands alone, haunted by the disgraced shade of Ned Strange, a fiddler and teller of tales from his home in the mountainy middle of Ireland.
Winterwood
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'A true original' John Banville 'This is McCabe's greatest work ... A sustained achievement of often dazzling brilliance ... Winterwood is that rarest thing: a novel dealing with humanity at its most twisted and bleak, but one that leaves the reader feeling curiously uplifted. And that's because we realise that we've been standing in an illuminating beam whose source is, and can only be, truly great art' Irvine Welsh, Guardian 'A masterpiece' Observer 'He is the fortunate possessor of a savage and unfettered imagination; his books dissect life's miseries with a gleaming comedic scalpel' The Times
About the Author
Patrick McCabe was born in Ireland in 1955. His novels include Music on Clinton Street, Carn, The Butcher Boy and Breakfast on Pluto. The latter two were shortlisted for the Booker Prize. The Butcher Boy won the Irish Times/Aer Lingus Literature Prize in 1992 and was made into a film, directed by Neil Jordan, in 1997. The film Breakfast on Pluto, also directed by and co-written with Neil Jordan, was released in 2006 to great acclaim. Patrick McCabe lives in his home town of Clones, County Monaghan.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In Winterwood Patrick McCabe once again dances arount the edges of reality. His constantly unreliable narrator, some-time journalist Redmond Hatch, and asynchronous storytelling leaves you guessing for much of the ride.
Starting with the mundane - newly coupled bliss - the descent is into some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. But what a descent and even the ending leaves you perplexed as to what was 'real' and what was the product of, I assume a psychosis. In short a really fantastic read (in all senses of the word). And along the way McCabe manages to critique Ireland's growing pains from 80s economic basket-case to rampant Celtic Tiger (even that seeems a long time ago now).
Anyway, I loved this book, but I accept it is not to everyone's taste. There are no heroic characters, little dialogue and really no redemption, in their place is a complex dance along the cliff-edge of reality.
Starting with the mundane - newly coupled bliss - the descent is into some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. But what a descent and even the ending leaves you perplexed as to what was 'real' and what was the product of, I assume a psychosis. In short a really fantastic read (in all senses of the word). And along the way McCabe manages to critique Ireland's growing pains from 80s economic basket-case to rampant Celtic Tiger (even that seeems a long time ago now).
Anyway, I loved this book, but I accept it is not to everyone's taste. There are no heroic characters, little dialogue and really no redemption, in their place is a complex dance along the cliff-edge of reality.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By James
Format:Paperback
This is an involving and very creepy tale from one of Ireland's most original writers. I'm not going to go to great lengths to divulge the plot (other reviewers have already done that!); all you need to know is that it is an intimate first person narrative of a very damaged mind, and it's very difficult to pull back from. Frankly, I'm not going to bother my head over whether or not it's a parable of modern Ireland; it's a compelling read. I would agree with the comment made by an earlier reviewer, to the effect that if you emphatically don't like Patrick McCabe, don't read his books. Whether or not McCabe is a literary genius is something you could argue over for hours, but it's a fact that he's one of the best at what he does out there at the moment. Interestingly, the negative reviewer didn't give any examples of the 'weightier' gothic literature that he claims to prefer. Might that be because he fears exposing his own taste to citicism? Or is it that he simply can't honestly think of any genuine examples?
I'm not sure if 'enjoy' is the right word to use for the reading of 'Winterwood', but it certainly makes an impression.
I'm not sure if 'enjoy' is the right word to use for the reading of 'Winterwood', but it certainly makes an impression.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book has a confusing beginning which could easily put somebody off reading it. It has interesting twists and turns. Very readable. Somewhat unpredictable but well written with great character descriptions.
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2.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Weird
This book is good but a bit weird, it's worth a read as it is only a couple of hundred pages so won't take long.
Published 2 months ago by JoC
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great Irish novel
Having had some doubts about the merits of the film 'The Butcher Boy' (I did not read the book) I did not expect to be too impressed by 'Winterwood' but impressed I was, by the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Callmerick
3.0 out of 5 stars
winterwood
Think of a Chuck Palahniuk or Bret Easton Ellis novel set in Ireland's booming Celtic Tiger era and you will not be a kick in the arse away from the premise of Winterwood. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2009 by R. Kennedy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
I found the first half of this novel really creepy and gripping...then it all started to get a bit repetitive and the mimicking of an unhinged mind derailed the narration so much... Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2008 by Vyvien A. Starbuck
5.0 out of 5 stars
mc cabe s best?
REALLY A GREAT READ.I READ THIS BOOK IN TWO SITTINGS AS I COULDENT PUT IT DOWN!
SIMILAR IN THEME TO SOME OF HIS OTHER BOOKS BUT NONE THE WORSE FOR THAT. Read more
SIMILAR IN THEME TO SOME OF HIS OTHER BOOKS BUT NONE THE WORSE FOR THAT. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2007 by G. M. Somers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stories within stories within stories.
Raymond Hatch only wants the best for his wife and child, but is haunted by the ghostly figure of Ned Strange, a famous Irish storyteller, though one recently convicted of the... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2007 by fatpaddykillah
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unsettling
Winterwood is a short novel - the narrative of Redmond Hatch. Redmond is an underachiever, having never quite made it in journalism or in various jobs around London. Read more
Published on 16 July 2007 by MisterHobgoblin
5.0 out of 5 stars
genius
Winterwood is McCabe's most extraordinary and gripping book yet. I literally was not aware of breathing until I put it down with a sign after reading it in one short sitting. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2006 by Kait Corrigan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book of the year contender
For me, Winterwood is neck and neck with McCarthy's The Road in the book-of-the-year stakes. In a strange way, it's not dissimilar - a trawl through the belly of hell, except... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2006 by Guano
1.0 out of 5 stars
Casper come home
I don't know who I am or what to say so I'll say it anyways, then I'll say it again with a ponytail and once more with a pulled-down baseball cap and shaggy beard (... Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2006 by Flavius
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