Green Eyes: Amazon.co.uk: Andrew O'Hare: Books

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Amazon.co.uk Review
Life is hardly a cabaret for Shaun McKenna and Harry Hannah. The two teenagers at the centre of Green Eyes, by Andrew O'Hare, are thrown together by fate and embark on a passionate love affair. But this is Northern Ireland, and McKenna is Catholic; Hannah Protestant. Although the love between the two boys never wavers, they find themselves in the middle of a maze of family strife, dark secrets and sectarian violence. The book's setting is fresh, giving O'Hare the opportunity to show his ear for Northern Irish idiom; much of the dialogue in this dialogue-driven story sounds truthful. A complex web of characters is spun with some craft, although much of the present-day action groans under the weight of dem dry bones in the closet. But there is a real sense of idyllic love under threat, which has you rooting for our heroes. The reader's sympathies are slicked by countless unsparing sex scenes, which might be eye opening but are always based in the boys' burning love. O'Hare has a clumsy way of dropping the pronoun from sentences with dialogue--very few instances of "he said" or "she said". He has a way to go before his style is perfected. And great stretches of the book are taken up with inane "banter" of the "Oooh, you are awful, McKenna," variety. But this oddly Irish blend of pillow-talk pap and deeply felt emotion is ultimately endearing. --Alistair Pegg

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Tale crossing two divides, 5 Jan 2003

By	"matthewjacobsuk" - See all my reviews

This is the first book that I have read by author Andrew O'Hare and as a result cannot wait for the next. 'Green Eyes' is a beautifully written story of two young men growing up in the troubled, divided UK Territory of Northern Ireland.
The author has the ability to portray to the reader the consequences of unrelenting bigotry in a land that is divided by two faiths. I found that I really got to know in-depth the two characters of Shaun McKenna and Harry Hannah. Both characters so different in personality, yet so passionate in their love for each other
The book was beautifully, yet sensitively written, resulting in an unexpected climax of tragic hatred. This book left me reeling with tears in my eyes and a true sadness in my heart. A definite must read.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful yet traumatic book!, 4 Mar 2002

By A Customer

It is very rare that I come away from a book with such an intense love and hate opinion of what I have just read. Don't get me wrong the book is very well written and I was captivated from the start, the hate aspect concerns the way in which the story develops.
The storey begins by charting the blossoming love between two boys, Shaun and Harry. It does not take long for the relationship to become the focus of both boys' lives and in turn dominate the varying responses from both families. The trials of being Gay and falling in love are hard enough but add the fact that the boys are both from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds produces the real basis of hatred, bigotry and conflict.
The book is very much a Jekyll and Hyde - and I was left feeling cheated that I had been lulled into the beauty of the relationship between Shaun and Harry only for the story to become much darker and brutal. The brutality towards the end maybe a device created by the author and enhanced by the feel good nature of what came before! I am not saying that this is a problem with the book but maybe with the way in which I wanted it to end!
Green Eyes is worth reading..

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure genius!, 3 Jan 2003

By	Mr. Mj Jackson "Mattius" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Today is the 3rd January 2003. I read the last 150 pages of this book yesterday and I was distraught. I very nearly could not bring myself to read it but I knew I had to otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep. I have never before been so moved by a novel. I laughed out loud in all sorts of places, especially the flirty banter between Shaun and Harry and in those terrible final chapters, I cried and I can be a tough nut to crack.
Andrew O'Hare has managed to capture perfectly the emotions and trauma of being gay and the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with coming out. I could almost reach out and touch the characters they were so real to me. How much do we all wish Aunt Jean was OUR mum.
Despite my resolution to finish I could still not sleep, the ideas and emotions that the booked explored were formost in my mind and despite thinking that it is the best thing I have read so far, I could not read it again because of how it made me feel. That is the power of this novel. Maybe it's just me but read and you will see that you cannot pull yourself out of this world for very long, it really is sensational.
Despite being a wonderful novel, it brought home to me the realities of the situation in Northern Ireland and just how messed up the country really is. The tragedy of this book is only made more heartbreaking by the fact that things like this do actually happen in the real world.
There is also outstanding sexual detail and a definite sense of loss and hatred.
SO READ IT! Enjoy it!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This would be a blockbuster movie!
I purchased this book from Amazon and read it many years ago, but I was not able to write a review because my English is not really good enough to express what I was feeling after... Read more

Published 14 months ago by Indiancowboy

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY IT
I have to say that i was surprised by this book, i brought it on the strength of the reviews on this site and i have to say i was not disappointed. Read more

Published on 19 Feb 2003 by steven_embleton

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book you must read...One you will never forget
This book is just about everything... a love story , a thriller, a mystery, a religous statement. Yes it has everything it would be a good read for anybody who is homophobic and... Read more

Published on 1 Jan 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars A heart rending tale of true love and bigotry
When reading this, I was struck by the realism of the main characters. I disagree with other reviewers who critisise the characters total lack of awareness of their... Read more

Published on 14 Nov 2002 by Andrew

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
I very much enjoyed this book. The story was good - despite a few rough patches. This is not a "hollywood" happy ending book - it leaves you feeling both happy and sad... Read more

Published on 2 Sep 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW
One of the most powerful books I have read, and I read LOTS of gay fiction. This story written through the eyes of Shaun McKenna about him and his beloved "Green Eyes"... Read more

Published on 27 Aug 2002 by Jeff

5.0 out of 5 stars I cried my eyes out
This book had me in tears and brought home the reality of life in Northern Ireland for some people. Other reviewers have critcised Andrew O'Hare's writing style but I don't think... Read more

Published on 29 April 2002 by ShyGirl

5.0 out of 5 stars I cried my eyes out
This book had me in tears and brought home the reality of life in Northern Ireland for some people. Other reviewers have critcised Andrew O'Hare's writing style but I don't think... Read more

Published on 29 April 2002 by ShyGirl

4.0 out of 5 stars A teenage love story ending in tragedy-weeper!
I think this is an excellent book. Having just read it I think the style of writing could improve and there are some spelling and grammatical errors in the book but as far as... Read more

Published on 26 Feb 2002 by Wes (wesers@supanet.com)

3.0 out of 5 stars How can u like something yet hate it!
This is a very interesting book, in the fact that it is at once likeable, but yet also very frustrating to read. Read more

Published on 13 Feb 2002

› See all 14 customer reviews...

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Green Eyes (Paperback)

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